Baxter Sent Packing By Smiffy

Dennis Smith 3-2 Ronnie Baxter (0-3, 3-2, 0-3, 3-1, 3-0)
Sky Bet World Grand Prix Round Two

DENNIS SMITH overcame world number three Ronnie Baxter 3-2 to earn a place in the last eight of the Sky Bet World Grand Prix.

Smith was defeated by Baxter in the quarter-finals at the World Matchplay in July, but made amends by coming from a set down at the Citywest Hotel.

He lost the opening set 3-0, but included a 121 finish on his way to levelling matters in the second.

Baxter then edged back in front by winning three straight legs to take the third, but Smith showed his fighting qualities to take the game into a deciding set.

The Hungerford thrower punished Baxter for a string of missed doubles by picking off three successive legs to seal a famous win.

"I'm absolutely over the moon," said Smith. "I was written off when I came here because Mark Walsh has had a good year, but I beat him and now I've taken Ronnie out.

"I knew the ability was there but I've had a really bad year. I saw my friend Mark Thomson playing in the qualifiers for this event and thought how much I don't want to be there."

Smith faces John Magowan in Friday's quarter-finals, after the qualifier from Northern Ireland overcame Peter Manley.

"I'll look forward to playing John," said Smith. "I've known him for years and I even call his wife 'Mum'. I'll give him the greatest respect and I'm delighted for him."

Baxter said: "I couldn't hit my doubles and that was the key thing. Full credit to Dennis, he hit them and he scored well."

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