PartyBets.com Grand Slam of Darts - Day One Reports

REPORTS from Saturday's first day of play at the PartyBets.com Grand Slam of Darts.

The tournament kicked off with eight games on Saturday afternoon, with the action resuming with a further eight matches in the evening session at 7pm.

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PartyBets.com Grand Slam of Darts
First Round Group Stage
Afternoon Session
Live on ITV4

Jelle Klaasen 5-1 Shaun Greatbatch
Vincent van der Voort 3-5 Andy Hamilton
James Wade 5-4 Phill Nixon
Mark Webster 1-5 Andy Jenkins
Michael van Gerwen 5-4 Scott Waites
Live on ITV1
Raymond van Barneveld 5-3 Chris Mason
Phil Taylor 5-2 Wayne Mardle
Gary Anderson 1-5 Kevin Painter
Best of nine legs

Evening Session
Live on ITV4
Terry Jenkins 5-2 Charles Losper
Niels de Ruiter 1-5 Pat Orreal
Adrian Lewis 5-4 Dennis Priestley
Peter Manley 2-5 Kevin McDine
Colin Lloyd 5-3 Ronnie Baxter
Roland Scholten 5-3 Mervyn King
John Part 2-5 Gary Mawson
Barrie Bates 5-1 Wayne Jones

Click here for the PartyBets.com Grand Slam of Darts NetZone - including league tables

JELLE KLAASEN 5-1 SHAUN GREATBATCH

JELLE KLAASEN made a superb start to the PartyBets.com Grand Slam of Darts with a 5-1 win against Shaun Greatbatch.

The young Dutchman produced a classy display to see off Greatbatch in a repeat of their 2006 Lakeside Championship semi-final.

Klaasen stormed out of the blocks to take the game's opening four legs, hitting a maximum in the opener and a 110 finish in the second.

A second double four finish put him 3-0 up before the duo traded maximums in leg four as Klaasen landed double ten to move into the break in command.

Greatbatch returned to take out double 15 and get off the mark, but missed a chance to take the sixth leg when he was off-target on double 18 for a 156 checkout.

It allowed Klaasen to return to the oche, having already missed four darts for victory before he landed double ten.

"I feel great and I'm happy with that," said Klaasen. "I had to stay focused and managed to get the win."

Match Stats

Jelle
Klaasen

5-1

Shaun Greatbatch

10

100+

7

1

140+

4

3

180

1

28.94

Ave1

28.69

86.82

Ave3

86.07

110

High Finish

30


ANDY HAMILTON 5-3 VINCENT VAN DER VOORT

ANDY HAMILTON came from 2-0 down to open his account at the PartyBets.com Grand Slam of Darts with a 5-3 defeat of Vincent van der Voort.

The Stoke star was punished for a slow start as van der Voort rocketed into a 2-0 lead, taking out double four and then a classy two-dart 96 finish.

Hamilton hit back strongly to level, and then stepped in to take the lead for the first time at 3-2 when van der Voort missed his chance for an 11-darter.

Hamilton took leg six in 13 darters before van der Voort hit double seven to stay in the match at 4-3.

However, Hamilton kicked off the next with a third 180, and sealed the win on double 16.

"Vincent's a cracking player but I knew on my top form I could beat him," said Hamilton afterwards."The first game is always tough but I can relax more now and get into the event.

"Heavy scoring is a part of my game and I'm coming back into form at the moment."

Match Stats

Vincent
van der Voort

3-5

Andy
Hamilton

7

100+

9

11

140+

4

1

180

3

32.46

Ave1

33.65

97.39

Ave3

100.94

96

High Finish

87


JAMES WADE 5-4 PHILL NIXON

JAMES WADE edged out Phill Nixon in a nine-leg thriller to open the PartyBets.com Grand Slam of Darts with a 5-4 opening day victory.

Nixon, the Lakeside Championship runner-up in January, showed all his battling skills to lead 4-2 against the PDC world number three.

But Wade pegged him back to send the game into a decider, and then took victory after Nixon missed a second chance for the win.

Wade kicked off the game with a maximum and took the opening leg in 13 darts before Nixon replied with a maximum of his own on the way to leg two.

Wade missed two darts at double top in the third as Nixon edged ahead, before the youngster levelled on double four in the fourth.

Wade was again punished as Nixon moved 3-2 up, and the 51-year-old from Durham added another 180 in extending his lead to two legs.

That was halved in leg seven as Wade landed double ten, before Nixon paid for a missed dart at double top in the next as Wade scrambled home double four to send the match into a decider.

Nixon also gave himself a chance of victory on 118 in the ninth leg, but was off-target again on double top before Wade hit the same bed with his third dart to take the win.

"I was lucky there and got away with a bit of complacency," admitted Wade. "I'm over the moon that I won and hopefully I'll learn for the next game."

Nixon said: "I missed a few doubles at the wrong time but I did well and I'm not just here to make the numbers up, I'm here to play darts."

Match Stats

James
Wade

5-4

Phill
Nixon

12

100+

13

6

140+

6

1

180

2

30.61

Ave1

30.73

91.82

Ave3

92.19

65

High Finish

60


ANDY JENKINS 5-1 MARK WEBSTER

ANDY JENKINS made a storming start to the PartyBets.com Grand Slam of Darts with a 5-1 win over Mark Webster.

Jenkins wasted little time in seeing off the Welshman, dropping just one leg and taking out two-thirds of his doubles.

He roared into a 3-0 lead, opening with a 13-darter and taking a 141 finish in leg two.

Webster hit back to take the fourth leg with a 91 finish, but Jenkins returned from the break to win leg five and move 4-1 up.

Webster strived to get back into the contest, but Jenkins was first to the finish in the next, landing double eight for the win.

Match Stats

Mark
Webster

1-5

Andy
Jenkins

7

100+

11

3

140+

4

1

180

1

31.18

Ave1

32.15

93.54

Ave3

96.45

91

High Finish

141


MICHAEL VAN GERWEN 5-4 SCOTT WAITES

DUTCH teenager Michael van Gerwen sneaked past Scott Waites in a deciding leg to open the PartyBets.com Grand Slam of Darts with a victory.

The pair enjoyed a close contest at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall, matching each other blow for blow in the first Group H match.

Van Gerwen kicked off with a maximum in the opening leg, with Waites hitting back to level with a 94 finish on double 16 and then move 2-1 up after the youngster missed his doubles.

Waites was punished for misses in leg four as van Gerwen levelled, and he also took the next two legs to move 4-2 up and within touching distance of the win.

Waites struck back on double eight, and then hit double ten to send the match into a decider.

The Yorkshireman was handed a chance of victory when van Gerwen missed two darts at double top for the game, but hit a single nine when needing double 12 to allow the 18-year-old back in.

He made no mistake this time, nailing double ten to take the first two points of the event.

"I've won my first match and that is good for me," said van Gerwen. "I've not played too well in the last few tournaments but I wanted to win that so much to get off to a good start."

Match Stats

Michael
van Gewen

5-4

Scott
Waites

8

100+

8

9

140+

5

3

180

1

29.36

Ave1

28.31

88.07

Ave3

84.92

52

High Finish

94


RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD 5-3 CHRIS MASON

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD made a stunning start to his challenge at the PartyBets.com Grand Slam of Darts with a 5-3 win over Chris Mason.

The five-time World Champion trailed Mason 2-0 early in the contest, and could have found himself further behind had the ITV Wildcard Qualifier hit double top for a third successive ton-plus checkout.

However, the Dutchman hit back with four straight legs to take command, and sealed the win without missing a single attempt at a double.

"I could have been 3-0 down but he let me in and I had to take my chance," said van Barneveld. "I'm very pleased that I've won my first game but I've still got plenty to do."

Mason kicked off the game in superb fashion, with his first three darts being a 180 before he took out 157 for the opening leg.

Mason then took out 121 on the bullseye to double his lead, but was off-target on double top for a 120 checkout that would have given him a 3-0 lead.

Van Barneveld stepped in to finish on double four, and won the next three legs, landing two maximums along the way to move 4-2 up.

Mason took out double top to stay in the contest, but a superb two-dart 96 finish saw Barneveld take the win with a 105 average.

Match Stats

Raymond
van Barneveld

5-3

Chris
Mason

5

100+

13

10

140+

5

2

180

1

35.09

Ave1

31.98

105.26

Ave3

95.94

96

High Finish

157,121


PHIL TAYLOR 5-2 WAYNE MARDLE

PHIL TAYLOR reeled off four successive legs to see off Wayne Mardle in the Group E opener at the PartyBets.com Grand Slam of Darts.

Taylor, the 13-time World Champion and tournament favourite, found himself 2-1 down to Mardle before finding another gear to storm to victory.

He opened well, landing double 18 for the first leg before Mardle took out double top and then broke Taylor's throw in the third leg on double 16.

Taylor levelled on double 12 and then regained the lead at 3-2, with a 137 score leaving him a double top finish.

Taylor landed a crucial blow in leg six to land a hammer blow, taking out a 153 finish with Mardle sat on 66.

The duo kicked off leg seven with maximums, but Mardle paid the price when he hit double eight instead of double 16, with Taylor claiming victory on tops.

"I'm relieved to get the first game out of the way, and hopefully Sunday will go the same way too," said Taylor.

"I was shaking like a leaf but we're all nervous as it's a short format and we want to get past the first round.

"Wayne played well but I think the 153 checkout was the turning point of the game."

Match Stats

Phil
Taylor

5-2

Wayne
Mardle

9

100+

12

4

140+

1

1

180

1

30.55

Ave1

29.15

91.64

Ave3

87.45

153

High Finish

65


KEVIN PAINTER 5-1 GARY ANDERSON

KEVIN PAINTER produced a sensational display to defeat number three seed Gary Anderson 5-1 in the Group G opener at the PartyBets.com Grand Slam of Darts.

Painter only secured his place in the tournament a week ago, winning one of the final two places from the PDC Order of Merit.

However, he was in sensational form to storm past Anderson, landing four maximums and dropping just one leg against the Scot.

He made his intentions clear in the first leg, responding to Anderson opening with a maximum by landing a 180 of his own and taking out double eight for the leg.

He punished misses from Anderson for a second successive leg in moving 2-0 up, and then edged a scrappy third leg to extend his lead.

Anderson got off the mark by taking out 104 on double top, but a brilliant ten-darter from Painter put him 4-1 ahead.

A further maximum from Painter left him 84 for the win, and two misses from Anderson at double ten allowed him to return and take victory on the bullseye.

"I'm pleased with that," said Painter. "Gary's a class player but he left me a couple of shots and my finishing was good.

"My scoring was good too and in a short game like that you want it to come together."

Match Stats

Gary
Anderson

1-5

Kevin
Painter

5

100+

4

5

140+

5

2

180

4

30.41

Ave1

31.98

91.23

Ave3

95.93

104

High Finish

84


EVENING SESSION
TERRY JENKINS 5-2 CHARLES LOSPER


NUMBER eight seed Terry Jenkins made a winning start to the PartyBets.com Grand Slam of Darts with a 5-2 win against South Africa's Charles Losper.

Jenkins put himself in command early in the contest, taking a 2-0 lead with a two-dart 64 finish and a 121 checkout on the bullseye, with his opponent sat on a double.

Emperors Palace South African Open winner Losper got off the mark by taking leg three against the throw on double 12.

Jenkins landed his first maximum on the way to leg four, and extending his lead to 4-1 in the next, with Losper sat waiting on double top.

Jenkins missed double 19 for a 155 finish and the match in the next, with the South African taking out double 16 to stay alive.

However, it was short-lived respite as Jenkins wrapped up the win on double 16.

"I knew Charles was a good player and he did very well," said Jenkins. "He played as I expected him to, but it isn't easy being the favourite and I'm pleased with that."

Match Stats

Terry
Jenkins

5-2

Charles
Losper

11

100+

9

6

140+

4

2

180

0

31.45

Ave1

28.58

94.34

Ave3

85.75

121

High Finish

42


PAT ORREAL 5-1 NIELS DE RUITER

AUSTRALIAN Pat Orreal celebrated his debut on the televised stage in style with a 5-1 victory against Niels de Ruiter.

The Australian Open runner-up was a late replacement for Glenn Power in the tournament, but showed his quality to see off the young Dutchman.

De Ruiter never got into his stride and was out-scored by Orreal, who took a 3-0 lead early on.

Orreal took the first leg in 15 darts, landing a nerve-settling 180 along the way, and then won two more legs before a 98 finish saw de Ruiter get off the mark in leg four.

An 82 finish on double top put Orreal within a leg of victory, and two 140s edged him clear in the next before he took out double five for the win.

"I'm delighted with that," said Orreal. "The darts weren't my best, but it's a win."

Match Stats

Niels
de Ruiter

1-5

Pat
Orreal

4

100+

10

3

140+

4

0

180

1

25.54

Ave1

28.74

76.61

Ave3

86.21

98

High Finish

82


ADRIAN LEWIS 5-4 DENNIS PRIESTLEY

ADRIAN LEWIS defied a bout of double trouble to edge past Dennis Priestley in a dramatic decider to their Group A clash at the PartyBets.com Grand Slam of Darts.

The 21-year-old thought that his chance for victory had passed him by when he missed ten darts for a 5-3 win against the double World Champion.

Priestley took that eighth leg and then led comfortably in the decider, only to miss four darts for the win before Lewis took out 100 to snatch the two points and silence a partisan crowd.

"I'm happy that I pulled through," said Lewis. "I was relieved to get the 100 finish at the end, I hit treble one but knew the treble 19 was going in and then I had to hit double top."

Lewis started in fine fettle, hitting a 150 finish in leg one and taking out double top in the second, although a missed dart for the bullseye in the next allowed Priestley to get off the mark.

Priestley also opened leg four with a 180, but any hopes of levelling were dashed when Lewis landed double eight to move 3-1 up.

A two-dart 88 finish saw the veteran Yorkshireman cut the gap to 3-2, but double nine put Lewis to the brink of victory.

Priestley landed a third maximum on his way to taking leg seven, but a first 180 of the game from Lewis in the next gave him the advantage.

However, he was unable to wrap up the win, missing ten darts for the win, including seven at double five before Priestley hit the same bed to square the game for the first time.

But the 57-year-old saw his own chance to snatch the win pass him by before Lewis hit a makeshift 100 finish - of treble one, treble 19 and double top - for the win.

"I think it was a fair result to be honest," said Priestley, who announced last week that he is suffering from prostate cancer.

"It's nice to have the support but it's not easy to deal with it, and I felt for Adrian that the majority of the support was behind me, perhaps because of my health situation.

"I'd have loved to have sneaked off with the win but I had my chance. Adrian took out a fantastic finish in the first leg and he deserved the win."

Match Stats

Adrian
Lewis

5-4

Dennis
Priestley

11

100+

12

7

140+

3

1

180

3

31.36

Ave1

31.98

94.08

Ave3

95.93

150,100

High Finish

88


KEVIN McDINE 5-2 PETER MANLEY

KEVIN McDINE made a tremendous big-stage debut to defeat Peter Manley 5-2 in the PartyBets.com Grand Slam of Darts.

The 22-year-old ITV Wildcard Qualifier showed no nerves in front of the ITV cameras with an assured display to see off the former world number one.

Manley won the game's opening leg, after McDine missed three darts at a double, but the youngster never looked back after taking out a 161 finish in the second - which puts him in line for a £3,000 bonus as the tournament's current high checkout.

That was the last thing on his mind as he took the next two legs to lead 3-1 before missing the bullseye for an even more spectacular 170 finish, with Manley stepping in to take leg five.

However, a fine 12-darter put McDine 4-2 up and he then took out 108 on double 16 to seal the win.

"It was awesome," said McDine. "It was a great game, unbelievable and a brilliant buzz.

"The way I played was awesome and the 161 finish was great. I've got Jelle Klaasen tomorrow and I can't wait for that, we've never played before."

Match Stats

Peter
Manley

2-5

Kevin
McDine

13

100+

10

5

140+

7

0

180

1

29.28

Ave1

32.54

87.83

Ave3

97.62

76

High Finish

161


COLIN LLOYD 5-3 RONNIE BAXTER

COLIN LLOYD came from behind to see off Ronnie Baxter 5-3 in their first group game at the PartyBets.com Grand Slam of Darts.

Lloyd found himself 2-0 down early in the contest, with Baxter storming out of the blocks to hit a maximum in the opening leg and punish his opponent's missed doubles to move ahead.

Lloyd took out double eight to get off the mark in the third, and then took the next two legs either side of the break to move ahead.

Baxter levelled, despite another maximum from Lloyd leaving him a finish, but a strong seventh leg from the former world number one put him 4-3 up.

Lloyd kicked off the next leg with another 180 and left himself 40 after 12 darts, with Baxter's missed bullseye for a 121 finish allowing him back to seal the win on double top.

Match Stats

Colin
Lloyd

5-3

Ronnie
Baxter

5

100+

7

11

140+

6

2

180

1

33.12

Ave1

30.59

99.37

Ave3

91.76

90

High Finish

134


ROLAND SCHOLTEN 5-3 MERVYN KING

ROLAND SCHOLTEN made a brilliant start to the PartyBets.com Grand Slam of Darts with a 5-3 defeat of Mervyn King in a thriller.

The duo traded heavy scores throughout a tight contest, with King looking set to send the match into a deciding leg before a brilliant 144 checkout from the Dutchman saw him snatch the win.

There was little between the duo from the off, with King taking leg one before a 100 finish saw Scholten take the second, before they traded 180s in the third.

It was Scholten who was first to the finish, and he took out 82 in two darts to lead.

A 14-darter from King saw him level and the next two legs were shared to leave the scores tied at three-all with both players averaging over 100.

Further 180s from the duo saw the high scoring continue in leg seven, but King's missed bullseye for a 127 finish to allow Scholten to land double 18 and move back in front.

King also gave himself one dart at double top in leg eight, but his miss allowed Scholten to return, and the 2004 UK Open winner hit two treble 20s and double 12 for a 144 finish and the win.

Match Stats

Roland
Scholten

5-3

Mervyn
King

9

100+

11

6

140+

6

3

180

3

32.78

Ave1

34.02

98.35

Ave3

102.05

144,100

High Finish

72


GARY MAWSON 5-2 JOHN PART

GARY MAWSON won the north American battle with John Part 5-2 to make a fine start to the PartyBets.com Grand Slam of Darts.

Mawson showed glimpses of the form which saw him reach the quarter-finals at the Las Vegas Desert Classic this year with some classy finishing to defeat the former World Champion.

He stepped in to steal the first let on double top after Part missed a host of doubles, although the Canadian number one hit back with a 126 finish on the bullseye.

Mawson landed a 180 on the way to the third leg, before Part levelled at two-all in the next.

Mawson hit another maximum in winning the fifth, and then took a 4-2 lead on double 16.

He then wrapped up the win on double eight, having also narrowly missed the bullseye for a 170 finish which would have been the highest of the tournament so far.

Match Stats

John
Part

2-5

Gary
Mawson

8

100+

12

2

140+

2

1

180

2

27.17

Ave1

29.01

81.50

Ave3

87.03

126

High Finish

80


BARRIE BATES 5-1 WAYNE JONES

BARRIE BATES made light work of home favourite Wayne Jones with a 5-1 victory in their Group G opener at the PartyBets.com Grand Slam of Darts.

The Welshman dropped just one leg and took out a 123 finish for a victory which earns him a clash on Sunday against Kevin Painter.

Jones took the game's opening leg on double 18, but never got into his stride and was give few chances after missed doubles allowed Bates to win the next two legs.

The Welshman landed double top twice in moving 4-1 up, and then sealed the win with a superb 123 checkout on the bullseye.

Match Stats

Barrie
Bates

5-1

Wayne
Jones

13

100+

9

2

140+

3

0

180

1

28.83

Ave1

26.94

86.50

Ave3

80.82

123

High Finish

76