Darts World Grand Prix quarter-finals preview
Eight players remain in the darts World Grand Prix in Dublin, and they will all have to be on their game in the unique double-start format.
Chasing a 10th World Grand Prix, Phil Taylor takes on Gary Anderson, while five-time champion of the world Raymond van Barneveld plays Barrie Bates. Andy Hamilton plays James Wade, and Adrian Lewis has a match against Wayne Jones.
Taylor has not been put under pressure so far in this tournament, cruising to straight-sets victories over Brendan Dolan and Andy Smith.
A game against Anderson is a repeat of the UK Open final from this year, and for Anderson, it is another tough match in prospect. Twice he has been on the verge of defeat in his battles with Ronnie Baxter and Kevin Painter. The Flying Scotsman had to dig extremely deep to grind out the wins, and will have to do something similar against the 15-time world champion.
Van Barneveld beat Mark Walsh last night in four sets, and plays Welshman Bates, who beat his good friend Wes Newton in a five-set thriller in the sudden-death leg. Barney is looking to reach the World Grand Prix final for the third year in a row, and he averaged over 91 against Walsh.
Bates only managed an average of 81, and will have to up that figure to at least 90-plus if he is to stand a chance against the Dutchman.
World No.3 Wade comfortably beat Colin Osborne last night, and he takes on a confident and buoyant Hamilton, who shocked Simon Whitlock in five sets. Hamilton averaged close to 92 and took out finishes of 154 and 130 along the way. Wade won this title back in 2007, and has shown signs of playing something close to that form in his games against Mick McGowan and Osborne.
The quarter-finals kick off with Jackpot Lewis taking on in-form Jones. Lewis has beaten Alan Tabern and Terry Jenkins, but shouldn’t underestimate Jones. The man from Wolverhampton has reached the quarter-finals of the World Matchplay and the final of the European Championship, and another quarter-final is down to wins over world No.4 Mervyn King and Steve Brown. A close match could go all the way tonight.
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