James Wade and Wayne Jones through to last eight of Grand Slam
World Grand Prix winner James Wade advanced to the quarter-finals of the Grand Slam of Darts by beating Mervyn King in the deciding leg, while Wolverhampton favourite Wayne Jones also sealed his place.
Wade took on King in a repeat of the 2009 Premier League final, where Wade won 13-8, and last night’s match was a thrilling spectacle.
The man from Aldershot had never been beyond the second round in this event, and during the early stages of the game, it was looking like he wouldn’t make it again. Wade found himself 2-0 down, but he managed to turn it around by winning the next three legs, which included a 161 checkout.
Both players were at the top of their game, which was pleasing for King as he vowed to find his best form after an average group campaign. King levelled at 3-3 after Wade missed out on a 120 checkout. Wade edged 5-4 in front after hitting double tops, but King came back again, and when he had the chance to go in front, he missed two darts for a 6-5 lead.
That didn’t faze King at all as he took out a 64 finish to make the score 6-6. A break of throw put King 7-6 in front, but the next four legs also went against the throw, which meant King had the chance to win. However, he had two match darts in his hand, and was unable to post double 18 and double nine, therefore allowing Wade to take the match into a decider.
King fired in three 100-plus scores and a 140 in the final leg, but Wade missed double top for the match, leaving King to checkout 61 for the win. King failed to take his chance, and that left Wade to hit his favourite double 10 to win an epic encounter.
“It was a really tight match and I'm just so happy to get the win,” said Wade, who averaged over 92 in the match. “I was nervous but I also found myself too relaxed in the middle of the game and put myself in a tough position.”
Jones delighted the home crowd in the first match of the night by beating Robert Thornton 10-6. Jones was lucky to be in the knockout round as he came through at the expense of Mark Webster, who missed six match darts to eliminate Jones.
Thornton took the lead, but he would be made to pay for missing his doubles as Jones won the next four legs to surge ahead. Thornton topped his group by winning all three of his games, and he needed to play like that if he wanted to get back into the game.
The Scotsman managed to pull the score back to 4-3, hitting a 129 along the way, but Jones crept closer to the finish line as he took a 6-4 lead.
The crowd favourite then made the score 8-4 after an 11-dart leg and a 96 finish put him two away from the win, but Thornton halved the deficit.
A miss on double tops by Thornton gave Jones the impetus he needed to go on and clinch the match, and he did so by winning the next two legs.
“I knew it would be tough and I was pretty relieved that Robert missed his doubles in the end,” said Jones, a runner-up to Phil Taylor at the European Championship earlier this year. “The finishing was always going to be a deciding factor and luckily enough it was in my favour.
“I feel like I'm on the verge of throwing a high average on stage and have to go up there and do it now. I can't wait for the quarter-finals on Saturday,” added Jones.
Gary Anderson is Jones’ last eight opponent after he came through comfortably against Colin Osborne 10-3.
Anderson was rarely troubled as Osborne was unable to produce the darts that got him out of his group. Anderson quickly raced into a 3-0 lead, but Osborne took two of the next three legs to make the score 4-2. That spurred Anderson on as he went 7-2 up thanks to 14, 14 and 13-dart legs.
Despite missing three match darts at 9-2, Anderson replied to Osborne making the score 9-3 by winning the leg he needed to reach the quarter-finals.
“My finishing was great and I'm delighted to be through,” said UK Open finalist Anderson. “It will be different against Wayne Jones on Saturday because he's in great form.”
Terry Jenkins was the other player on the night to book his place in the last eight, beating Tony O’Shea 10-7.
Grand Slam finalist in 2008 Jenkins was 3-0 down, but managed to turn the match around and become the second most successful player in the tournament behind Taylor. Since the Grand Slam was created in 2007, he has reached the quarter-finals, the final and semi-finals, and has kept up that good record.
He will return to play Wade in the quarters after overcoming an in-form O’Shea, who hit 10 180s and averaged over 101 in the match.
“Tony played great darts and deserved to take the first session but I worked hard to get back into the game,” said Jenkins, who has reached seven major finals but is yet to emerge victorious. “I love this tournament and am really pleased to be in the quarter-finals, but I want to go all the way."
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