PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts Day Six

REPORTS and results from Thursday's second round games at the 2008 PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts.

The final four games in round two take place at the Wolverhampton Civic, including the eagerly anticipated meeting of number three seed James Wade and 2007 semi-finalist Gary Anderson..

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PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts
Second Round (Best of 19 legs)
Darryl Fitton 10-8 Denis Ovens (Match 8)
Terry Jenkins 10-8 Robert Thornton (Match 6)
Gary Anderson 10-8 James Wade (Match 7)
Raymond van Barneveld 10-4 Darin Young (Match 5)

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DARRYL FITTON 10-8 DENIS OVENS
DARRYL FITTON held off Denis Ovens' fightback to book a quarter-final berth in the PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts.

Fitton had topped a tough Group H in the first round, and continued his strong form to land five maximums and ten from 19 attempts at a double in seeing off Ovens.

Fitton punished a slow start from Ovens to take a 3-1 lead early, with the German Darts Championship runner-up missing four darts to win the first leg.

Fitton, the World Masters runner-up, landed a 180 to set up a finish in the second before Ovens won the third to get off the mark.

Double top put Fitton 3-1 up, and after Ovens took out 78 on double 12 the Stockport ace then took legs of 15, 14 and 13 darts to pull out to 6-2.

Ovens hit double 18 to reduce the arrears, and then won three legs in a row after Fitton had taken a 7-3 lead to pull back to 7-6.

A double four finish edged Fitton away before a 122 finish from Ovens pulled him back to 8-7 - but crucially he began the next leg with a 60 as his opponent hit back-to-back maximums.

A potential nine-darter from Fitton was missed on the seventh dart, but he landed double 16 to take the leg in 12 darts and move a leg away from the win.

Double 16 kept Ovens in the game, but a missed dart at the same bed allowed Fitton back in to seal the win on tops.

"I responded quite well when Denis came back at me and I'm happy with how I played," said Fitton. "I'm pleased with my scoring and finishing well, so I'll look forward to the quarter-finals."

Ovens said: "My doubles cost me and I was on the back foot after losing the first leg, but Darryl played well."

Match Stats

Darryl Fitton	10-8	Denis Ovens
19	100+	31
16	140+	10
5	180	1
31.57	Ave1	30.63
94.71	Ave3	91.89
58	High Finish	122

TERRY JENKINS 10-8 ROBERT THORNTON
TERRY JENKINS came from 5-2 down to win a place in the quarter-finals of the PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts with a narrow 10-8 defeat of Robert Thornton.

Jenkins looked on course to exit the tournament when the in-form Scot powered into the lead, but landed nine maximums in pulling back to take the win.

Thornton won the first three legs of the contest, including a bull finish, to give himself the early advantage before Jenkins landed a first maximum in taking leg four in 15 darts.

A missed double top allowed Thornton in for a 4-1 cushion, with the duo trading maximums in leg six before double 19 gave Jenkins the leg.

He then landed two 180s in the next, only to miss seven darts at double 18 as Thornton stepped in for a 5-2 lead.

Missed doubles from Thornton in the next two allowed Jenkins to cut the gap to one leg, before a 118 finish put Thornton 6-4 ahead.

Jenkins, though, lifted his game to hit 180s in the next three legs as well as regaining his touch on double top to lead for the first time at 7-6.

Double top saw Thornton level before a 99 finish from Jenkins put him back in front.

Crucially, Thornton missed four darts at double 18 and double nine to square the game in the next leg, and double one from Jenkins put him on the brink of victory.

Thornton battled back with a 180 and a 126 finish for a 12-darter, but Jenkins landed his ninth maximum to set up a finish in the next before sealing the win on double nine.

"I've been close for the last couple of years but had a bad spell in the first half of 2008 and think I'm coming back into form," said Jenkins.

"I was a bit slow in my scoring in the first for or five legs but then I kept hitting 180s in legs and losing legs! But I'm happy to be through."

Thornton added: "When Terry got going he didn't miss much and is an outstanding player. I'm not too disappointed to lose because I'm happy with my performance there and improving every week."

Match Stats

Terry Jenkins	10-8	Robert Thornton
16	100+	23
13	140+	13
9	180	3
31.14	Ave1	31.07
93.43	Ave3	93.30
99	High Finish	126,118

GARY ANDERSON 10-8 JAMES WADE
GARY ANDERSON defied a nine-darter from James Wade to win his place in the quarter-finals of the PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts with a 10-8 victory.

Wade capped a comeback from 5-3 down to move 7-5 up with his first televised perfect leg, hitting back-to-back 180s before landing treble 20, treble 19 and double 12.

However, that was not enough for the UK Open champion, who saw Anderson hit five 180s in as many legs to pull through for victory.

"The nine-darter is irrelevant because I played badly and that alone wasn't enough to win me the game," said Wade.

"I believed I would do a job and had chances after the nine-darter and didn't take them, but I wasn't consistent enough over the course of the game."

The first two legs were shared on double top before Anderson wasted four darts at a double in the third before Wade stepped in to lead.

A 116 finish saw the Scot level, but a missed bullseye let Wade in on double eight for a 3-2 lead.

Anderson took the next three as the duo traded 180s, giving the 2007 semi-finalist a 5-3 cushion before three successive double top finishes from Wade - including checkouts of 102 and 101 - put him 6-5 up.

He then brought the Wolverhampton Civic crowd to its feet with his stunning nine-darter, only for missed doubles in the next to allow Anderson back in.

Anderson hit six perfect darts in leg 14, and levelled on double 16 after a potential nine-darter in reply went begging.

A two-dart 64 finish from Wade saw him move 8-7 up, but a 180 to lead a checkout in the next was not enough as Anderson took out double top to square matters again.

Anderson then hit a 180 to begin leg 17 before taking out 118 for a 12-darter to break Wade's throw, before sealing his win on double four.

"James wasn't at his best," said Anderson. "He is a heavy scorer but he never got going and I'm pleased to be through to the quarters."

Match Stats

James Wade	8-10	Gary Anderson
22	100+	20
13	140+	10
5	180	10
29.96	Ave1	31.72
89.98	Ave3	95.16
141(for nine-darter),102,101	High Finish	116 x2

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD 10-4 DARIN YOUNG
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD powered into the quarter-finals of the PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts with a 10-4 defeat of Darin Young.

Having progressed through the group phase unbeaten, van Barneveld showed his title credentials with a strong display to end the American's hopes.

After Young shared the opening two legs, van Barneveld found another gear to reel off five successive legs in storming clear.

Young punished misses from the Dutchman in leg eight to win a second leg, only for van Barneveld to reply with a brilliant ten-darter and a 110 finish to lead 8-2.

Young took the next two, including a 12-darter, but any hope of a comeback was quickly snuffed out by van Barneveld, who hit a 174 to leave a 110 finish, which he took out on double 16.

He then opened the next with a maximum, and defied a 180 from Young to wrap up victory on double 16.

"I felt pretty confident and am happy to be through," said van Barneveld. "It wasn't my best display but I gave myself a rest day on Wednesday and maybe that showed.

"I'll be better against Terry Jenkins in the quarter-finals, and I know I have to be because he's back in top form and showing why he's a top-eight player.

"He beat me here last year and I'm out for revenge. I'd won my three group matches then but lost against Terry having with an average over 100, and I'll look forward to our game."

Young admitted: "Going 4-1 down was too big an obstacle to overcome against a player of Raymond's quality.

"I'm disappointed because I've been playing well and had a good week but didn't perform today."

Match Stats