Grand Slam of Darts - Day Two

REPORTS from the second day of the 2009 PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts.

Groups E-H played their opening matches during the afternoon session, with Groups A-D in action in the evening for their second games of the event.

Schedule of Play
Afternoon Session (12pm-5pm)
Groups E-H First Games
Steve Beaton 5-2 Co Stompe
Robert Thornton 5-2 Andy Hamilton
Adrian Lewis 2-5 Darin Young
Simon Whitlock 5-1 Wayne Mardle
Ted Hankey 3-5 Scott Waites
Gary Anderson 5-2 Kevin McDine
James Wade 5-3 Gary Mawson
Terry Jenkins 5-1 Denis Ovens

Evening Session (6pm-11pm)
Groups A-D Second Games
John Part 5-3 Francis Hoenselaar
Colin Lloyd 5-0 Brian Woods
Vincent van der Voort 4-5 Anastasia Dobromyslova
Darryl Fitton 3-5 Kirk Shepherd
Raymond van Barneveld 5-4 Kevin Painter
Phil Taylor 5-0 Mark Webster
Tony O'Shea 5-2 Colin Osborne
Mervyn King 5-4 Steve Maish

STEVE BEATON 5-2 CO STOMPE

STEVE BEATON enjoyed a debut victory at the PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts with a 5-2 win over Co Stompe.

Beaton, who has enjoyed a successful couple of months on the PDC circuit, winning over £40,000 in the process, has now put himself in a good position to qualify for the knockout phases.

The former World Champion started the game confidently, opening up with two 140s in the process of taking the opening leg.

A superb 170 from Beaton put the pressure on Stompe in the second leg, and he succumbed by missing two darts to level the game and allowed Beaton to increase his lead.

But Stompe broke back in the third leg with a good two-dart 70 finish, only for Beaton to hit a 12-darter to restore his two leg advantage.

Beaton moved 4-1 ahead with the aid of a 15-dart leg, but Stompe fought hard and converted a 13-darter in the sixth to keep the game alive.

The Dutchman had the initiative in the seventh leg, but he wasted two opportunities at doubles and Beaton closed the game out by landing double top with his last dart.

"I put the pressure on Co from the start and thankfully he missed a couple of chances," said Beaton. I'm very happy with today's result."

Match Stats

Steve Beaton	5-2	Co Stompe
10	100+	12
6	140+	3
1	180	0
32.60	Ave 1	32.35
97.80	Ave 3	97.06
121	High Finish	70
2	Legs Against Throw	1

ROBERT THORNTON 5-2 ANDY HAMILTON

ROBERT THORNTON won the opening game of Group H with a 5-2 victory over former Grand Slam of Darts finalist Andy Hamilton.

Thornton, making his second appearance in the event, broke throw in the opening leg with a 14-dart finish, which included a maximum.

The Scotsman landed double top for a second time to win the second leg, and the same double came to his aid again as he moved into a 3-0 lead.

Hamilton stemmed the tide by taking the fourth leg with his first 180, and then got himself right back into the game by winning the fifth to reduce the deficit to 3-2.

Both players wasted chances to win the next and it took a crucial last dart on double two from Thornton to go one leg away from the match.

Hamilton landed two maximums in the seventh leg, but wasted five darts at doubles and Thornton stepped in to claim victory.

"I've never seen Andy miss so many doubles and it was a case of taking my chances," said Thornton. "This is a really tough group and I've given myself a good chance of getting through."

A disappointed Hamilton admitted that the proved to be the decisive factor, saying: "I really paid for the mistakes I made today. It's my own fault."

Match Stats

Robert Thornton	5-2	Andy Hamilton
6	100+	7
7	140+	3
2	180	4
31.63	Ave 1	30.54
94.88	Ave 3	91.63
56	High Finish	76
3	Legs Against Throw	1

DARIN YOUNG 5-2 ADRIAN LEWIS

DARIN YOUNG produced an excellent display to defeat PDC number eight Adrian Lewis at the 2009 PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts.

The American, who appeared in last year's event, put together five impressive legs from 2-0 down to win the match and give himself a great chance of coming through Group G.

Lewis, started the match well with a 13-dart finish to break throw, and then won the second leg to move 2-0 ahead.

Young got himself into the game by winning the third leg, and then levelled the game with a fabulous 147 checkout.

Young then won the fifth leg, to lead for the first time in the game and then extended that with an 81 finish, after looking at a potential nine-darter when he hit back-to-back 180s.

The American missed chances to win the match in the seventh leg, but Lewis was unable to capitalise when missing four opportunities of his own, and Young returned to the oche to record a famous win.

"That 147 was the turning point in the match," admitted Young. "Adrian was waiting on a double and I could have fallen further behind."

Lewis admitted: "I'm unhappy at the moment. I had opportunities to go 3-0 up and didn't take them.

"All I can do now is get back on the practice board and prepare myself for tomorrow."

Match Stats

Adrian Lewis	2-5	Darin Young
3	100+	10
7	140+	4
3	180	3
30.40	Ave 1	30.90
91.21	Ave 3	92.71
28	High Finish	147
1	Legs Against Throw	2

SIMON WHITLOCK 5-1 WAYNE MARDLE

AUSTRALIAN Simon Whitlock produced a superb display to defeat Wayne Mardle 5-1 in the opening game of Group E in the PartyPoker.net Grand Slam of Darts.

Whitlock, who reached the quarter-finals of last year's event, will now play Scott Waites on Monday evening.

After the match the victorious Aussie said: "I'm really pleased with the win as Wayne is a tough player.

"My finishing was excellent and that was the difference."

Whitlock broke throw in the opening leg with the aid of a maximum, and then hit a clinical 142 checkout after Mardle had missed two darts at double 16 to level matters.

Mardle managed to win the third leg after Whitlock missed four chances for a double-break, but Whitlock soon restored his two-leg advantage with a 68 finish.

Whitlock continued to power on and the fifth leg with a 14-dart finish and rounded of the match in style with a 141 checkout.

"Simon's finishing really killed me and I got what I deserved," said Mardle. "This year has been disappointing for me with illness and poor form, but I am glad to be back competing again."

Match Stats

Simon Whitlock	5-1	Wayne Mardle
2	100+	6
8	140+	3
3	180	2
32.59	Ave 1	30.21
97.76	Ave 3	90.64
142, 141	High Finish	32
2	Legs Against Throw	0

SCOTT WAITES 5-3 TED HANKEY

SCOTT WAITES made a winning start to his 2009 PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts campaign with a tough 5-3 victory over Ted Hankey.

Waites had led the game 4-1 but missed a total of 13 darts to win the match before finally coming through.

"I really stumbled over the line," conceded Waites. "I should have closed out the game earlier, but I'm glad I came through."

Waites took the first leg in impressive fashion, landing bullseye for an 87 finish, before Hankey took the second leg to level the game.

The Yorkshireman managed to regain the lead after Hankey missed a dart at bullseye for a 170 checkout, and then broke throw for a 3-1 lead when he hit double nine.

Waites moved further clear when he put together a 15-darter in the fifth leg, but he missed four chances at double top to win and the Lakeside Champion made him pay by converting a 100 finish.

The pressure really got to Waites in the next leg as he nine more opportunities to win the match and Hankey landed double six to keep his hopes alive.

But Waites put those mistakes behind him and managed to hit a 96 finish in eighth leg to confirm victory.

Match Stats

Ted Hankey	3-5	Scott Waites
14	100+	7
2	140+	7
0	180	1
24.96	Ave 1	26.50
74.89	Ave 3	79.49
100	High Finish	96
1	Legs Against Throw	2

GARY ANDERSON 5-2 KEVIN McDINE

GARY ANDERSON made a winning start to the PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts with a 5-2 victory over Kevin McDine.

Anderson ended the match with a three-dart average of over 100 and will now take on Steve Beaton in an eye-catching encounter on Monday evening.

The Scotsman comfortably held throw in the first leg before McDine squared the game with a 70 finish.

Anderson regained the lead with a 12-dart leg and then broke his opponent's throw in the fourth leg, which included his second maximum of the game.

Anderson, who has reached the semi-finals in his previous two appearances at this event, then moved 4-1 ahead after landing double 16.

McDine, a former semi-finalist in Wolverhampton himself, kept the game alive by winning the sixth leg, but Anderson closed out the game in the next leg by hitting double 10 for the second time in the contest.

Anderson, who admitted to feeling under the weather before the match said: "Kevin didn't play any were near like I know he can."

Looking ahead to his clash against Steve Beaton tomorrow night Anderson added: "I know I will have to play well against Steve. He has been on fire in the last couple of months."

Match Stats

Gary Anderson	5-2	Kevin McDine
11	100+	5
5	140+	1
3	180	2
33.35	Ave 1	29.66
100.05	Ave 3	88.99
140	High Finish	70
1	Legs Against Throw	0

JAMES WADE 5-3 GARY MAWSON

JAMES WADE won his opening match in Group H at the 2009 PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts with a 5-3 triumph over Gary Mawson.

Wade struggled throughout in an under-par performance but managed to come out on top, and will now play Robert Thornton on Monday evening.

The world number three held throw at the start of the match despite Mawson having four opportunities to break.

Mawson won the second leg and had more chances to win the third, but the American was guilty of missing more doubles and Wade took a 2-1 lead.

Wade, who became the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts champion back in May, broke his opponent's throw for a 3-1 lead and then landed double 16 for a 4-1 advantage.

Wade missed three darts for the match in the sixth leg and Mawson stepped in by hitting double seven to keep his hopes alive.

Wade missed two more chances to close the game out in the next leg and Mawson hit double top to reduce the deficit to 4-3.

In the eighth leg Mawson missed one dart at double top to take the game into a deciding leg, and Wade pounced by converting a 102 checkout to get the two points.

Match Stats

James Wade	5-3	Gary Mawson
8	100+	12
5	140+	6
1	180	0
26.52	Ave 1	27.38
79.57	Ave 3	82.15
102	High Finish	40
2	Legs Against Throw	1

TERRY JENKINS 5-1 DENIS OVENS

TERRY JENKINS made a confident start to his PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts campaign with a 5-1 victory over Denis Ovens.

Jenkins, who reached the final of last year's event before losing to Phil Taylor in the final, ended the match with an impressive three dart average of 103.09.

The Herefordshire man, who is seeded sixth this year, made a strong start breaking throw in the second leg with a clinical 121 checkout for a 2-0 lead.

Ovens managed to reduce the deficit by winning the third leg, but Jenkins won the next with an 86 finish to restore his two-leg advantage.

Jenkins continued his high standard and went 4-1 ahead with a 14-dart finish and the finished off the game in the sixth leg by landing double four.

Jenkins will now take on American Darin Young, who he lost to in the group stages of last year's event.

"I definitely want revenge over Darin after what happened last year," said Jenkins. "He took out some good finishes today in his game against Adrian Lewis and I know I will have to be on my game."

Match Stats

Terry Jenkins	5-1	Denis Ovens
8	100+	9
4	140+	4
2	180	0
34.36	Ave 1	30.33
103.09	Ave 3	91.00
121	High Finish	66
3	Legs Against Throw	1

EVENING SESSION
JOHN PART 5-3 FRANCIS HOENSELAAR

JOHN PART survived a mighty scare before coming through the challenge of Womens World Champion Francis Hoenselaar in Wolverhampton.

The game was finely poised at three all before the Canadian won two legs on the bounce to keep his hopes of reaching the knockout stages alive.

After the match a relieved Part said: "That was scary. Francis showed that she is an excellent dart player, and I had to work very hard for the win."

Hoenselaar started the match superbly with a 113 checkout in the opening leg. She then doubled her lead after Part missed three darts at doubles.

Part took the third leg to get his name on the board and then squared the game after Hoenselaar missed four darts at double top to take a 3-1 lead.

Hoenselaar led the game for a third time after winning the fifth leg, and then had a chance to win the next leg. But her attempt at bullseye for a 135 finish was off-target and Part landed double 19.

Part then took the lead for the first time in the contest despite Hoesnelaar hitting her second 180 of the game. The Canadian then managed to close out the match with an 80 finish.

After the match Hoenselaar said: "I really enjoyed tonight. I felt more comfortable on the stage. I had chances to really put the pressure and should have probably have gone 3-1 ahead. That may have been the difference."

Match Stats

John Part	5-3	Francis Hoenselaar
15	100+	7
1	140+	4
0	180	2
29.02	Ave 1	26.04
87.07	Ave 3	78.13
100	High Finish	113
3	Legs Against Throw	2

COLIN LLOYD 5-0 BRIAN WOODS

COLIN LLOYD put together a clinical display to whitewash Brian Woods at the 2009 PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts.

The Essex thrower bounced back from a disappointing defeat to Colin Osborne on the opening night of the competition with an impressive three-dart average of 101.

Woods recorded a maximum in the opening leg, but was unable to land double top to win it, and Lloyd hit double five to take the lead.

Woods hit another 180 in the second leg but it was Lloyd who hit an excellent 124 checkout to double his advantage.

Lloyd soon made it 3-0, and then went one leg away from the match by completing an 84 finish on the bullseye.

Woods had no answer and Lloyd hit double fourteen in the fifth leg to complete a comprehensive win.

After the match Lloyd said: "I knew I had to have a big game today after last night's disappointing result. I was focused tonight and I enjoyed it."

Lloyd will now take on Tony O'Shea in his last group match on Tuesday evening.

Match Stats

Colin Lloyd	5-0	Brian Woods
4	100+	7
6	140+	3
2	180	2
33.85	Ave 1	32.10
101.55	Ave 3	96.30
124	High Finish	-
2	Legs Against Throw	0

ANASTASIA DOBROMYSLOVA 5-4 VINCENT VAN DER VOORT

ANASTASIA DOBROMYSLOVA recorded a famous victory against Dutchman Vincent Van der Voort with a 5-4 win at the 2009 PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts.

The former Womens World Champion was 4-3 behind, but won the final two legs of the match to keep her hopes of reaching the knockout stages alive and also become only the second female, behind Deta Hedman, to defeat a man in a televised PDC event.

Both players held throw in the opening two legs, before van der Voort broke throw in the third leg after Dobromyslova missed four darts at doubles for a 2-1 lead.

Van der Voort then moved into a 3-1 lead in the fourth leg after Dobromyslova was off-target on the doubles once again.

But Dobromyslova hit back superbly, winning the fifth leg with a 15-dart finish and then levelling the game with a fantastic 12 darter, opened with a 180 and completed with a 121 checkout on the bullseye.

Van der Voort took the lead once again by winning the seventh leg, but the Russian produced three 140s to win the next against the darts.

In the deciding leg Van der Voort missed a dart at double 16 for the match, and Dobromyslova capitalised by converting a superb two-dart 100 finish under immense pressure.

"I'm on top of the world," said the 25-year-old Russian. "I'm really pleased a lady has won and pleased it's me.

"This year, I'm a different player to when I played in the Grand Slam in 2008. I feel more comfortable and that shows on stage - but I've not qualified yet and I've got to think of playing Mark Webster on Tuesday now."

Match Stats

Vincent van der Voort	4-5	Anastasia Dobromyslova
9	100+	15
4	140+	6
1	180	2
27.12	Ave 1	28.87
81.35	Ave 3	86.62
40 x2	High Finish	121,100
2	Legs Against Throw	2

KIRK SHEPHERD 5-3 DARRYL FITTON

KIRK SHEPHERD kept alive his hopes of qualifying for the knockout phase of the PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts with a 5-3 win over Darryl Fitton, who suffered a second successive loss in the event.

Shepherd was whitewashed by Mervyn King in his opening game, but replied in style with a strong display.

Shepherd broke throw in the opening leg, hitting a 180 to leave 62, took the second and then landed another maximum in a 14-darter to move 3-0 up.

A brace of double top finishes from Fitton put him back into the contest at 3-2, but a 68 finish from Shepherd edged him a leg away from the win.

Fitton landed a second 180 of the game and then double 18 in a 13-dart finish to keep the game alive, but Shepherd edged clear in the next and took out double eight for victory.

Match Stats

Darryl Fitton	3-5	Kirk Shepherd
13	100+	7
4	140+	6
2	180	2
31.17	Ave 1	31.38
93.51	Ave 3	94.13
40 x2	High Finish	68
1	Legs Against Throw	2

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD 5-4 KEVIN PAINTER

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD produced a brilliant comeback from 3-1 down to claim a final-leg victory over Kevin Painter and put one foot into the second round of the PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts.

The Dutchman defeated Francis Hoenselaar in Saturday's opening fixture, but looked on course to lose his unbeaten record when Painter stormed clear.

Painter produced a 12-darter to open the match, with both players hitting 180s as the Englishman broke throw, before then hitting a second maximum and double eight to move 2-0 up, although van Barneveld missed three darts at double 19.

The duo traded 180s again in the third, but painter missed two darts to steal the leg in giving van Barneveld a reprieve on double two.

Painter recovered to land a 134 in setting up tops for a 3-1 lead at the break, and he also held a 4-2 cushion after they shared the next two legs, before van Barneveld posted double two in the seventh.

Painter missed five darts for the match in leg eight, as double top from van Barneveld secured his first break and also a deciding leg.

The leg was opened with a maximum from Painter, but he left himself 40 after 12 darts only for the Dutchman to hold his nerve with double 18 for a 96 finish.

"Kevin played great darts before the break but after the break it turned around and Kevin let me in," said van Barneveld. "The last leg was tense but I'm so pleased to have won.

"There are so many times I've played well and lost so it's good it's happened for me the other way tonight."

Match Stats

Raymond van Barneveld	5-4	Kevin Painter
12	100+	6
6	140+	4
2	180	4
30.34	Ave 1	30.09
91.08	Ave 3	90.26
96	High Finish	91
1	Legs Against Throw	1

PHIL TAYLOR 5-0 MARK WEBSTER

PHIL TAYLOR recorded a second successive whitewash win in the PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts by storming past Mark Webster at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall.

Reigning champion Taylor saw off Anastasia Dobromyslova in just 71 darts on Saturday, and matched that 24 hours later to book his place in the knockout last 16 with a game to spare.

Taylor kicked off the contest with a maximum, and took the first leg with a 13-darter before repeating the feat in the second to break Webster's throw, punishing four missed doubles for the leg from the Welshman.

Webster also missed one dart for the third leg - at double top for a 160 finish - as Taylor landed double eight for a 14-dart finish, and the 14-time World Champion edged a scrappy fourth with double one. as the left-hander saw four more chances go begging.

Taylor returned from the break in ominous mood, hitting scores of 135, 140 and 140 before taking out 86 in two darts for an 11-darter in wrapping up a comprehensive win.

"Maybe the scoreline doesn't reflect the game but I put Mark under pressure and he missed doubles," said Taylor. "I'm pleased to be through now but I still want to beat Vincent van der Voort on Tuesday and stay unbeaten."

Match Stats

Phil Taylor	5-0	Mark Webster
4	100+	4
7	140+	4
1	180	1
35.28	Ave 1	27.67
105.85	Ave 3	83.00
86	High Finish	-
2	Legs Against Throw	0

TONY O'SHEA 5-2 COLIN OSBORNE

TONY O'SHEA maintained his impeccable start to the PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts with a 5-2 win over Colin Osborne to put one foot into the second round.

O'Shea followed up Saturday's defeat of Brian Woods with a 98.91 average in overcoming Osborne, who held an early 2-1 lead.

Osborne opened the match with a 180 and took the opening leg against the throw, only for O'Shea to reply in kind in the second.

Three missed doubles from O'Shea allowed Osborne to nick the second on tops, only for the Derby man to then miss two darts for a 3-1 lead, as double 16 saw his opponent level at the break.

Double 16 for a second successive leg gave O'Shea a 3-2 cushion, and the duo traded 180s in the next as the BDO number one took a 4-2 lead on double eight, before wrapping up the win on double 16.

"It was quite a good performance and I'm happy with that," said O'Shea, who meets Colin Lloyd on Tuesday in his final group game.

"Colin started well but I hung in there and I think my experience got me through in the end because I didn't panic."

Match Stats

Tony O'Shea	5-2	Colin Osborne
9	100+	7
7	140+	3
2	180	2
32.97	Ave 1	29.83
98.91	Ave 3	89.50
62	High Finish	84
3	Legs Against Throw	2

MERVYN KING 5-4 STEVE MAISH

MERVYN KING booked his spot in the second round of the PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts with a final-leg victory over Steve Maish.

King had whitewashed Kirk Shepherd on Saturday, but had to come from 3-1 down to see off the ITV Wildcard Qualifier.

Maish made a brilliant start, winning the first leg on the bull and missed double 11 for the second leg, before King levelled.

But Maish produced a sensational 161 checkout to claim the third leg and moved 3-1 up with a 100 finish that featured two double tops.

However, he missed his chances to win the fifth as King pulled back to 3-2, before he levelled despite a 180 from Maish in the next.

King edged leg seven to lead for the first time, only for Maish to land a 180 and double 16 to secure a deciding leg, but it was King who was took strong to take out 70 for the victory.

Match Stats