It was win or bust for both players and the Canadian made a slow start, as the BDO No.2 looked to be coasting to victory, when he raced into a 4-1 lead. Webster then missed one dart at double 12 to win the match 5-1…..it was the signal for the great escape from Unicorn’s two-times World Champion.
A brilliant 90 bull finish kept that dream alive and he upped his average by a full ten points to level at four apiece. Webster couldn’t believe what was happening but Part never stopped believing! His second maximum set up the victory in the final leg and double eight sealed it.
“I sometimes call myself slow start Part!” he said. “But I knew there was more to come and when Mark missed his chance to win 5-1, I thought I could get back into it. The main thing is that my fate is in my own hands.”
Part must now beat Andy Jenkins in Tuesday night’s final group match to progress through to the last 16.
Kevin Painter though, is celebrating his place in the last 16 – following up his 5-1 demolition of Gary Anderson, with a 5-0 hammering of Team Unicorn stablemate Barrie Bates.
It was the first whitewash of the Grand Slam. Painter set the tone by winning the opening two legs in 14 and 13 darts and Bates was clearly struggling with his finishing.
Painter said: “For some reason, I was very nervous up there but I am playing well and I know I can go a long way this week.”
And what a terrific performance from Unicorn new boy Gary Mawson….He is through to the knock-out stages, after coming from behind to upset Andy Jenkins….The American No.1 beat John Part of course, on the opening day of the Grand Slam – and was 3-1 down against Jenkins.
Then came the fightback….four consecutive legs, a 116 finish and a cool 80 check-out to win his place in the last 16.
‘The Hammer’ is also definitely in the knock-out stages after a terrific victory in the all-Unicorn clash against Terry Jenkins…..Andy Hamilton won 5-2 and his second victory of the tournament seals his place in the last 16. His final match comes against group outsider Charles Losper on Monday night but Hamilton’s leg difference is healthy enough to see him through.
Jenkins will be hugely disappointed…..after breaking the throw to lead 2-1, he lost his range and Hamilton reeled off four legs on the spin to leave ‘The Bull’ needing to beat Vincent van der Voort to progress.
James Wade made it two straight wins to secure his place in the last 16 – beating Australian Pat Orreal 5-1. He kicked off with a 13-darter and although a 100 finish from the Aussie won the third leg, Wade was in cruise control with an average of 103.
Adrian Lewis must now win his last match against Chris Mason to make sure of getting through his group. The Stoke star was beaten 5-3 by Raymond Van Barneveld and will be cursing missed opportunities. In the end, one break of throw was enough for Barney.
A 121 bull finish from ‘Jackpot’ saw him trail 3-2….the next two legs went with throw, before Lewis wasted a terrific chance to take the match into a deciding leg. He started the 8th leg with a maximum and followed it up with 134 but then proceeded to miss five darts at a double for the leg. Barney seized his chance and double 16 ended the Lewis hopes.
Peter Manley’s Grand Slam ambitions are in tatters. Manley is totally out-of-touch at the moment and he is also suffering from a back problem. He slumped to his second defeat – thrashed 5-1 by Shaun Greatbatch. Manley’s average of only 81 tells its own story. The BDO man also hit a brilliant 164 finish and ‘One Dart’ became the first man definitely eliminated from the Grand Slam of Darts.
Grand Slam of Darts – Sunday results:
Afternoon session:
Kevin Painter 5-0 Barrie Bates
Evening session:
Shaun Greatbatch 5-1 Peter Manley
Monday’s Order of Play:
James Wade v Niels de Ruiter
BY STUART PYKE
Photo courtesy of Lawrence Lustig / PDC
