He certainly hit the ‘Jackpot’ - demolishing Chris Mason 5-0 to make sure of his place in the knock-out stages.
The whole match lasted less than 20 minutes….Lewis checked out 72 and 78, looked good on the finishing and just missed the bull for a 170 to win the match….he averaged an impressive 101.55
Terry Jenkins will face World Champion Raymond Van Barneveld in the knock-out stages. ‘The Bull’ came from 2-1 down to win four consecutive legs and beat Vincent van der Voort in their winner takes it all clash.
He looked sluggish early on but a brilliant 177 in the 5th leg swung the match his way. He followed that with a 140 finish and his favourite double top saw Jenkins across the finishing line.
James Wade made it three wins out of three, with a comfortable victory over Niels de Ruiter, to top Group C and set up a 2nd Round clash against Australian Pat Orreal, who came from 4-0 down to beat Phill Nixon
Unicorn’s World Matchplay and World Grand Prix Champion looked in terrific form. After losing the opening leg, there was no stopping Wade, who won the next five in under 15 minutes! He averaged 98 and it really was that easy….the highlight was a brilliant 158 check-out on the bull.
Andy Hamilton will be hugely disappointed with his performance….he was well below par against South African Charles Losper but a scrappy 5-3 victory means ‘The Hammer’ takes top spot in Group B, to set up that mouth-watering 2nd Round head-to-head with Lewis.
Losper put up a good fight, although the Stoke man always had something in reserve and the Hamilton highlight was a 145 finish in the fourth leg.
Peter Manley bowed out of the Grand Slam with pride in tact and a smile on his face. He beat Jelle Klaasen in a high-quality affair, although Manley will be the first to admit that he was lucky to clinch victory.
Klaasen was 4-3 ahead, then missed three darts at double top for victory….Manley levelled and in the decider, the former Lakeside World Champion missed two more darts at tops to win it….Manley stepped in with double 19 to claim his first win of the event – but of course, too little too late as far as qualifying is concerned.
Elsewhere on a dramatic night, Barney had to produce two ton plus finishes and average 105 to beat an inspired Dennis Priestley….youngster Kevin McDine set up his clash with Wade after an impressive performance against Shaun Greatbatch and Phill Nixon led 4-0 and missed eight darts for the match, before suffering a shock defeat against Aussie Pat Orreal.
Monday results:
James Wade 5-1 Niels de Ruiter
Final Group standings:
Group A – Raymond Van Barneveld (6 pts) Adrian Lewis (4 pts) Dennis Priestley (2 pts) Chris Mason (0 pts)
Group B – Andy Hamilton (6 pts) Terry Jenkins (4 pts) Vincent van der Voort (2 pts) Charles Losper (0 pts)
Group C – James Wade (6 pts) Pat Orreal (4 pts) Phill Nixon (2 pts) Niels de Ruiter (0 pts)
Group D – Jelle Klaasen (4 pts) Kevin McDine (4 pts) Shaun Greatbatch (2 pts) Peter Manley (2 pts)
2nd Round draw (so far):
Raymond Van Barneveld v Terry Jenkins
Let’s have a look at how Tuesday night’s final group matches effect the Team Unicorn players in the GSOD.
Phil Taylor has already qualified of course and victory over Ronnie Baxter will clinch top spot in Group E…..Gary Mawson is also definitely through to the last 16 and John Part will join him from Group F if he wins his last match against Andy Jenkins.
Kevin Painter is through to the last 16 from Group G. Barrie Bates plays Gary Anderson, with the winner of that match also going through.
Tuesday Order of Play:
Scott Waites v Roland Scholten
BY STUART PYKE
