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| Photo from sportinglife.com |
(8) James Wade 1-3 Mervyn King
Mervyn King continued his good form with a 3-1 victory over James Wade to book his place in the quarter-finals for the first time in six years.
The 53-year-old edged out world youth champion Dimitri Van den Bergh in the first round and upset the odds once more to end the campaign of the former two-time World Grand Prix champion.
Wade has bagged five titles this season, in addition to the consecutive TV titles he won at the end of last year at the European Championship and the World Series Finals, but King has produced a couple of televised upsets throughout the year, beating Michael van Gerwen at the UK Open and Gary Anderson at the World Matchplay.
The 2012 runner-up hit seven 180s, but wasn't punished for missing 24 darts at finishing doubles by an out of sorts Wade.
The Machine took the first set 3-1 and went 1-0 up in the second, before back-to-back maximums and a 109 finish for King stunned the Aldershot man.
King then punished five missed set darts by Wade in the deciding leg of set two, which the Norfolk thrower one to level the match.
King produced a stunning 10-darter at the start of the third set, riding the wave from then on as he won six of the next seven legs to progress to the last eight.
(5) Michael Smith 1-3 Ian White
Ian White beat Michael Smith to progress to the stage beyond which has never experienced in a televised major title - the quarter-finals.
Despite his unquestionable ability and numerous titles on the floor, it has never fully clicked for Diamond in the latter stages of the biggest tournaments.
However, that could all be about to change after a nerveless display against one of the most talented and promising players on the tour.
White has won two European Tour events this year - including beating Michael van Gerwen in a final in his home of the Netherlands, and he showed superb spirit to come back from losing the opening five legs against Joe Cullen in round one to win, and this latest resurgence will give him a huge boost.
World championship runner-up Bully Boy took the opening set in the fifth leg, only for White to take the next six legs on the bounce to lead 2-1 in sets.
White took the opening leg of the fourth set too, and although Smith was able to force a deciding leg, he couldn't get away in six darts and White got over the line.
(1) Michael van Gerwen 3-0 Jeffrey de Zwaan
Michael van Gerwen was in a hurry to book his place in the quarter-finals as he hunts a fifth World Grand Prix title, losing just two legs in a straight sets win over Jeffrey de Zwaan.
The defending champion will be keen to retain his title for the first time since winning in Dublin to claim his first major title in 2012, and you could argue he's already got one hand on it with the dominant way he dealt with his Dutch compatriot.
This was expected to be a close encounter with the Black Cobra getting the better of Mighty Mike at last year's UK Open and World Matchplay, but there was no such upset tonight.
The first set was already in van Gerwen's name after four minutes, helped by two 12-dart legs, a 134 finish and a stunning average of 107.36, leaving de Zwaan stunned.
His average did drop after the second set - but only to 103.39 - as de Zwaan avoided a whitewash with a 120 checkout, though he still lost the set 3-1.
Van Gerwen missed 11 darts at the starting double meaning his average took a hit, allowing de Zwaan to take a 1-0 lead in the third set, but the next three legs went to the Green Machine to end with a still impressive average of 94.79.
With the manor of this latest victory and the way that some of the other players who were tipped for the title have been knocked out, van Gerwen will be firm favourite to add the World Grand Prix to his title haul this season of the Masters, Premier League and the World Series events in Melbourne and New Zealand.
(4) Gary Anderson 1-3 Chris Dobey
Chris Dobey came from a set down to produce one of the biggest upsets of the tournament, as well as one of the biggest victories of his career over Gary Anderson.
Hollywood, making his tournament debut, was beaten by the Flying Scotsman in the World Championship fourth round in December, but the Northumberland man turned the tables on the former two-time world champion to book his place in the last eight.
It'll be only his third televised quarter-final, having previously appeared at that stage of the 2016 Grand Slam and last year's Players Championship Finals.
But based on his most recent win, he'll surely be looking to go at least one step further.
Meanwhile, the wait goes on for Anderson to add this elusive major to his CV, but if he is going to contend for the big tournaments, he'll need to up the standards to the level he was playing at before his back surgery.
Anderson will now be eyeing the Grand Slam as his main aim before the Worlds in December, and he got off to a great start against Dobey, taking the first set despite the Englishman's stunning 134 checkout.
Dobey capitalised as Anderson blew a 2-1 lead in the second set to level up, before taking the next two sets for the loss of just one set.
Draw
Section One
(1) Michael van Gerwen (NED) 3-0 3-1 3-1Jeffrey de Zwaan (NED)
(8) James Wade (ENG) 3-2 2-3 1-3 0-3 Mervyn King (ENG)
(5) Michael Smith (ENG) 3-2 0-3 0-3 2-3 Ian White (ENG)
(4) Gary Anderson (SCO) 3-2 2-3 0-3 1-3 Chris Dobey (ENG)
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(1) Michael van Gerwen (NED) v Mervyn King (ENG)
Ian White (ENG) v Chris Dobey (ENG)
Section Two
(2) Rob Cross (ENG) v Glen Durrant (ENG)
(7) Peter Wright (SCO) v Jermaine Wattimena (NED)
Dave Chisnall (ENG) v Stephen Bunting (ENG)
Danny Noppert (NED) v Nathan Aspinall (ENG)
=
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Day One Results and Report
Day Two Results and Report
Mervyn King continued his good form with a 3-1 victory over James Wade to book his place in the quarter-finals for the first time in six years.
The 53-year-old edged out world youth champion Dimitri Van den Bergh in the first round and upset the odds once more to end the campaign of the former two-time World Grand Prix champion.
Wade has bagged five titles this season, in addition to the consecutive TV titles he won at the end of last year at the European Championship and the World Series Finals, but King has produced a couple of televised upsets throughout the year, beating Michael van Gerwen at the UK Open and Gary Anderson at the World Matchplay.
The 2012 runner-up hit seven 180s, but wasn't punished for missing 24 darts at finishing doubles by an out of sorts Wade.
The Machine took the first set 3-1 and went 1-0 up in the second, before back-to-back maximums and a 109 finish for King stunned the Aldershot man.
King then punished five missed set darts by Wade in the deciding leg of set two, which the Norfolk thrower one to level the match.
King produced a stunning 10-darter at the start of the third set, riding the wave from then on as he won six of the next seven legs to progress to the last eight.
(5) Michael Smith 1-3 Ian White
Ian White beat Michael Smith to progress to the stage beyond which has never experienced in a televised major title - the quarter-finals.
Despite his unquestionable ability and numerous titles on the floor, it has never fully clicked for Diamond in the latter stages of the biggest tournaments.
However, that could all be about to change after a nerveless display against one of the most talented and promising players on the tour.
White has won two European Tour events this year - including beating Michael van Gerwen in a final in his home of the Netherlands, and he showed superb spirit to come back from losing the opening five legs against Joe Cullen in round one to win, and this latest resurgence will give him a huge boost.
World championship runner-up Bully Boy took the opening set in the fifth leg, only for White to take the next six legs on the bounce to lead 2-1 in sets.
White took the opening leg of the fourth set too, and although Smith was able to force a deciding leg, he couldn't get away in six darts and White got over the line.
(1) Michael van Gerwen 3-0 Jeffrey de Zwaan
Michael van Gerwen was in a hurry to book his place in the quarter-finals as he hunts a fifth World Grand Prix title, losing just two legs in a straight sets win over Jeffrey de Zwaan.
The defending champion will be keen to retain his title for the first time since winning in Dublin to claim his first major title in 2012, and you could argue he's already got one hand on it with the dominant way he dealt with his Dutch compatriot.
This was expected to be a close encounter with the Black Cobra getting the better of Mighty Mike at last year's UK Open and World Matchplay, but there was no such upset tonight.
The first set was already in van Gerwen's name after four minutes, helped by two 12-dart legs, a 134 finish and a stunning average of 107.36, leaving de Zwaan stunned.
His average did drop after the second set - but only to 103.39 - as de Zwaan avoided a whitewash with a 120 checkout, though he still lost the set 3-1.
Van Gerwen missed 11 darts at the starting double meaning his average took a hit, allowing de Zwaan to take a 1-0 lead in the third set, but the next three legs went to the Green Machine to end with a still impressive average of 94.79.
With the manor of this latest victory and the way that some of the other players who were tipped for the title have been knocked out, van Gerwen will be firm favourite to add the World Grand Prix to his title haul this season of the Masters, Premier League and the World Series events in Melbourne and New Zealand.
(4) Gary Anderson 1-3 Chris Dobey
Chris Dobey came from a set down to produce one of the biggest upsets of the tournament, as well as one of the biggest victories of his career over Gary Anderson.
Hollywood, making his tournament debut, was beaten by the Flying Scotsman in the World Championship fourth round in December, but the Northumberland man turned the tables on the former two-time world champion to book his place in the last eight.
It'll be only his third televised quarter-final, having previously appeared at that stage of the 2016 Grand Slam and last year's Players Championship Finals.
But based on his most recent win, he'll surely be looking to go at least one step further.
Meanwhile, the wait goes on for Anderson to add this elusive major to his CV, but if he is going to contend for the big tournaments, he'll need to up the standards to the level he was playing at before his back surgery.
Anderson will now be eyeing the Grand Slam as his main aim before the Worlds in December, and he got off to a great start against Dobey, taking the first set despite the Englishman's stunning 134 checkout.
Dobey capitalised as Anderson blew a 2-1 lead in the second set to level up, before taking the next two sets for the loss of just one set.
Wednesday Order of Play
Danny Noppert (NED) v Nathan Aspinall (ENG)
Dave Chisnall (ENG) v Stephen Bunting (ENG)
(2) Rob Cross (ENG) v Glen Durrant (ENG)
(7) Peter Wright (SCO) v Jermaine Wattimena (NED)
Draw
Section One
(1) Michael van Gerwen (NED) 3-0 3-1 3-1
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(1) Michael van Gerwen (NED) v Mervyn King (ENG)
Ian White (ENG) v Chris Dobey (ENG)
Section Two
(2) Rob Cross (ENG) v Glen Durrant (ENG)
(7) Peter Wright (SCO) v Jermaine Wattimena (NED)
Dave Chisnall (ENG) v Stephen Bunting (ENG)
Danny Noppert (NED) v Nathan Aspinall (ENG)
=
v
v
Day One Results and Report
Day Two Results and Report
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