Class act Anderson into Grand Slam last 16

Team Unicorn star Gary Anderson proved yet again why he is a top player and a top person as he became the first man to qualify for the knock-out stages at the Grand Slam of Darts.

The Scot beat Berry van Peer 5-1 with a superb average of nearly 112 to go through to the last 16 but was full of praise and support for the young Dutchman who is struggling badly with dartitis. 

Van Peer has overcome the problem once before but it returned at this week's PDC Unicorn World Youth Championship. He somehow managed to beat Simon Whitlock in his first game, but he was in an awful place against Anderson and it got worse and worse as the match went on.....he just couldn't release the first dart.

Gary said: "It was probably one of the toughest games of my career. I feel for the boy but I believe that he can come through this."

He added: "Berry showed great determination. I was holding back the tears. People will get behind him and help him, I'm sure."

Anderson was totally professional though, as he started with an 11 darter then proceeded to dominate with three 180s and a pair of 12 dart legs. The Unicorn ace hit five doubles from just seven attempts and that end average was 111.79

Unicorn stablemate Michael Smith still has it all to do to qualify after losing a last leg thriller to Mensur Suljovic. He will have to beat Mark McGeeney in his final group match to give him a good chance to getting through. 

To be fair, Michael played really well as he averaged 101 and will feel a touch unlucky. The first two legs were shared against the throw. In legs two and three the Unicorn man had left 'tops' only for Suljovic to take out 100 and 80.

After that it went with throw....in the deciding leg, Smith opened up with a 5th 180 and was favourite, but Suljovic found a maximum of his own and took out 83 for a 12 darter to take it. 

And James Wade is still alive and kicking in the Grand Slam. The Team Unicorn man, who lost his opening game 5-1 to Robbie Green, produced an improved display to beat Australian BDO player Peter Machin by the same score.

But he may well have to beat Phil Taylor in his last group match to qualify for the last 16. He was steady away against Machin and was always in control.

Sunday Results:

Group A:

Ross Montgomery 5-3 Joe Murnan

Michael van Gerwen 5-4 Rob Cross

Group B:

Steve Lennon 5-0 Jamie Hughes

Raymond van Barneveld 5-4 Gerwyn Price

Group C:

James Wade 5-1 Peter Machin

Phil Taylor 5-4 Robbie Green

Group D:

Darren Webster 5-2 Danny Noppert

Group E:

Peter Wright 5-0 Corey Cadby

Glen Durrant 5-3 Alan Norris

Group F:

Scott Mitchell 5-3 Jeffrey de Zwaan

Stephen Bunting 5-2 Dave Chisnall 

Group G:

James Wilson 5-2 Mark McGeeney

Mensur Suljovic 5-4 Michael Smith

Group H:

Cameron Menzies 5-2 Simon Whitlock 

Gary Anderson 5-1 Berry van Peer

Report from STUART PYKE at the Grand Slam of Darts 

Photos courtesy Lawrence Lustig / PDC