Michael Smith made it three wins out of three to top his group at the Grand Slam.
But his reward is a last 16 showdown against World No.1 Michael van Gerwen!
The Team Unicorn star demolished Raymond van Barneveld 5-0 on Tuesday night with a 99 average, but because Van Gerwen only finished runner-up in Group A, the pair will go toe-to-toe on Thursday.
“I played well and Van Gerwen will bring the best out of me. I have the game to beat him, so let him worry about me. That never entered my mind against Barney. It was all about winning and what will be, will be,” Smith said.
But there was bitter disappointment for Keegan Brown and Ian White who both blew great opportunities to reach the knock-out stages in Wolverhampton.
It was a simple equation for the Unicorn duo - win and stay in, lose and go home.
Brown lost a thriller to Wesley Harms who will now face Gary Anderson in the last 16. Anderson made it three straight wins with a convincing 5-1 win over Steve Hine with a 100 average.
White missed 16 darts at doubles as he fell to a shock defeat to German Michael Unterbuchner.
Brown actually recorded his highest ever average on TV (103.66) as did Harms (103.98) and they both hit five 180s but it was the Unicorn man who just came up short.
He led 3-1 and looked in control. In the 6th leg Brown hit six perfect darts but lost it! But a 71 finish on the bull then put him one away from qualification. However Harms took out 96 to force a deciding leg.
Brown had the darts. He left himself 138. He hit two T19s. But he wired D12 to win the match and then saw Harms hit D8 with the last dart in hand to take it.
White will be fuming. He missed chance after chance and paid the price as he went down 5-3 to Michael Unterbuchner.
He started well enough with a 104 finish but it went downhill after that. He missed six darts for a 2-1 lead and the German took out 94.
In all 16 missed doubles for White and his opponent kept punishing him. It will go down as a huge missed opportunity.
So it’s Unterbuchner who goes through to play JamesWade in the last 16. Wade made it look very easy as he made it 3/3 to top his group beating Mark Webster 5-1.
By STUART PYKE
Image courtesy Lawrence Lustig / PDC
