Group G
Photo: PDC/Lawrence Lustig
Simon Whitlock got off to a flying start in Group G
as he defeated Challenge Tour Order of Merit Winner
Ross Smith 5-2 in the opening encounter of the
group. The Australian, who qualified by winning the
European Championships in 2012, found himself in
pole position in the group as he looked to reach the
latter stages of the tournament.
Mark Webster produced a fine display that belied
his recent lack of form as he overcame Wes Newton
5-2 in their opening group encounter. The victory
would prove crucial for Webster as he aimed to move
through what looked like one of the tougher groups
in the competition.
On the second day’s action a 5-1 victory for Simon
Whitlock over Mark Webster put the Australian
through to the last 16, meanwhile a 5-2 victory for
Wes Newton over Ross Smith meant that the second
qualifier from the group would either be Newton
himself or Webster.
Mark Webster defeated Ross Smith 5-3 in their final
group encounter, leaving Wes Newton needing a 5-3
or better victory over Simon Whitlock to edge out
the Welshman for qualification.
In the event Newton produced a 5-4 victory,
meaning the duo finished level on both points and
legs difference, setting up only the third nine dart
shootout in Grand Slam history.
Webster won the bull in the shootout, but made the
inspired decision of allowing Newton to throw first.
When Newton then threw 40 on his first throw and
when Webster stepped in with a 135 the shoot-out
was all but over. The final score was 272 to Webster
and 1 NH ??]?? ] [?? H??Y\?Z?\?YB??[\[?[?? H\? M????']8?&\??Y[?H ??\???\?\??Y? ??YH?]x?&]?H??? ??Y? ? H\? M?[?H ?\??[???? ] 8?'H ?ZY??X??\??8?'x?&]?H?H H??[?H?[???????\? H?^ ??[?????'B??'H ^YYH?[X?\??Y??\?[???X] ??\?^B?\? ??\?Y\??] ]?[?KY\? ??? [?] ?\? B?? ?[??\? [??x?&]?H^ \?Y[??Y[? H?[YHH?\?Y??X] ??X]?]???
KM[? ?] \ H?[?KY\????? [?] [?H ?\? ?\?H?X?[?\?Y?\??\? ??'B??????]?[??H \?Y???']8?&\??Y[?H ??\???\?\??Y? ???YH?]x?&]?H?? ??Y? ? H\??M?[?H ?\??[???? ]8?'B?X\???X??\?????\??\?[ ??[[??]???
KL??????Z]?X\???X??\?
KL??\??]????[[??]???
KLHX\???X??\???\??]??
KL??????Z]?X\???X??\?
KL??????Z]??\??]??
KM?[[??]??????[[??]???X\???X??\???\??]????????Z]????????H ???????????????B?B?B??????B??B?N???????