Michael Smith’s outstanding comeback continues after he pulled off an almighty comeback and survived 11 missed match darts from Chris Dobey to spherical off a 10-9 win, establishing a quarter-final with world No 1 Luke Humphries.
Smith has been plagued with accidents and arthritis however is lastly getting his reward on the match that began all of it for him again in 2022.
There was nothing separating the 2 within the first 5 legs, all of the legs going with the throw as ‘Hollywood’ took a 3-2 lead.
Dobey then discovered daylight with an important break of throw however ‘Bullyboy’ didn’t again down and clinched an unbelievable 164 on the bull to degree the sport at 5-5.
The struggle was then evident from the St Helens man as he discovered a double, double end, 86 checkout on the bull, then took out 68 on tops to maneuver two legs from an enormous second.
Dobey then finally completed off a nervy leg to interrupt the throw and degree the sport at 8-8 however Smith hit straight again with a break of his personal to place himself one leg away, the 2022 Grand Slam champion lacking two match darts to permit the Newcastle man to degree the sport at 9-9.
It was then an unbelievable last leg from the pair that rained T20s during which they missed a daft 18 match darts between them, D4 finally giving Smith the sport.
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Michael Smith talks by his model of occasions as he pulled off a tremendous comeback in opposition to Chris Dobey.
“I won’t say he [Dobey] didn’t want it. Something happened and he kept missing and I was thankful for that. I should never have been in that match or been in front, I should never have won, but I will take it,” Smith advised Sky Sports activities.
“I’m happy to be here but it’s annoying me. I’m trying to remind myself of 2022 and forcing things instead of having fun. I’ve just got over the line but I’m still here in the quarter-finals.
“It is all the time a battle now. Each sport I play now, they all the time go to final legs, and I hate it, it is doing my head in. I am going to watch the sport again tomorrow. I am into the following spherical, I am glad. I practically threw it away within the final leg so I am going to take all of it day lengthy.”
He now performs Humphries within the quarter-finals after he cruised to a 10-3 victory in opposition to former World Youth Championship finalist Jurjen van der Velde, who loved his second on the massive stage on debut.
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Highlights of the Grand Slam of Darts second spherical match between Luke Humphries and Jurjen van der Velde.
Humphries got here into the match nursing a suspected again spasm on his throwing arm, but it surely confirmed no indicators of affecting his throw, the world No 1 wincing at factors however battling by as he was 5-0 up very quickly with a 10-darter, 83 per cent success charge on the doubles, and a staggering 117.42 common within the first session.
Van der Velde finally obtained a consolatory leg on the board to convey the rating to 7-1 and took his second, lapping up the applause from the group. One other leg then got here within the tenth as he clinched D8 as soon as once more with a smile on his face, a sensational 164 on the bull rounding off his electrical moments.
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Jurjen van der Velde hits a surprising 164 end in opposition to Luke Humphries as he pegs again one other leg from Cool Hand Luke.
The present from Van der Velde solely stopped ‘Cool Hand’ for a short while although, the 2023 Grand Slam champion getting again to enterprise and finally wrapping up the win on tops.
Whereas Humphries placed on a staggering present, he admitted he was in “crippling pain” and thought he might have to tug out of the match.
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Luke Humphries reveals his awakened with a spasm that just about made him pull out of the match and required three hours of physio to get him prepared for the his match in opposition to Jurjen van der Velde.
“I have no idea how I made that happen. When I woke up this morning, I couldn’t lift my head off the pillow,” Humphries advised Sky Sports activities.
“I think I had a back spasm. I was thinking I might have to pull out today, my back was so bad.
“I’ve obtained to thank Mandy, my physio, who spent three hours massaging it. I feel adrenaline obtained me over the road.
“I guess I’m just a fighter. I surprise myself sometimes. From almost having to pull out this morning to playing like that – it’s something special.”
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Jurjen van der Velde celebrates lastly successful a leg in opposition to a dominant Luke Humphries within the second spherical of the 2025 Grand Slam of Darts.
Value units up Evans conflict with dominant win
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Gerwyn Value hits an enormous fish in opposition to Martin Schindler in spherical two of the Grand Slam of Darts to take a 8-6 lead within the match.
Gerwyn Value confirmed his class in a dominant 10-6 win over German No 1 Martin Schindler.
Three-time Grand Slam champion Value dominated the primary session as he cantered right into a 4-1 lead, Schindler unable to seek out any consistency in his scoring, averaging within the mid-80s.
The second session was an identical story to the primary however this time Schindler managed to carry his throw properly to battle to 6-4 regardless of being visibly aggravated at his play, the ‘Iceman’s’ doubling eluding him regardless of having darts to clinch 9 of the ten legs performed.
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Gerwyn Value let loose a double roar as he hit a 95 end to go one leg away from sealing the match in opposition to Martin Schindler.
The pivotal second then arrived as Value took management as soon as once more by reeling within the ‘Massive Fish’ and adopted it with a break of throw to maneuver 8-5 in entrance earlier than rounding out the match on tops and giving his signature roar.
“It was a difficult game. Martin was nowhere near what he can play. Towards the end we started to play a bit better, but in the end I was happy to get over the finishing line,” Value advised Sky Sports activities.
“I should have been 8-2 up, so I was disappointed and beat myself up allowing him to come back. But I’m proud of myself to come through that.
“It [my start] was partly to do with the group – I do not often get this help, however they have been implausible.
“This is a favourite tournament, I always do well here. With the crowd behind me now, I think I’ll do even better!”
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Gerwyn Value reacts to beating Martin Schindler in spherical two of the 2025 Grand Slam of Darts.
He now faces Ricky Evans who snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with a 10-9 deciding-leg victory over Luke Woodhouse.
Neither participant appeared comfy all through the encounter however surged in patches, Woodhouse breaking away into an 8-5 lead earlier than lacking two darts for a 9-5 benefit.
That then noticed Evans have his second although as his characteristically quick throw obtained even sooner to struggle again to 8-7 then 9-9, taking out tops for 76 to wrap up an enormous win.
What’s developing on Thursday?
Thursday concludes the final 16 with 4 second-round matches together with Luke Littler, Michael van Gerwen, and Josh Rock all vying for quarter-final spots.
Thursday November 13 1900 (Sky Sports activities + and Sky Sports activities Principal Occasion)
4x Second Spherical (better of 19 legs)
Lukas Wenig v Niko Springer
Josh Rock v Connor Scutt
Luke Littler v Wessel Nijman
Michael van Gerwen v Danny Noppert
Who will win the Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts? Watch all through the week reside on Sky Sports activities. Stay protection continues Thursday from 7pm on Sky Sports activities+ and Sky Sports activities Principal Occasion. Stream darts and extra prime sport with NOW
