It's quarter final time at the Winter Gardens, and the World Matchplay hots up (both literally and metaphorically) with the finish line now extended to a massive 16 legs (with 2+ leg difference). The top half has seen two unseeded players make it through to the final 8, but don't count them out on producing yet another upset.
The first last 8 tie pits two multiple TV finalists who have never managed to cross the line in St. Helens' Michael Smith and veteran campaigner Meryvn King. Bully Boy hasn't had it all his own way in the tournament, having had to come back from 3-6 and 1-4 deficits against Jamie Hughes and Max Hopp respectively, while it's been far easier for the King with rather comfortable victories over Nathan Aspinall and defending champion Gary Anderson. Merv has only won 1 of the last 6 meetings with Michael, but with this being Smith's first time at the quarter-final stage, that could play into the East Anglian's hands.
The second game this evening sees the first ever meeting of multiple major winners Glen Durrant and James Wade. Duzza's Blackpool debut has been reminiscent of a certain Jeffrey de Zwaan, having knocked out Adrian Lewis and Michael van Gerwen (the latter in one of the greatest games seen in the Empress Ballroom) on his way to the quarters with far more bottle than his previous Sky showings in the Grand Slam. Speaking of the Black Cobra, it was he that missed five match darts to take out the Machine in round 1 who then came from 5-8 down to remove last year's finalist Mensur Suljovic from the tournament. This match won't be the fastest by any means, but it's sure to be close.
Coverage starts from 7:00pm UK time on Sky Sports Action.
>Tonight’s matches (Best of 31 legs) Michael "Snackpot 2.0" Smith (5) v Mervyn "The Ex-Governor" King Glen "Phantom of the Opera" Durrant v James "The Meds Are Back In Town" Wade (8)
All matches must be won by 2 clear legs, with up to 5 extra legs played to decide a winner. If the match is tied after 5 extra legs, a final sudden death leg will be played.
will we at long last see the actual death of merv on a stage instead of all the posturing he does
Lincoln Bennett
I have now reset my head from yesterdays disappointment caused by Diamond Shite and i'm fully prepared to enjoy seeing Duzza and Merv completely destroy their opponents today.
why is King so sweaty? Can't be the fatness alone. even snackpot isn't such a sweat factory.
Jonathan Wood
BIG
Nolan Parker
Some people just sweat a lot.
Josiah Walker
old age
worked a treat though because smith has completely lost his focus
Gavin Ramirez
I'm sweaty as hell while being slim. There even was this guy who refused to defend me in basketball because I sweated so much. Has always been like this from my youth up until now.
Nathaniel Torres
200 IQ move from you. Just sweat so much that noboby wants to guard you.
Angel Collins
Same for me. People always think i grind super hard in the gym because my clothes are dripping sweat but i just did some regular workout.
The first leg won tonight was Smith's T19, D20, D20.
The last leg won tonight was Durrant's T19, D20, D20.
Has that ever happened before?
Robert Phillips
>the BDO is actually dying now
Absolutely based, Duzza done good
Charles Kelly
Lol that finish. Fuck off Wade you weird cunt
Joseph Rodriguez
And they will face each other next!
Jacob Sanders
Durrant rambling like a retard
Zachary Watson
>muh play is putting players off Lewis is finished, MVG was crap in the first few legs and Wade didn't bother showing up.
His throwing style has had no impact.
Brody Powell
I thought this had comedown written all over it. Tomorrow night should be better. Hoping for some reason it’s a Cross/clown v Duzza final as they’ll go at the same pace and are in good form. I think this might be Smiths July though and he’ll come out on top
Hunter Carter
Needs to happen sooner rather than later for Smith. Otherwise he'll just be the new Chizzy.
Justin Hernandez
Smith is a born bottler
Caleb Parker
So for the second year in succession, a new winner of the World Matchplay is guaranteed. It will be one of either Michael Smith or Glen Durrant who makes it to Sunday's final after both had notably different games.
Bully Boy's quarter-final with Mervyn King started off incredibly, averaging 112 after 5 legs in which he opened with a tops tops 137 and the King's only breakthrough was a 140 on D16. Smith then faltered and let Merv rattle off 3 legs in a row before crucially hitting tops and then breaking to regain his 3 leg lead. But the ex-World Youth Champ again slumped, losing the next 4 legs to go behind for what would be the only time. After the resumption from the third 5-leg session break, Michael rattled off three in a row and maintained the 2 leg gap until the 24th leg, the 23rd being a remarkable missed doubles-a-thon that only finished on Mervyn's 29th dart of the leg! From 13-11 King clearly surrendered and lost 3 legs in a row to be eliminated.
Duzza's last 8 game with James Wade was a huge struggle for both. The Boro boy averaged sub-70 in the first two legs but got it back to 2-2 before a Machine 101 saw him go 3-2 up. However, this was achieved with a sub-90 average that crucially for Durrant was never surpassed in the match by a disinterested Wade. James hit a 114 for 4-3 and this was the final time he was in the lead as he rarely pressured from thereon, only winning a further 3 legs and then stormed straight off the stage after Glen's own 137 tops tops finish to win.
The last two quarter-finals are tomorrow. See you then.
Robert Bailey
It's a shame that Durrant will be the last decent BDO player. The years with a high profile switcher have always been fun.
