World champion Adrian Lewis joined the list of big-name casualties at the World Grand Prix in the Citywest last night as Michael van Gerwen booked his place in the last eight.
By Declan Whooley
Two-time world champion Lewis joins the growing list of casualties with Phil Taylor, Raymond van Barneveld and James Wade already eliminated from the competition.
The Dutch player capitalised on some sloppy play from Lewis to win 3-1 with a fast start laying down an early marker. Lewis responded in the second set but van Gerwen was right on his game to take the third.
Lewis opened the fourth set with a 170, but was unable to pick off his doubles and the Dutch player took out 44 to seal his passage into the quarter-finals.
“This is a big step for me with another good result in another major tournament. I’ve taken some confidence from recent games and I’m glad I could take it into that match,” he told Sky Sports afterwards.
Next up for van Gerwen is Andy ‘The Hammer’ Hamilton after he overcame Steve Beaton 3-2 in a thrilling encounter. Hamilton came from 2-1 down to prevail and it was his more clinical finishing than saw him march through, hitting more than half his doubles as he looks to win his first ever major title.
“I’ve made every major quarter-final apart from the UK Open this year, so I’m showing that I deserve to be in the top eight – there’s no reason why I can’t win this now,” the Hammer told Sky Sports.
Also in the last eight is Paul Nicholson after he beat Colin Osborne 3-1 to set-up a last eight clash with one of only two remaining seeds in Wes Newton.
The opening sets were nip and tuck but Nicholson upped the ante and had a throw for bull to take the match. He missed and that opened the door for Osborne again, but needing tops to stay in the game he missed, with Nicholson taking out double six for victory.
Newton overcame an edgy start to grind out a 3-1 win over Ian White and will be confident of taking the title with so many other seeds having fallen by the wayside.
