Defending champion Michael van Gerwen meets rising star Rob Cross and Daryl Gurney takes on Phil Taylor
Saturday 18 November 2017 21:26, UK
Two of the best young players in the world of darts go up against two of the greatest ever in Saturday's Grand Slam quarter-finals.....
On Friday night, Peter Wright and Gary Anderson advanced to the last four at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall and ahead of their Sunday afternoon semi-final showdown, we asked Wayne Mardle which players will join them.
Phil Taylor, the six-time Grand Slam champion and the 16-time world champion, meets world No 4 Daryl Gurney, who is now a major winner after his victory at the World Grand Prix.
In the final match of the last eight, world no 1 Michael van Gerwen, chasing a third successive title, meets Rob Cross for the second time this week. Their first meeting was a cracker and the pair tend to bring out the best in each other with Cross coming from nowhere to be a force on the PDC this year.
A mouthwatering evening of tungsten awaits
While the second match of the evening has a rivalry that started in recent weeks with Cross' form and some high-profile meetings, the opener has an edge due to comments made on Thursday night.
The Power chooses his moments for a public comment and his thoughts about Gurney seemed to suggest that he felt the need to stoke the fires - a measure of how far the man from Derry has come says Mardle.
He said: "Daryl Gurney has got the utmost respect for Phil, I know this as I work with them so often, but Phil seems to have made it something that it isn't!
"Maybe he is worried. Back in the day when it was me and John Part competing against him, Phil would not say anything nasty about us - he would just annihilate us on the board and then tell us we have got to get better.
"Phil's composure is nothing like it was. If he lays down a marker, which he has, and someone stands up to that he knows then that guy doesn't care and that guy is strong."
Taylor has won all three meetings against 'Superchin' but Mardle feels Saturday night is Gurney's chance.
"Daryl is so adept at two and three dart combinations, the 102s and the 104s, the 72s and the 64s - his finishing is so far superior to Phil's right now that all he really needs to do is hang around," Mardle said.
"He will make Phil miss I am sure of that. Phil's scoring against Darren Webster was great, it's always so consistent but his finishing wasn't great so if Daryl hangs around I think he wins the game.
"Back in the day, Phil loved to be questioned - not now, I think he is a bit softer than he was. Phil is very inconsistent, and I cannot believe I am saying that about Phil Taylor - it's never been thought.
"He is retiring for a reason and that is that he feels he is nowhere near his best. When he is, he wins the World Matchplay but when he isn't he averages 83 and gets beat by James Wade, like he did in the group."
Mardle's verdict - I don't think Daryl will have a better chance to beat Phil Taylor on any stage as I don't think Phil is playing particularly great. Phil is very inconsistent, and I cannot believe I am saying that about Phil Taylor - it's never been thought.
Daryl has a brilliant opportunity to remain relentless because over this distance you need to be relentless. Phil does go up and down and if there are any peaks and troughs Daryl has to punish them. I think Daryl gets this done in a real tight one and wins 16-14
On Friday, Peter Wright gained revenge for his group stage defeat to Glen Durrant and on Saturday it is Cross seeking the same outcome.
The difference for Voltage is that his opponent just happens to be MvG who is coming into form once again after a surprise run that saw him beaten at the World Grand Prix and World Matchplay.
He has bounced back to form in style, winning the European Championship and the World Series of Darts ending the hopes of Cross in both tournament.
In fact had it not been for Van Gerwen, there is every chance the 27-year-old from Hastings could have had a televised title to go with his stellar debut year on the circuit.
"Rob is not even a major winner yet but he kind of is in terms of performance," said Mardle.
"He is playing second only to Michael van Gerwen and this week Gary Anderson has laid down his marker.
"The way Rob handled Barney, we have to remember this is his debut in the event! He has beaten him before but this was over the longer format and when he was behind and when he needed too he went and he dismantled Barney.
"From 7-6 down he won 10-7 and that's how he is."
But Van Gerwen is a very different beast to his countryman and while Mardle feels Cross will not be intimidated, the reality of MvG's brilliance is all too familiar.
"We all know what Michael will do, we all know how good Michael van Gerwen is - he is Phil Taylor all over again and if he plays well he wins," Mardle said.
"But if he is slow coming out, like he was against Steve Lennon, Rob could find himself 4-1 and then we have a game on our hands.
"I don't believe that if he's too far in front Rob can't catch him. I believe that these are two world-class players and at any scoreline it's not safe as the other one could rattle off four, five, or even six legs."
Mardle's verdict - I expect a barrage of big finishes because they are both very adept at bullseye, both for set-up play and finishing and for the first time this week, I really think we could see a nine-darter.
They throw at a quick pace, the speed will complement each other. Michael likes that, but so does Rob and I think they will inspire each other to 104/105 averages.
Van Gerwen to nick it, it's always Van Gerwen to win it. As much as I like Rob and that he can reel off six or seven legs, it's Michael van Gerwen over the best of 31 legs, to predict he is going to get beat is amateurish and we all know I am a professional.
The Grand Slam of Darts continues on Sky Sports on Saturday with the remaining two quarter-finals, coverage is underway on Sky Sports Action from 8pm
Keep up to date with the news as the tungsten enters its busiest time of year with the PDC World Championships just around the corner get all the latest at www.skysports.com/darts and join in the conversation @SkySportsDarts.
