Friday at the Grand Slam of Darts: Mensur Suljovic and Peter Wright feature
Friday 17 November 2017 21:05, UK
Familiar faces collide on Friday as the Grand Slam of Darts quarter-finals get underway, we sat down with Wayne Mardle to get the lowdown.
Having begun with 32 players and a dramatic group stage, festivities in Wolverhampton are now down to the final eight who will play four evenly-contested quarter-finals over the next two days.
The quickfire nature of the group stage's race to five is over and now the players are battling it out in best of 31 legs, the first to 16, and it paves the way for a real test of mettle and drama of the highest order.
Six of the world's top eight have made it through and they are joined by reigning BDO world champion Glen Durrant and the game's fastest rising star Rob Cross.
It's quite a line-up and while Phil Taylor will play Daryl Gurney and Cross meets Michael van Gerwen on Saturday, Friday's contests look every bit as fascinating.
Live Grand Slam of Darts
Mensur Suljovic v Gary Anderson
Suljovic has enjoyed a stellar season that has propelled him into the major's winner's circle. His victory at the Champions League of Darts in September included two victories over Gary Anderson, including an 11-9 success in the final.
In fact the Austrian has won four of their six contests and Anderson had been unsettled by the slower play of Suljovic on occasions and Mardle feels that could be telling.
"Mensur is the real deal and he has a good recent record against Gary, and the fact it's recent makes it relevant," said Mardle.
"They have been on the big stage, over longer formats and Mensur has been almost perfect against Gary. Gary has hinted that he really does struggle against him and Mensur has to be thinking 'I like what I am hearing'.
"Mensur is not far behind Gary in the ability stakes but Gary does it more - that's what makes him a twice world champion and multiple major winner."
Anderson has 12 televised titles to Suljovic's solitary success but Anderson has never won the Grand Slam crown, his best showing was a runners-up finish in 2011 while last year was the third time he was eliminated in the semi-final.
Both men have 100% records so far in Wolverhampton and Mardle feels Anderson has the edge, but only if he can maintain his top level as Suljovic has the consistency to punish him.
Gary has a top level that probably only Michael van Gerwen can match but he is worrying about Mensur.<p>I think Gary is the better player but if Gary is slightly off, Mensur is a relentless beast.
"Against Gary in the last 16, Michael Smith was majestic in the first session but Gary had the odd bad dart - if he does that against Mensur he will be punished because Mensur's doubling is up there with the very best.
"When Gary feels like he is being stifled he becomes agitated and slightly annoyed. Then he tightens up and the fluency goes."
Mardle's verdict - If Mensur's combination finishing is on, I think we are going really deep, I'm talking 30 legs and I will say 16-14 to Gary on the premise that the real Gary Anderson turns up.
There is a lot going on in this game, more than just a game of darts. It is a long format and they are now two experienced campaigners.
Glen Durrant v Peter Wright
Glen has shown he has got the game and if he does join the PDC he would be a huge asset.
The opening match of the evening is the first of two repeat matches from the group stages, so there is an added edge as well as a place in the last four at stake.
"They have already played once and Durrant was amazing - he had a dart at double 18 for the third highest average in the tournament's history," said Mardle.
"It's a longer format and that plays into Peter Wright's hands. They are both relentless but Peter is a better player as he has shown time and time again."
Durrant is enjoying the best run of a BDO player since 2013 and is bidding to become the first representative from the organisation to win the tournament since Scott Waites in 2010 and Mardle believes the man from Teesside has acquitted himself brilliantly.
"It is difficult for the BDO guys who are trying to prove, 'I am good enough' and that is difficult. With the the Grand Slam and the Lakeside they get two chances a year to prove how good they are so in that respect they are being challenged to prove it.
"The fact that Glen shows that mentally and ability-wise he is right up there. He is also respectful of the players, the game and the associations, he recognises he has a talent and he is making use of it.
"Glen can play to a 100 average no problem as he did against Chizzy and what works so well for him is the marker dart in the bed and he crashes off it. Peter is more of a placer and he is steady and consistent.
"In that regard Glen and Peter are very similar but Peter is about 1% better at maybe five different things and over the longer format that will tell."
Mardle's verdict - Glen has to be on, even to compete - if he is off he may not reach 10. If Peter is off he could still win and that is the difference and where things have changed for Peter.
B games win tournaments, I have never seen anyone play their best from dart one to the final dart and that's why Peter wins the game and I think he will do it by four or five legs.
I backed Glen to win the tournament on the off chance that Chizzy and Peter could be off, I was sort of right with Chizzy but Peter is a better player than Chizzy.
The Grand Slam of Darts continues on Sky Sports on Friday with the first two quarter-finals, coverage is underway on Sky Sports Action from 7pm with the second quarter-finals on Saturday from 8pm on the same channel.
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.
