In the past, there have been rumblings of football matches being shortened from their traditional 90-minute length to appeal to a younger generation, one used to digesting content quickly.
But, at the 2022 World Cup, audiences have watched games that have just got longer – a lot longer.
We’ve seen officials raising their electronic boards at the end of halves throughout games in Qatar signaling well over the usual four or five minutes.
Seven or eight minutes often seems to be the minimum. On a few occasions already, over 10 minutes have been added on.
It resulted in just one of the opening eight games of the tournament finishing in less than 100 minutes.
Aim of reducing time-wasting: The elongated games are part of a move by FIFA, the sport’s governing body, to fight against perceived time wasting and to reclaim time lost for goal celebrations, video assistant referee (VAR) reviews and substitutions.
Pierluigi Collina, famed former referee and the current chairman of FIFA’s referees’ committee, explained before the start of the tournament that fans should expect games exceeding 100 minutes, with added time over “seven or eight minutes.”
“This is nothing new,” Collina said at a media conference. “(At the last World Cup) in Russia, it became quite normal for the fourth official to show the board with seven, eight, nine minutes on it. “We recommended our referees to be very accurate in calculating the time to be added at the end of each half to compensate for time lost due to a specific kind of incident. “What we want to avoid is to have a match with 42, 43, 44, 45 minutes of active play. This is not acceptable.”
However, these lengthier games have prompted a mixed response from former players and soccer pundits.
Books make for a wonderful present, whether the recipient is into cooking, biographies, sports, video games, and more. Here are some of the best books to gift this holiday season.
The 2023 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records takes readers on a journey that’s out of this world, revealing the latest and greatest record-breaking achievements here on Earth and across the vast distances of space. A wonderful book for all ages, and something that will become a collectible in the future.
A Ballet of Lepers: A Novel and Stories offers an unprecedented glimpse into the formation of the legendary talent of Leonard Cohen. In A Ballet of Lepers, readers will discover that the magic that animated Cohen’s unforgettable body of work was present from the very beginning. The pieces in this collection offer startling insight into Cohen’s imagination and creative process, and explore themes that would permeate his later work.
The Series: What I Remember, What It Felt Like, What It Feels Like Now by Ken Dryden is the new book by the Hall of Fame goalie and bestselling author. It celebrates the 50th anniversary of the 1972 Summit Series that is considered one of the most important moments in hockey history. Dryden says it changed the game, on the ice and off, everywhere in the world, and became one of the most significant events in all of Canada’s history.
The Trapped In A Video Game series is a fantastic collection for chapter readers who love both books and video games. Getting sucked into a video game is not as much fun as you’d think – there might be jetpacks, hover tanks, and infinite lives, but what happens when the game starts to turn on you? In this best-selling series, 12-year-old Jesse Rigsby finds out just how dangerous video games – and the people making those games – can be.
Down And Out In Paradise: The Life Of Anthony Bourdain is the first book to tell the true and full Bourdain story, relating the highs and lows of an extraordinary life. Author Charles Leerhsen shows how Bourdain’s never-before-reported childhood traumas fueled both his creativity and the insecurities that would lead him to a place of despair.
The Lonely Planet guides are must-have travel books for anyone who loves the sport of globetrotting. Whether you’re buying a gift for someone who has a specific destination in mind, or a wanderlust that flies by the seat of their pants, there’s a Lonely Planet book designed specifically for them.
And while you’re curled up with a great book, be sure to have a Glade candle or plug-in nearby. Their incredible scents for the holiday season are warm, inviting, and homey, including Apple of my Pie, Snow Much Fun, and Pine Wonderland, to name just a few.
Édouard Mendy of Senegal warms up before the match between England and Senegal at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar on Sunday. (Shaun Botterill/FIFA/Getty Images)
Euro 2020 finalist England comes in as a heavy favorite against the West African side.
History would also seem to favor manager Gareth Southgate’s team. England has faced African opposition 20 times, including seven World Cup matches, and has yet to lose.
But as we’ve acknowledged repeatedly in our Qatar 2022 coverage, this tournament has proven that a surprise outcome is always on the table.
Although African nations have lost eight of their nine World Cup knockout round games against European sides, the lone exception was one that featured Senegal’s current manager, Aliou Cisse.
The 46-year-old Cisse played for Senegal in its victory over Sweden at the 2002 World Cup to reach the quarterfinals, just a few games after having beaten 1998 winner France in the tournament opener. He’s surely drawn on that experience in coaching up his squad.
Senegal will be without key midfielder Idrissa Gueye, who is suspended following two yellow cards in the group stage, and star attacker Sadio Mané, who was ruled out for the Lions of Teranga ahead of the tournament with a knee injury.
Senegal could also be without Cisse, who has come down with an illness.
England finished top of its group, twice winning convincingly against Iran and Wales and drawing with the US Men’s National team.
Although star striker Harry Kane has yet to score for England, Southgate’s team has still scored nine goals in three matches, with notable contributions from Marcus Rashford, Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka.
“Senegal will be tough,” Southgate said, per Reuters. “They’re very well organized, they’ve got a lot of good individual players playing in big European leagues and their expectations now will rise.”
The two sides clash at 2 p.m. ET at the Al Bayt Stadium.
Japan’s Kaoru Mitoma crosses the ball, resulting in his team’s second goal against Spain on Wednesday, December 1. (The Asahi Shimbun/Getty Images)
Japan reached the World Cup knockout stages for the fourth time on Thursday – by what appeared to be a matter of millimeters.
Trailing 1-0 at halftime, Japan produced a remarkable comeback against Spain with two goals in quick succession in the second half, stunning the 2010 world champion to secure an unlikely spot in the last 16 at the expense of Germany.
But it’s Japan’s second goal that has been a topic of fierce debate in the aftermath of the game, specifically regarding whether the ball crossed the goal line before Kaoru Mitoma’s cutback pass to Ao Tanaka.
Tanaka’s bundled goal was initially ruled out after the linesman flagged that the ball had gone out of play.
However, after a video assistant referee (VAR) review, the goal was allowed to stand and Japan held on for an historic victory.
The result saw the Samurai Blue top Group E – an outcome no one would have foreseen before the World Cup – ahead of Spain and Germany, which bowed out of the tournament despite a 4-2 victory against Costa Rica.
Some were left incredulous as to why Tanaka’s goal was allowed to stand.
“There are 80 million Germans right now going mad, waiting for a picture that shows that that ball didn’t go out of play,” said former Scotland international Graeme Souness, speaking as a pundit on ITV.
In two tweets on Friday, FIFA said VAR officials “used the goal line camera images to check if the ball was still partially on the line or not. Other cameras may offer misleading images but on the evidence available, the whole of the ball was not out of play.”
The goal means Japan will play Croatia in the knockout stages on Monday, while Spain plays Morocco on Tuesday.
England’s fans in the stands at the Khalifa International Stadium, Ar-Rayyan, Qatar, for England v Iran on November 21. (Hasan Bratic/SIPA/Shutterstock)
Ahead of England’s World Cup clash with the United States on Friday, world football’s governing body FIFA said that Crusader costumes worn by England fans are “offensive” after it emerged that some supporters had been turned away from stadiums in Qatar.
FIFA says that “it strives to create a discrimination-free environment, to promote diversity across the organization and in all of its activities and events.”
Some England fans attend sporting events dressed as the English patron St. George, equipped with helmets, crosses and plastic swords.
However, FIFA told CNN that “Crusader costumes in the Arab or Middle East context can be offensive to Muslims. That is why anti-discrimination colleagues asked fans to wear things inside out or change dress.”
Christian armies fought Muslims for over 200 years to take back control of Jerusalem and its surrounding areas which were under Islamic rule.
During the tournament in Qatar, football fan attire has been in the spotlight, particularly any clothing or paraphernalia that have rainbow colors.
The rainbow flag is a symbol for LGBTQ rights, and in Qatar, sex between men is illegal and punishable by up to three years in prison in the country. A report from Human Rights Watch, published last month, documented cases as recently as September of Qatari security forces arbitrarily arresting LGBTQ people and subjecting them to “ill-treatment in detention.”
At the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on Monday, ahead of the United States Men’s National Team’s (USMNT) match against Wales, American football journalist Grant Wahl and former Wales captain Laura McAllister both said they had been told to remove rainbow-colored items of clothing by security staff.
Wahl said he was detained and briefly refused entry to the match because of the “rainbow soccer ball t-shirt” he was wearing, posting on Twitter that security staff had told him: “You have to change your shirt. It’s not allowed.”
“One security guard told me that my shirt was ‘political’ and not allowed,” Wahl wrote.
Wahl told CNN on Tuesday that he had been given assurances beforehand that he would be allowed to wear rainbow-decorated clothing and that he “probably will” wear the shirt again as he has “no fear here about any of this.”
McAllister – who captained the Welsh women’s national football team in the 1990s – said she was stopped by security officials and had her rainbow-colored hat confiscated before she was allowed to enter the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium.
“So, despite fine words from @FIFAWorldCup before event, @Cymru (Wales) rainbow Bucket hats confiscated at stadium, mine included,” McAllister tweeted of the incident.
“I had a conversation about this with stewards – we have video evidence. This #WorldCup2022 just gets better but we will continue to stand up for our values,” added McAllister.
The Welsh Football Association (FAW) said FIFA told the federation on Thursday that rainbow-colored flags and hats will be permitted at World Cup stadiums in Qatar.
When asked to clarify the dress code, FIFA referred CNN to the tournament handbook which states “expats and tourists are free to wear the clothing of their choice, as long as it is modest and respectful to the culture.”
In this handbook, it also states “body protection gear,” “weapons of any type” and “items with political, offensive or discriminatory messages” are banned.
Aside from this document, FIFA has a human rights monitor inside of each stadium and they will be responsible for determining what is acceptable or not.
Watch the draw for the 2023 PDC World Darts Championship live on Sky Sports News and the Sky Sports Darts YouTube channel on Monday – Beau Greaves, Fallon Sherrock and Lisa Ashton will discover their first-round opponents; Peter Wright is defending champion
Last Updated: 24/11/22 7:31pm
Lisa Ashton, Beau Greaves and Fallon Sherrock will find out their opponents in the first round of the 2023 PDC World Darts Championship
Beau Greaves, Fallon Sherrock and more will discover their Alexandra Palace fate when the draw for the 2023 PDC World Darts Championship takes place live on Sky Sports News and the Sky Sports Darts YouTube channel on Monday evening.
Tune in from 6.25pm as Wayne Mardle and Mark Webster draw the names for the biggest tournament in the sport, which runs from December 15 to January 3 live exclusively on Sky Sports.
There will be three women’s players in this winter’s competition with teenage sensation Beau Greaves and Lisa Ashton taking their spots from the Women’s Series Order of Merit and Fallon Sherrock awarded a place by virtue of winning the inaugural Women’s World Matchplay in July.
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On the latest episode of Love The Darts, Devon Petersen and Michael Bridge discuss whether Sherrock deserves her place at the 2023 World Championship
On the latest episode of Love The Darts, Devon Petersen and Michael Bridge discuss whether Sherrock deserves her place at the 2023 World Championship
Greaves, 18, has been in sparkling form in the Women’s Series, clinching second spot in the Order of Merit with seven consecutive event wins, and the reigning WDF Lakeside Women’s World Champion could be a real threat at Alexandra Palace.
Greaves, Sherrock and Ashton will enter at the first-round stage alongside the likes of Steve Beaton, Adrian Lewis and Josh Rock, with the top 32 on the PDC Order of Merit, including world No 1 Gerwyn Price, defending champion Peter Wright, Michael van Gerwen, Grand Slam champion Michael Smith and a revitalised Raymond van Barneveld, playing from round two.
Wright beat Smith 7-5 in last season’s World Championship final to win the title for the second time in his career, having also triumphed in 2020 with a 7-3 success over Van Gerwen.
There were three nine-dart finishes in the 2022 tournament with Price, Darius Labanauskas and William Borland pulling off the feat.
Watch the 2023 PDC World Darts Championship live on Sky Sports from December 15 to January 3.
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Jamie Carragher claims the departure of sporting director Julian Ward is a worry for Liverpool and the uncertainty surrounding the club is a concern in terms of recruitment.
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Melissa Reddy reports on the news that both Manchester United and Liverpool are considering new investment and the potential of an outright sale, at the same time.
It doesn’t matter whether Brazil or Argentina or someone else lifts the trophy next month, Qatar has already won the World Cup.
Despite more than a decade of critical coverage — which at first zeroed in on the bribery and corruption embedded in the bidding process, and then highlighted Qatar’s regressive labor and human rights laws — the Gulf petro-monarchy has emerged stronger than ever after an unrivaled nation-building project.
The World Cup, which starts Sunday, has helped accelerate Qatar’s development, supercharging the construction of high-end stadiums, gleaming shopping malls, five-star hotels and a world-class airport — and enabled it to wield both geopolitical and sporting influence.
And, no matter the human rights backlash, the tournament has some of the West’s most senior politicians onside.
Emmanuel Macron on Thursday joined the chorus of politicians asking people to go easy on Qatar, saying that “sport shouldn’t be politicized.” The French president was echoing a much-criticized FIFA letter earlier this month, in which President Gianni Infantino told World Cup teams to stick to football and avoid dishing out morality lessons.
Far from being a diplomatic repellent, the controversial World Cup will instead welcome numerous senior Western officials. As first reported by POLITICO, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will attend the U.S. vs. Wales match on Monday. Belgium’s Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib will be there to support the Red Devils. Her British counterpart James Cleverly is also going to Doha.
Qatar has long been under fire for its brutal use of migrant laborers; its attitude toward LGBTQ+ rights; and potential state surveillance of fans. Externally, it was hammered by a yearslong blockade by its Gulf neighbors, led by Saudi Arabia and implicitly endorsed by then-U.S. President Donald Trump.
But Qatar has seen off both critics and enemies thanks to its diplomatic dexterity, the leverage created by its vast hydrocarbon resources — and its willingness to splash the cash.
“Qatar decided it was going to learn to drive in the fast lane of a motorway,” said Simon Chadwick, professor of sport and geopolitical economy at Skema Business School in Paris, of the World Cup bid. “But Qatar had the money to be able to learn to drive.”
***
Some of the criticism — which continues unabated on the eve of the tournament — did hit home. And, in at least one case, sparked change.
The kafala system, a sponsorship-based employment mechanism first introduced by the British to Bahrain in the 1930s, was ended by law in Qatar in 2020. In theory, this allows workers in Qatar to change jobs without needing to obtain their employers’ permission. At the same time, Doha also legislated a minimum-wage increase to 1,000 rials per month — or around €264.
Watchdogs, however, point out that Qatar’s “toxic” labor problems — which have resulted in the abuse and death of scores of South Asian migrant workers — didn’t end with the abolition of kafala.
Men making traditional fences ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 | Francois Nel/Getty Images
“I think there’s a big persuasive argument to say that the system facilitates slavery or forced labor,” said Nicholas McGeehan, founding director of FairSquare Research and Projects, whose work has focused extensively on human rights in the Gulf.
“There are other things that help control workers,” McGeehan added. “You have severe amounts of debt, systematic passport confiscation, the absence of trade unions, the absence of civil society, and the absence of any access to justice or good health [care].”
“When you put all these things together, they’re very toxic, and they facilitate almost complete control over the migrant workforce,” McGeehan said.
Estimates vary, as the Qatari government doesn’t share official data on migrant worker deaths, but hundreds of Nepalis have died in the Gulf state of cardiac arrest, workplace accidents and suicide since 2010, according to its government statistics. Meanwhile, Doha’s new labor heat laws offer “terrible protection” from the sweltering temperatures, McGeehan said.
Still, there is some backing for Qatar’s reforms. Marc Tarabella, a Belgian socialist MEP who is vice chair of the Parliament’s Delegation for Relations with the Arab Peninsula and also co-chair of the Sports Group, told POLITICO that, thanks to the World Cup, Qatar has become “a good example to follow for the other countries in the neighborhood.”
And Qatar in recent months has become increasingly belligerent about defending itself to the West, after years of taking shots on the chin.
The country’s labor minister on Monday told European Parliament lawmakers that Qatar had been subject to a “smear campaign.” The World Cup’s own top official said that criticism of Qatar was “possibly” racially motivated.
Paris Saint-Germain President Nasser al-Khelaifi, who isn’t connected to the World Cup organizing team but is European sports’ most high-profile Qatari, was more circumspect, telling POLITICO that he is “very proud” his country is hosting the World Cup and isn’t “trying to hide” in the shadows.
“Are we doing everything 100 percent right? Maybe not. Are we perfect? No. But we are correcting things,” he said. “The World Cup has done a fantastic job for Qatar: infrastructure, regulation. A lot of things changed; massive things.”
***
Perhaps the only thing that can now truly disrupt Qatar’s crowning achievement is a shambolic tournament from both human rights and logistical perspectives.
That’s something detractors see as a clear possibility.
LGBTQ+ fans who will attend the tournament still run the risk of falling foul of Qatar’s prohibition on homosexuality. The assurances that human rights groups have received from FIFA, crucially unaccompanied by Qatari legislation on LGBTQ+ protections, are insufficient, said Minky Worden, director of global initiatives at Human Rights Watch.
Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images
Escalating those human rights concerns, a Qatari World Cup ambassador told German broadcaster ZDF that homosexuality was “damage in the mind,” in comments that sparked a backlash earlier this month.
Organizational questions also remain just before the tournament starts with Ecuador vs. Qatar on Sunday, with tens of thousands of fans descending on the tiny country.
Ronan Evain, executive director of Football Supporters Europe, told POLITICO that he was concerned about the training of World Cup stewards, the police approach to supporters, and the logistics of shuttling fans to and from stadiums by bus.
While Qatar — a country where the car is king — touts the public transport developments expedited by the World Cup, only some of the stadiums are connected by the sparkling new metro system.
A last-minute U-turn on beer by the Qatari hosts, now banned in and around tournament stadiums, triggered more anxiety for human rights groups, given the previous assurances on alcohol consumption provided by Qatar.
And more than a decade after Qatar actually won the rights to host the tournament, investigations rumble on into the corruption that bedeviled the process and resulted in the FBI knocking in FIFA’s doors. French prosecutors are probing the alleged role of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy in helping Qatar win the bid, French daily Le Monde reported earlier this week. Qatar has always denied that it won the bid by nefarious means.
On the activists’ LGBTQ+ concerns, a spokesperson for FIFA said the governing body was “confident that all necessary measures will be in place for LGBTIQ+ fans and allies to enjoy the tournament in a welcoming and safe environment, just as for everyone else.”
In a statement, Qatar’s World Cup Supreme Committee said it “is committed to delivering an inclusive and discrimination-free FIFA World Cup experience that is welcoming, safe and accessible to all participants, attendees and communities in Qatar and around the world.”
***
But what happens when the circus leaves town?
Qatar has shown remarkable geopolitical deftness to keep sweet the competing interests with which its fortunes are interlinked. It hosts the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East, while also sharing access with Iran to the gas field which generated its astronomical wealth.
Due to the ongoing Russian war in Ukraine, “Qatar will remain extremely relevant in terms of energy dynamics, especially as gas begins to come on stream,” said Kristian Ulrichsen, fellow for the Middle East at Rice University’s Baker Institute. “I think they’ll continue to play a role in regional diplomacy, especially vis-a-vis Iran if there’s no nuclear negotiation breakthrough.” Doha was a key diplomatic player when the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan in 2021, Ulrichsen added.
One of Qatar’s most successful exports, media conglomerate beIN Media Group, renowned for its international sports broadcasting arm but also the owner of Hollywood’s Miramax film studios, has been approached by various U.S. and Saudi investors interested in buying a stake in the company — as the state mulls how to position itself on the international stage once the World Cup has been and gone.
At the same time, a person familiar with the talks said U.S. investors are interested in buying a stake in PSG, which is wholly owned by Qatar Sports Investments. QSI acquired a 22 percent stake in Portugal’s SC Braga last month, which was the investment fund’s first step into multi-club ownership and a further sign of the increased significance of QSI and beIN for Qatar post-World Cup.
“I don’t think they will give up on sport being a component of the nation’s strategy,” said Mahfoud Amara, associate professor of sport management at Qatar University.
Qatar will host football’s Asian Cup in 2023 and the multi-sport Asian Games in 2030. Officials are currently also in preliminary discussions about a bid for another crown jewel event: The 2036 Summer Olympics.
England captain Harry Kane will not wear a pro-LGBTQ+ armband Monday, during England’s opening match against Iran at the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
Along with six other European countries, England dropped plans for the captain to wear a “One Love” armband due to FIFA’s threat of “sporting sanctions” — likely yellow cards for offending players. Homosexuality is illegal in Qatar.
“We cannot put our players in the situation where they might be booked or even forced to leave the field of play,” a joint statement from the Football Associations of England, Wales, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland reads. The group of teams added that they are “very frustrated” after a letter sent to world football governing body FIFA in September informing about the wish to wear the armband went unanswered.
Over the weekend, the German and Danish teams had vowed that their captains would wear the armband, but those countries have now reversed their position.
Qatar has faced criticism ever since it was awarded the tournament in 2010 for its treatment of migrant workers, as well as its stance on the LGBTQ+ community and women’s rights.
The armband row follows other debates over strict rules at the Qatar World Cup, including a controversial last-minute decision to ban the sale of alcohol in match stadiums.
On Saturday, FIFA President Gianni Infantino blasted Western critics of Qatar’s hosting of the World Cup, accusing them of “hypocrisy” before the start of the global football tournament.
Slamming FIFA and Qatar’s critics for double standards, Infantino said: “I think for what we Europeans have been doing in the last 3,000 years around the world, we should be apologizing for the next 3,000 years, before starting to give moral lessons to people.”
World Champion Peter Wright is dumped out of the Grand Slam of Darts after suffering defeat to Nathan Aspinall while Josh Rock sets up a knockout encounter with Michael van Gerwen watch every dart live on Sky Sports every day through to the final on Sunday, November 20
Last Updated: 15/11/22 11:54pm
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All the best finishes from Night Four of the Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton
All the best finishes from Night Four of the Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton
World Champion Peter Wright was sensationally dumped out of the Grand Slam of Darts by Nathan Aspinall while Josh Rock set up a blockbuster clash against Michael van Gerwen in Wolverhampton.
On a spectacular night, Aspinall produced a stirring comeback to knock out Wright, while Ross Smith delivered a record-breaking display in his victory over Van Gerwen.
‘The Asp’ reeled off four straight legs from 2-1 down to eliminate World Champion Wright, as Groups E-H concluded on a dramatic Day Four at the Aldersley Leisure Village.
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Aspinall sent Wright crashing out with these winning darts…
Aspinall sent Wright crashing out with these winning darts…
“I’m so happy to get through and I can’t believe I’ve topped the group,” admitted Aspinall, who will meet Jermaine Wattimena for a place in the quarter-finals.
“Peter is going through a tough time at the moment. I don’t think his head was in the game and I give my best wishes to Jo, but I had to go up there and do my job.”
Tuesday, November 15 – Results
Group F
Jermaine Wattimena
5-1
Leonard Gates
Group F
Jonny Clayton
2-5
Damon Heta
Group G
Luke Woodhouse
4-5
Nathan Rafferty
Group G
Michael van Gerwen
4-5
Ross Smith
Group E
Alan Soutar
5-2
Fallon Sherrock
Group E
Peter Wright
2-5
Nathan Aspinall
Group H
Ryan Searle
3-5
Scott Williams
Group H
Luke Humphries
3-5
Josh Rock
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Nathan Aspinall couldn’t hide his delight after beating Peter Wright to top Group E
Nathan Aspinall couldn’t hide his delight after beating Peter Wright to top Group E
Wright required three legs to book his place in the knockout stages, and he was punished for squandering two darts at tops for a 3-1 lead in a crucial fourth leg.
Aspinall capitalised and followed up legs of 14 and 13 darts with a 106 checkout to lead 4-2, and despite spurning five match darts in an edgy conclusion, he regained his poise to wrap up proceedings via double eight.
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‘The Asp’ hit this magnificent 106 finish during his win against Wright
‘The Asp’ hit this magnificent 106 finish during his win against Wright
His 5-2 success saw him top the group on leg difference, and the Stockport star advances alongside debutant Alan Soutar, who defeated Fallon Sherrock 5-2 earlier in the night.
“Watching that match backstage – that was the worst feeling I’ve ever had in darts. It was horrible,” admitted Soutar, who will now play Jonny Clayton in Thursday’s second round.
“The Grand Slam was a free roll for me and I’m now in the world’s top 40 after less than two years on the tour, so I’m absolutely delighted.”
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Ross Smith says he wanted to show everyone what he could do against Michael van Gerwen
Ross Smith says he wanted to show everyone what he could do against Michael van Gerwen
Elsewhere, Van Gerwen sealed top spot in Group G despite succumbing to an inspired Smith in arguably the match of the tournament so far.
‘Smudger’ was assured of qualification before his tie against Van Gerwen following Luke Woodhouse’s defeat to Nathan Rafferty, and he produced a blistering display to prevail in a nine-leg epic.
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Smith set a Grand Slam of Darts group stage record by hitting NINE maximums during his sensational win
Smith set a Grand Slam of Darts group stage record by hitting NINE maximums during his sensational win
“I wanted to show everyone what I can do against the best in the world,” said Smith, who averaged 107.9 and hit a maximum in every single leg.
“Hopefully I can kick on now. I’m loving my darts and I’m so happy with life in general, so I just want to keep going.”
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MVG nailed this stunning 145 checkout during his defeat against Smith
MVG nailed this stunning 145 checkout during his defeat against Smith
Woodhouse saw his qualification hopes dashed in a thrilling nine-leg affair against Nathan Rafferty, despite averaging 101, crashing in five 180s and converting the first 170 finish of the tournament.
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Rock qualified for the last 16 after hitting 121 against Humphries
Rock qualified for the last 16 after hitting 121 against Humphries
In Group H, emerging Northern Irish star Josh Rock joined Luke Humphries in the last 16, after running out a 5-3 winner in a captivating showdown between the pair.
Scott Williams posted a stunning 107 average to come through a high-quality clash against Ryan Searle in the other Group G tie, registering six 180s and two 11-darters in the process.
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Josh Rock says he is proud of himself after progressing to the last 16
Josh Rock says he is proud of himself after progressing to the last 16
“I believe I can win this tournament,” insisted Rock, who will play three-time Grand Slam champion Van Gerwen in a huge last-16 tie on Thursday night.
“It will be a fantastic match. I’ve never played Michael before – he’s the second best player of all time in my opinion, but I’m not scared of playing him.”
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Luke Woodhouse pinned this wonderful 170 checkout in Wolverhampton
Luke Woodhouse pinned this wonderful 170 checkout in Wolverhampton
Earlier in the night, Jermaine Wattimena joined Jonny Clayton in advancing through Group F, punishing a profligate display from North American Champion Leonard Gates to complete an emphatic 5-1 victory.
Wattimena sealed the deal with a clinical 108 kill, and this result meant that Damon Heta needed to whitewash Clayton to keep his Grand Slam dream alive.
The Australian was unable to produce the heroic escape act, although he bowed out on a high, averaging 93 and landing three 180s to inflict Clayton’s first defeat of the campaign.
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The best of the action from another dramatic night in Wolverhampton
The best of the action from another dramatic night in Wolverhampton
Wednesday, November 17 – Fixtures (7pm)
Last 16 (Best of 19 legs)
Raymond van Barneveld
vs
Simon Whitlock
Michael Smith
vs
Rob Cross
Danny Noppert
vs
Gerwyn Price
Dirk van Duijvenbode
vs
Joe Cullen
The last 16 of the Grand Slam gets under way on Wednesday night, as reigning champion Gerwyn Price plays UK Open winner Danny Noppert, while 2012 champion Raymond van Barneveld plays Australia’s World Cup hero Simon Whitlock.
Elsewhere, former World Cup of Darts partners Michael Smith and Rob Cross collide, while Masters champion Joe Cullen meets Dutch star Dirk van Duijvenbode for a place in the last eight.
Watch the Grand Slam of Darts at Aldersley Leisure Village in Wolverhampton all the way through until the final on November 20 – with every session live on Sky Sports & don’t forget the World Championship is also coming to Sky Sports from December 15 until January 3.
Defending champion Gerwyn Price wins epic against Dave Chisnall to make it through to the last 16, while Raymond van Barneveld, Michael Smith and Rob Cross also progress watch every dart live on Sky Sports every day through to the final on Sunday, November 20
Last Updated: 15/11/22 12:05am
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All the best finishes from Day Three of the Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton
All the best finishes from Day Three of the Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton
World No 1 Gerwyn Price stayed on course for his fourth Grand Slam of Darts title in five years after coming through a thrilling final-leg shootout against Dave Chisnall in Wolverhampton on Monday.
The world No 1 Price won an epic straight shootout for qualification against 2014 runner-up Chisnall, while Michael Smith, Rob Cross, Danny Noppert and Joe Cullen also sealed their spots in the last 16.
The Welshman has won all three Grand Slam events staged at the Aldersley Leisure Village, and he continued his bid for a fourth Eric Bristow Trophy by coming through a breathless affair with a 103 average.
Price was edged out by 2012 champion Raymond van Barneveld in an epic contest on Sunday – despite averaging 106 – which set up a blockbuster winner-takes-all showdown against Chisnall in Monday’s headline act.
Monday, November 14 -Results
Group D
Dirk van Duijvenbode
5-3
Adam Gawlas
Group A
Raymond van Barneveld
5-0
Ted Evetts
Group B
Simon Whitlock
5-3
Christian Perez
Group B
Danny Noppert
5-4
Mensur Suljovic
Group A
Gerwyn Price
5-4
Dave Chisnall
Group C
Joe Cullen
5-3
Lisa Ashton
Group C
Michael Smith
5-1
Ritchie Edhouse
Group D
Rob Cross
5-4
Martin Schindler
Live Grand Slam of Darts
November 16, 2022, 7:00pm
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Price made a rip-roaring start to break throw in 11 darts, but a sublime 122 finish on the bull from Chisnall catapulted him into a 2-1 lead.
The Welshman responded with a brilliant double-double 99 finish on tops to restore parity at two apiece, only for Chisnall to move to the cusp of victory at 4-3 with back-to-back 14-dart holds.
However, the 2014 runner-up was left to rue missing two match darts in the penultimate leg, as Price sank double five to force a decider, before following up visits of 140, 140 and 137 by converting a clinical 87 kill to prevail in 12 darts.
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Gerwyn Price produced a brilliant 19, tops-tops 99 checkout on his way to defeating Dave Chisnall in a thriller
Gerwyn Price produced a brilliant 19, tops-tops 99 checkout on his way to defeating Dave Chisnall in a thriller
“Raymond and Dave have both played brilliant games against me, so I’m just glad to get over the winning line,” reflected Price, who posted ton-plus averages in all three of his Group A ties.
“I never felt dead and buried. There is a target on my back, but I’m just fortunate I’ve got a little more in the tank that I can pull out.”
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Price conceded he had doubts against Chisnall but managed to win in a last-leg decider to make it through
Price conceded he had doubts against Chisnall but managed to win in a last-leg decider to make it through
Price will now take on UK Open champion Danny Noppert in a stellar last-16 tie on Wednesday, after the Dutchman came through a gruelling nine-leg tussle against Mensur Suljovic to claim his third consecutive Group B victory.
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Van Barneveld – the 2012 Grand Slam champion – secured top spot in Group A with an emphatic whitewash win over World Youth Champion Ted Evetts in his final round-robin tie.
“I played well. I’m feeling relaxed and I have a wonderful life at the moment,” said Van Barneveld, who is through to the last 16 in Wolverhampton for the first time since 2017.
“The hard work is paying off. I’ve got massive support, I’m the group winner and I’m amazingly proud of myself.”
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After winning all three matches and topping Group A, Barney says he is ‘relaxed’ and is ‘enjoying his darts’, with the Dutchman acknowledging his great form
After winning all three matches and topping Group A, Barney says he is ‘relaxed’ and is ‘enjoying his darts’, with the Dutchman acknowledging his great form
Elsewhere, Michael Smith maintained his magnificent Group Stage record at the Grand Slam with a comprehensive 5-1 success against Ritchie Edhouse to finish top of Group C.
“It was about keeping my winning streak going in the groups. I want to win every game and that’s the mentality I’ve got,” insisted Smith, who averaged 102 to win a 16th straight game in the round-robin phase.
Masters champion Joe Cullen progressed alongside Smith in Group C, courtesy of a tense comeback win against four-time Women’s world champion Lisa Ashton.
“It was really tough. Lisa was fantastic, particularly early doors, but I’m just relieved I got the job done,” admitted Cullen, who converted a spectacular 158 checkout in leg six.
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Watch Joe Cullen hit this sublime 158 checkout against Lisa Ashton…
Watch Joe Cullen hit this sublime 158 checkout against Lisa Ashton…
In the evening’s finale, Rob Cross moved through to the last 16 at the Grand Slam for the sixth straight year, recovering from 3-0 and 4-2 down to deny Martin Schindler in a dramatic Group D tie.
“I feel for Martin, because he was the better player tonight and he should be going through,” conceded Cross, who now faces Smith for a place in the last eight on Wednesday.
“I have struggled to settle so far but I’m expecting a better performance in the longer format, and I’m still enjoying my darts.”
Dirk van Duijvenbode had secured top spot in Group D in the evening’s opener, defying five 180s from Adam Gawlas to maintain his 100 per cent record in this year’s group stage.
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The best of the action from Day three of the Grand Slam of Darts
The best of the action from Day three of the Grand Slam of Darts
Tuesday, November 15 – Fixtures (7pm)
Group F
Jermaine Wattimena
vs
Leonard Gates
Group F
Jonny Clayton
vs
Damon Heta
Group G
Luke Woodhouse
vs
Nathan Rafferty
Group G
Michael van Gerwen
vs
Ross Smith
Group E
Alan Soutar
vs
Fallon Sherrock
Group E
Peter Wright
vs
Nathan Aspinall
Group H
Ryan Searle
vs
Scott Williams
Group H
Luke Humphries
vs
Josh Rock
The £650,000 tournament continues on Tuesday, where players in Groups E-H will return for their final round of group matches, including a crunch clash between world champion Peter Wright and World Grand Prix runner-up Nathan Aspinall.
Watch the Grand Slam of Darts at Aldersley Leisure Village in Wolverhampton all the way through until the final on November 20 – with every session live on Sky Sports & don’t forget the World Championship is also coming to Sky Sports from December 15 until January 3.
