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Michael Smith and Dave Chisnall reach Grand Slam last eight
DAVE Chisnall and Michael Smith are through to the quarter finals of the Boyle Sports Grand Slam of Darts.
In-form Chisnall was a 10-3 winner as he moved into the last eight in style, averaging 102 against Ryan Harrington as the qualifier's Wolverhampton debut came to an end on Wednesday.
Chisnall made the early running with a pair of 14-darters and also finished 104 to move 4-0 up before a superb 154 checkout got Harrington off the mark.
Legs of 13, 14 and 11 darts helped Chisnall into a 7-1 lead before Harrington hit back with a 13-darter and an 87 finish to pull back to 7-3.
Chisnall, the 2014 finalist, restored his cushion with a 14-darter before pinning double six and double four to secure his last eight spot in a fourth successive televised event.
The 39-year-old has reached the World Grand Prix final this autumn to follow up three ranking victories - and is now hoping to go all the way to a maiden TV title.
"I'm happy to be through," said Chisnall, who now meets Wright in Friday's quarter-finals. "I'm playing okay and I hit some good shots - it could have been closer but that's the game.
"Luckily for me I'm starting to play well again and hitting my doubles, and I can look forward to Friday now."
Harrington had won through the qualifiers before wins over Danny Noppert and Wayne Warren saw him progress from Group F to reach the last 16 of a televised event for the first time, where he averaged 96 in defeat.
"Ryan played well and can take the positives," added Chisnall. "He'll be full of confidence now and I hope he gets his career up and running.
"He missed a few bulls early on and could have been 3-2 up when it was 4-1 to me, and he had some chances to stay in it, but he should be proud of himself."
Smith, who averaged 101.56 in his impressive 10-7 defeat of Daryl Gurney to reach the last eight for the first time since 2015.
Northern Irish ace Gurney made a strong start to land a trio of 14-darters as he took an early 3-1 lead, before Smith landed a pair of 11-dart finishes and a 100 checkout as he hit back to level at four-all.
Smith then finished a 13-darter and a 110 checkout to take his run to four straight legs as he took a 6-4 advantage and extended that cushion to 8-5 before holding his nerve to seal the win.
"Any win over Daryl is a good win so I'm really happy," said Smith. "Every time I play Daryl it's a good game and I dug deep.
"I had to keep believing in myself and I know I can step it up when I have to. Hopefully I can keep winning and be the Grand Slam champion at the end of the week.
"As long as I don't stop believing, I'll get there. If I don't believe in myself, nobody will and I believe that I can win any tournament that I play in, but I'm trying so hard.
"I've not won a TV title yet, but I'm getting to the back end of tournaments and as long as I keep knocking, one day I'll get through that door and keep winning."
The second round concludes on Thursday with the remaining four matches, including reigning champion Gerwyn Price taking on Darren Webster.
World number one Michael van Gerwen meets Ian White, while an all-Scottish clash sees Gary Anderson play Robert Thornton and James Wade faces Adrian Lewis.
BoyleSports Grand Slam of Darts
Wednesday November 13
Second Round x4
Dave Chisnall 10-3 Ryan Harrington
Glen Durrant 10-9 Gabriel Clemens
Michael Smith 10-7 Daryl Gurney
Peter Wright 10-3 Rob Cross
Thursday November 14 (1900 GMT)
Second Round x4
James Wade v Adrian Lewis
Gerwyn Price v Darren Webster
Michael van Gerwen v Ian White
Gary Anderson v Robert Thornton
Friday November 15 (1900 GMT)
Quarter-Finals x2
Dave Chisnall v Peter Wright
Glen Durrant v Michael Smith