Noppert and Gilding meet in the nights opening game at 5:50

Shaping up to be a great tournament, with some very interesting match ups in round two.
In form Stephen Bunting faces Chris Dobey, while Michael Smith and Peter Wright meet in the top quarter.
Gerwyn Price vs Nathan Aspinall and Rob Cross vs Danny Noppert in the second quarter of the draw.
Luke Humphries is the headline act in the third quarter, and he faces Kris Ratajski. The winner has a game with James Wade or Jose de Sousa.
21 star Gian van Veen is one to look out for in the coming months, and he faces Daryl Gurney. Ricardo Pietreczko is one of the players hitting great form and he has the superstar Michael van Gerwen, in what should be a cracker.

Getting interesting now!!

Today's Quarters
Dobey vs Wright
Price vs Noppert
Humphries vs Wade
Van Veen vs Van Gerwyn


Quarters this afternoon, semi and final tonight.

Big John Henderson is having a really good weekend on the Challenge Tour. Looking good to take the 2nd spot which gives him his tour card back without Q-School, and a return to Ally Pally.
Still event 22 to finish (he is only one in top 16 still going), 23 this afternoon and 24 tomorrow.

van Veen beat van Gerwyn to set up a semi with Wade, while Wright and Noppert meet in the other one.

Forgot to inform you all that John Hendersons charge fell flat and Owen Bates took that priceless second spot.

Bates now has a 2 year tour card and a place at the Worlds.

James Wade booked his place at the Grand Slam

Today sees the Players Championship regular season conclude. At this moment there are just two places up for grabs from the 64. Steve Beaton and Ricky Evans currently hold them, but Cam Crabtree and Scott Waites are still going today and a win puts them through.
Damon Heta, currently 3rd in the PCOoM, can take the #1 seed from Michael Smith if he wins today.

There is also a chance for 8 tour card holders to win a place at the Grand Slam in a qualifier being held tomorrow.
Still a number of stars without a place,

Noppert, Searle, Heta, Lenton, Bunting, Rafferty, Kleermaker and Dolan are in the Grand Slam!!

The draw has been made for the Grand Slam...

Fallon Sherrock has been handed a humdinger, with MvG and Rob Cross headlining. Kleermaker makes up the 4.

Beau Greaves is in a group of death. In form Ricardo Pietreczko will fancy his chances against Nathan Aspinall and Damon Heta, but that one could well be the one to watch.

Gerwyn Price will have to be at his best to beat young star Gian van Veen with Ryan Searle and Nathan Rafferty in the group.

2nd seed Peter Wright has two players who have turned back the years to find their best form. Dave Chisnall and Stephen Bunting will hope to turn their floor form into a performance here. Stowe Buntz may find the quality too much here.

Top seed Michael Smith will be happy, but wary, of his group with James Wade, Krzysztof Ratajski and Nathan Girvan.

Jonny Clayton, Chris Dobey and Josh Rock make Group B a very difficult to call one, with Berry van Peer full of confidence after a dominant season on the challenge tour.

Luke Humphries will be ready for some tough matches against Dirk van Duijvenbode, Gary Anderson and Steve Lennon.

Group F is arguably the weakest of the groups, Danny Noppert, Andrew Gilding, Brendan Dolan and Haruki Muramatsu will all feel happy with their draws.

Statement wins for Beau and Fallon yesterday, can they follow it up and qualify out of their groups? Both play tomorrow.
Tonight is
2 dead rubbers to start the night:
Price (through) vs van Veen (out) - Group D
Rock (through) vs van Peer (out) - Group B
Group C winner takes all:
Anderson (2 pts) vs Lennon (0)
Humphries (4) vs van Duijvenbode (2)

Group D play-off
Rafferty vs Searle

Group A all up for grabs:
Ratajski (2) vs Girvan (0)
Smith (4) vs Wade (2)

And the evening ends with the winner takes all Group B match up
Clayton vs Dobey

Should be fun with some big names going out.

Wade pulled off the big result of the night with a 5-1 win over Michael Smith, to knock the world number one out and join Ratajski in qualifying from group A.
Chris Dobey knocked out Johnny Clayton in group B.
Luke Humphries and Gary Anderson advanced from Group C.
Ryan Searle smashed in a 9 darted and progresses from Group D with Price.

Tonight we have a few big'uns.
First up in Group E is the dead rubber between qualified surprise package Stowe Buntz and disappointing departed Dave Chisnall.
Another game with nothing riding on it is group leader Nathan Aspinall playing knocked out Ricardo Pietreczko.
And the third meaningless match sees Dutch stars MvG and Kleermaker meet with the former going on to the next round.

Group F is next up with all 4 still able to qualify. Murumatsu (0pts) takes on Gilding (2) before Noppert (4) takes on Dolan (2).

Back in Group E, it is winner takes all as Peter Wright and Stephen Bunting fight to the death.

The night ends with the 2 female players attempting to progress. Fallon Sherrock goes first, facing Rob Cross. Winner qualifies, loser goes home.
The final match sees a shoot out between Beau Greaves and Damon Heta.

Alas 'twas not meant to be for Beau and Fallon. Greaves went the distance with Heta, but the Aussie took it 5-4. Greaves has really shown up well, won 1 and lost two on the deciding leg. Maybe there are some regrets at turning down the World Championship?
Sherrock had a tougher time, losing 5-2 to Cross.

With the World Number 1 already out, number 2 Peter Wright found Stephen Bunting too good. Bunting won 5-3 to advance.

Noppert and Gilding both advanced from F with wins.

Tonight sees the last 16 ties begin. No more round robin, this is straight knockout.

Josh Rock plays Krzysztof Ratajski first up. James Wade and Chris Dobey are the second game before Gerwyn Price and Gary Anderson battle it out. The final game tonight has Luke Humphries and Ryan Searle at the oche.

Thursdays matches start with Stowe Buntz against Andrew Gilding, Danny Noppert versus Stephen Bunting, Michael van Gerwen versus Damon Heta and Nathan Aspinall against Rob Cross.

My predictions are:
Rock, Wade, Price, Humphries, Gilding, Bunting, MvG, Cross.