Mark Webster 5-3 Gary Anderson

MARK WEBSTER 5-3 GARY ANDERSON
Winmau’s MARK WEBSTER suffered heartbreak at the Daily Mirror Grand Slam of Darts, defeating Gary Anderson 5-3 but missing six darts to put himself into the last 16 of the tournament.

The Welshman needed to win 5-1 to knock out home favourite Wayne Jones, while a 5-2 victory over Anderson would have forced a nine-dart shoot-out.

However, Webster missed six darts to win 5-1 as Anderson secured his own second round place, before completing a 5-3 win in vain.

Webster began well, punishing five missed doubles from Anderson to win the first leg on double 15 before taking the second on tops despite a 180 from the Scot.

Anderson hit another 180 and double 18 to take the third in 14 darts, only to then miss four darts to win the fourth as double five gave Webster a 3-1 lead.

Webster then took out a 12-darter, which featured a 177 and a 96 finish, to lead 4-1 and move to the brink of a victory which would see him oust Jones - who had defeated him in Saturday^s opening game - from the event.

Three ton-plus scores put Webster first to the finish in the next, but he missed six darts at double top, ten and five as Anderson posted double top to snatch the leg.

He also took the next on double eight to pull back to 4-3, meaning Webster could not even force a nine-dart shoot out with Jones - having needed a 5-2 win to force that scenario.

The Welshman regained his nerve to hit three 140s and then land double six to take an ultimately painful victory.

"To beat Gary 5-1 was always going to be a big ask and to be honest I didn^t think I could do that against a player of his quality when I went on stage," said a visibly upset Webster.

"I gave it a good go and I^m gutted that I wasted my chance, but the best two players go through and I wasn^t in the best two, so I go home.

"The game that cost me was losing to Wayne on Saturday when I didn^t play as well as I should."