Fallon Sherrock demolishes 'Lucky D' Darius Labanauskas 6-1 - including a show-stopping 142 to reach the quarter-finals of the Nordic Masters; Sherrock was a finalist at last year's staging of the tournament in Copenhagen
Friday 10 June 2022 23:38, UK
Fallon Sherrock sailed past Lithuania's Darius Labanauskas 6-1 to reach the quarter-finals of the Nordic Masters on Friday.
Grand Slam quarter-finalist Sherrock, a runner-up in last year's inaugural staging of the tournament in Copenhagen, averaged 80 and landed a stunning 142 checkout on her way to a superb victory.
'The Queen of the Palace' bounced back from her disappointing early exit at last week's US Darts Masters to Leonard Gates to make it through to the last eight and a meeting with top seed Michael Smith after the St Helens star began his bid for back-to-back World Series titles with a 6-2 success against Danish No 1 Vladimir Andersen.
Sherrock was beaten by Van Gerwen in a thrilling final 12 months ago, after producing a remarkable comeback from 8-2 down to stun Dimitri Van den Bergh in the semi-finals.
The 27-year-old, who is hoping those positive memories can inspire another dream run in Copenhagen, surged into a 4-1 lead against former World Championship quarter-finalist Labanauskas before landing a roof-raising 142 (T20, T20, D11).
Labanauskas, who missed a total of 16 darts at double, was broken again in the very next leg as Sherrock took out 85 for a wonderful win.
Elsewhere, reigning champion Michael van Gerwen kicked off his title defence with a dominant 6-1 win over Finnish veteran Marko Kantele.
Van Gerwen stormed clear with 157 and 103 finishes in consecutive legs, and he will now play James Wade, ahead of the pair's clash in the Premier League Play-Offs on Monday.
Wade began his campaign with a comfortable 6-3 win over Madars Razma, while world champion Peter Wright produced the performance of the night, averaging 103.66 in a whitewash win over big stage debutant Matthias Orn Fridriksson.
Wright now looks ahead to an all-Scottish affair against Gary Anderson, who survived a huge scare after rallying from 5-3 down to edge out experienced Swede Daniel Larsson.
Gerwyn Price recovered from a sluggish start to dump out home favourite Brian Lokken, reeling off five consecutive legs from 2-1 down to book a last-eight showdown against Dimitri Van den Bergh.
Sherrock and Smith's tussle headlines Saturday afternoon's quarter-final action, before the semi-finals and final take place in a blockbuster evening session at Forum Copenhagen.
Schedule of Play
Friday June 10, Forum Copenhagen
First Round
Dimitri Van den Bergh 6-0 Benjamin Drue Reus
Gary Anderson 6-5 Daniel Larsson
James Wade 6-3 Madars Razma
Fallon Sherrock 6-1 Darius Labanauskas
Gerwyn Price 6-2 Brian Løkken
Michael Smith 6-2 Vladimir Andersen
Peter Wright 6-0 Matthías Örn Fridriksson
Michael van Gerwen 6-1 Marko Kantele
Saturday June 11
Afternoon Session (1300 local time, 1200 BST)
Quarter-Finals
Gerwyn Price v Dimitri Van den Bergh
Michael Smith v Fallon Sherrock
Michael van Gerwen v James Wade
Peter Wright v Gary Anderson
Evening Session (2000 local time, 1900 BST)
Semi-Finals
Smith/Sherrock v Price/Van den Bergh
Van Gerwen/Wade v Wright/Anderson
Final
Quarter-Finals - Best of 19 legs
Semi-Finals - Best of 21 legs
Final - Best of 21 legs
