Mickey Mansell’s incredible run at the Grand Slam of Darts continues as he battled back from losing the opening four legs to defeat Cameron Menzies in an edge-of-your-seat Quarter-Final and reach his first ever ranking TV Semi-Final in Wolverhampton.
The 51-year-old Clonoe man didn’t lead until the 21st leg in the last-eight tie at Aldersley Leisure Village and then fell a late break down, but managed to battle through to win in a dramatic final leg to advance to Sunday’s last-four and bank a tasty £50,000 for his troubles.
Mansell had to battle through struggles on the doubles, particularly double-10 as he missed 36 darts on the edge of the board, but his scoring power came to the fore as he came back from a tough start to average 91.19 and prevail.
The Clonoe Cyclone now has a first-ever major Semi-Final to look forward to on Sunday when he faces either former world champion Rob Cross or Martin Lukeman in the last-four, with a potential meeting with teenage phenom Luke Littler awaiting in the Final.
Having already defeated former world champions Raymond van Barneveld and Gerwyn Price and World No.12 Danny Noppert to reach this point, Menzies did not represent, on paper, the toughest opponent he has faced but the Scot made him work for every leg.
Initially it looked like that might be only a few as Mansell missed three darts to win the first leg and instead Menzies raced into a 4-0 lead with two breaks of throw, with Mansell only avoiding being whitewashed by winning the fifth leg to get on the board.
Slowly but surely, however, the Co Tyrone man worked his way back into the tie by breaking Menzies’ throw in the first two legs of the second session – albeit he was broken himself in the second leg – to get one break back, and he would then level in leg 16 with another break having steadied his own throw.
The level tie would last just one leg as Menzies broke again, taking out 97, only for Mansell to restore parity in leg 20 and, by holding throw one leg later, finally take the lead for the first time in the match.
Just when it looked like he was on his way to victory, Menzies came up with another break of throw to move three from victory as he hit the bullseye to clear 130, and he would hold throw for what looked to be a lead that may not be overcome.
But when he needed it most, the Clonoe man came up with the goods, breaking back to tie it up at 14-14 and after two holds of throw, the deciding leg would see Mansell clean up 59 for the most dramatic of victories and continue this historic run.