DAVE CHISNALL 5-4 JUSTIN PIPE

DAVE CHISNALL won a final-leg thriller against Justin Pipe at the 2011 William Hill Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton.

Chisnall, who lost narrowly in his first two group games was unable to qualify for the last 16 stages but took a dramatic deciding leg to leave the Wolverhampton Civic with a win.

The defeat for Pipe and Terry Jenkins superb victory over James Wade later in the evening confirmed that the man from Taunton crashed out of the tournament.

Pipe hit at two-dart 68 finish to take the first leg with Chisnall waiting on tops but the 2010 Lakeside finalist levelled with an accomplished 14-darter, which included a maximum.

Pipe hit a 180 of his own to take a 2-1 lead with his second 14-dart finish of the game but Chisnall pegged back to win the fourth with a 14-darter of his own.

The man from Taunton held throw for the third consecutive time to take the fifth leg but Chisnall kept up with his opponent to take the next with a 78 finish.

That left matters finely balanced at three all and in the seventh Chisnall had the opportunity to break throw for the first time in the match. But six attempts at doubles were off-target.

However, Pipe was unable to accept the reprieve as he missed three darts at doubles himself and Chisnall landed double one to lead for the first time.

The eighth leg saw Pipe hit a maximum but Chisnall missed a dart at bullseye to win the match and Pipe returned to the oche to hit double six.

That set up a deciding-leg shoot-out which proved to be a tense affair. Pipe was first to a finish but when attempting to convert 17 his dart at single one fell into the single 20.

That allowed Chisnall the opportunity to snatch victory, which he duly did by hitting double 10 with his last dart to record victory.

"The atmosphere was incredible out there tonight and it's a shame that this win came too late for me," admitted Chisnall.

A disappointed Pipe said; "I knew what was at stake tonight and I desperately wanted to win tonight for all my supporters.

"If I had left myself the two darts at double eight the result could have been very different."