The debutant pair produced the game of the tournament so far in a high-quality contest, with Walsh coming from 3-1 down to lead 6-3 at one stage.
Winstanley - who ended the game with an average of 104.55 - battled back to lead 9-8 but missed five darts at doubles to win the remaining two legs as Walsh firstly forced a decider before edging to victory.
After Walsh had won the game's opening leg, Winstanley took the next three by finishing double top, hitting an 11-darter which featured a 177 and an 87 checkout to break and a 92 bull finish to lead 3-1.
Winstanley also landed a 180 in the fifth leg, but missed two darts at tops for a fourth successive leg and Walsh powered in a 138 checkout to begin his resurgence.
The former UK Open finalist then finished 96, 60 and 82 - on the bull - to lead 5-3 and saw double ten push him three legs clear with five in a row.
He also missed double 12 in the tenth as Winstanley hit back on double ten, and after Walsh posted tops to lead 7-4 the duo traded double 12 finishes before the Lakeside Championship finalist sparked his own revival with a 138 checkout, the second of the match.
He then landed six perfect darts with back-to-back maximums in the 15th, which he won in 13 darts before levelling the game at eight-all on double eight.
The pair traded maximums in the next as Winstanley wrestled back the lead on double top for a 12-darter, moving a leg away from victory at 9-8.
However, he missed the bull for a 130 checkout and two further match darts as Walsh took out double ten to level and send the match into a final-leg decider.
The pair traded 140s with their opening visit before Winstanley landed a 180, but he would see two darts at double top land on the wire to allow Walsh in, and he posted double 18 to win a superb contest.
"That was a great game to be involved in, a real rollercoaster," said Walsh. "The five legs I took in a row turned the game at the time but I made it hard work for myself after that.
"Seems like I'm trying to entertain the crowd with close games but I don't mean to! I never gave up and it paid off."
Winstanley had overcome World Champions Ted Hankey and Raymond van Barneveld during the group stage, and admitted: "It's been my first time in the Grand Slam of Darts and I've loved every minute of it.
"It was a brilliant match with Mark and I'm as proud as punch to have played so well. The average was fantastic but that doesn't win you the game, and unfortunately I missed my chance and Mark took his at the end."
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.