PAUL NICHOLSON 5-4 MAGNUS CARIS

PAUL NICHOLSON came from 4-3 down to defeat Magnus Caris and confirm top place in Group F at the William Hill Grand Slam of Darts.

The 2010 Players Championship Finals winner produced superb darts to win the final two legs of the contest and will now face Steve Beaton on Friday night for a place in the quarter-finals.

"I feel very relieved to have won that game", admitted Nicholson, who qualifies for the knockout phase at the third time of asking.

"I came out tonight very motivated to top the group and in the end I had to do it the hard way. I will remember that 144 checkout in the eighth leg for a very long time."

Nicholson won the first leg of the game by converting a 61 finish after Caris missed a dart at double top for an early break of throw.

The Swede, making his debut in this event, missed two more darts at doubles in the next leg allowing Nicholson to step in and take a 2-0 lead by landing double ten.

Nicholson hit his second 180 of the game in the next leg, but Caris won it by hitting double 16 and then won the fourth with a clinical two-dart 81 finish to level.

That left matters finely balanced at two-all, but Nicholson hit double top at the first time of asking to win his third leg of the match and confirm his place in the knockout phase.

Both players missed darts at the bull to win the sixth leg, which Caris took by hitting double eight before he posted tops in the next leg to lead the match for the first time.

The eighth leg saw Caris leave himself a two-dart finish for victory, but Nicholson hit a fantastic 144 checkout to force a deciding leg.

Nicholson produced some fabulous scoring in the final leg, which included a maximum, and hit double 16 to win an excellent match.