David Sharp lived up to his surname and then some – slicing through Group C like a hot dart through butter, winning all five of his MODUS Super Series matches and firmly planting himself on the fast track to Finals Night.
The 36-year-old was a man on a mission as he powered through the afternoon without dropping a single point. After watching the opening two games like a boss in a swivel chair, he finally stepped up in match three and delivered a 4-1 blow to Kurt Parry. Next came a tightrope walk against Martyn Turner – squeaking out the decider – before unleashing a whitewash on poor Joe Bridle, who probably still doesn’t know what hit him. He rounded things off by pinching another last-leg thriller, this time from The Gladiator, Mark McGeeney, who will have to put everyone to the sword tomorrow for a slot on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Kevin Lankhuizen had the kind of afternoon where a trip to the dentists seems preferable. Five matches, five defeats. I’m no Stephen Hawking so can’t do the complicated algorithms, but at this point, even a Sharp-style clean sweep tomorrow for the Belgian might not save him – unless he brings a time machine or some divine intervention.
Martyn Mutts Nutts Turner was barking up the right tree with four wins from five and sits just behind Sharp. Only the Scot was able to put a dent in him this afternoon, and if he can repeat the trick tomorrow, Saturday night could be calling. That said, easier said than done – especially in a group that looks set to go right down to the wire.
Kurt Parry sits on six points and Mark McGeeney two behind him – both still in the mix if they can get off to a flying start. The Welshman’s first match tomorrow is against Turner, and it already feels like a must win for the 32-year old. For McGeeney, his opener is against Bridle where victory would really put him back in the mix.
As for Joe Bridle, he’s probably going to fall short too. One win in his second match over Lankhuizen gave him brief hope, but things unravelled faster than a cheap dart flight. He gave McGeeney a run for his money in the penultimate match but ended up on the wrong side of the deciding leg.
So realistically, it’s two spots from four heading into Friday. Sharp just needs a couple of wins – though judging by today’s form, don’t be surprised if he hoovers up like a starving aardvark. And to be honest, you’d be brave to bet against it.
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Images: MODUS
