Darts
2024 Grand Slam of Darts: Luke Littler Tops Group, MVG Dumped Out
Michael van Gerwen and Michael Smith joined defending champion Luke Humphries on his way out of the Grand Slam of Darts, while teenage prodigy Luke Littler topped his group to continue onto the last-16.
The final day of the group stage at the 2024 Grand Slam of Darts wrapped up in thrilling fashion, with the last eight players securing their spots in the last 16.
It was a star-studded lineup of talent, with teenage sensation Luke Littler in action, alongside the likes of Michael van Gerwen and Michael Smith.
Gary Anderson Tops Group G
Like the first match, recent European Championship finalist Jermaine Wattimena had already secured his spot in the competition’s last-16, with former Champions League winner Mensur Suljovic already out.
The Machine Gun Wattimena only needed to win three legs to clinch top spot in Group E, and he managed to do so in style. It was a closely contested match, but he maintained his strong recent form to go three wins out of three to narrowly beat the Austrian 5-4.
Machine Gun Wattimena into the Last-16
The fourth match of the night where the outcome of the contest didn’t matter, Gian van Veen had already secured his spot in the last-16, whilst fellow Dutch youngster Wessel Nijman has already exited.
Nijman wasn’t out without the lack of trying; he had lost his previous two meeting with a three-dart average over 104 showcasing how well Stephen Bunting and Josh Rock played against him. He continued this insane form with a match average over 111, yet again lost to a superior player. The Giant van Veen won the tight contest 5-4 to top Group H.
Luke Littler Dominant on Debut
On his debut at the Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton, teenage sensation Luke Littler continued to electrify the grateful crowd. He had already secured his spot in the last 16, with comfortable wins over Dimitri Van den Bergh and Keane Barry, but certainly had eyes on topping the group.
The Filipino Lourence Ilagen made it awkward for the young prodigy, but he got over the line with a 5-3 victory, which included a scintillating 130 three-dart checkout on the bullseye and eight perfect darts missing the double 12 for another famous nine darter.
Van Veen Edges Out Nijman
The fourth match of the night where the outcome of the contest didn’t matter, Gian van Veen had already secured his spot in the last-16, whilst fellow Dutch youngster Wessel Nijman has already exited.
Nijman wasn’t out without the lack of trying; he had lost his previous two meeting with a three-dart average over 104 showcasing how well Stephen Bunting and Josh Rock played against him. He continued this insane form with a match average over 111, yet again lost to a superior player. The Giant van Veen won the tight contest 5-4 to top Group H.
Dimitri Dances Past Keane Barry
Next up, with all to play for, the reigning UK Open Champion Dimitri Van den Bergh took on Irish youngster Keane Barry in the first straight shootout for a place in the last-16.
Van den Bergh danced into the next round, with an impressive three-dart average over 104 to impressively beat Barry 4-1. The Belgian will take on Wattimena in the next round, following his second-place finish in Group F.
MVG Dumped Out by Ryan Joyce
Three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen stepped up for a crucial clash against recent World Grand Prix semi-finalist Ryan Joyce, with both players fighting for a spot in the last 16.
Despite "The Green Machine" struggling to find his usual form, credit must go to the impressive Geordie, who delivered a fearless performance. Joyce matched one of the sport's greatest throw for throw and pulled off a stunning 5-4 upset, knocking out the Dutchman and building on his momentum from the ‘double in’ tournament in Leicester.
Van Gerwen's defeat marks the second major star to exit the Grand Slam early, with defending champion Luke Humphries having bowed out earlier in the week. Joyce’s reward is a last-16 showdown with fellow in-form player Gian van Veen.
Image credit: PDC
De Decker Whitewashes Bully Boy
Michael Smith, known as "Bully Boy," faced immense pressure as he sought to defend the £200,000 prize money, he secured by winning this tournament two years ago. Needing a victory over reigning World Grand Prix champion Mike De Decker to stay in contention, Smith’s campaign quickly unravelled.
In a stunning blow, the Belgian produced a dominant performance, whitewashing Smith 5-0 and eliminating the former world champion from the competition. Remarkably, Smith never even had a dart at double, underscoring his struggles in one of his most disappointing displays on the big stage.
Bunting Escapes ‘Group of Death’
In final match of the group stage phase, fan favourite Stephen Bunting took on Northern Ireland’s number one Josh Rock, in yet another shootout for the competition’s last-16.
Bullet proof Bunting set the stage alight to end the night. With an insane 106.66 three-dart average, he destroyed Rock 5-2 to get out of the labelled ‘group of death’ and secure a spot in the next round against Scottish icon Gary Anderson.
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