Luke Littler and Luke Humphries both made winning starts to the Grand Slam of Darts, as Michael van Gerwen defeated Beau Greaves in a final-leg thriller in Wolverhampton.
All 32 players featured on the opening day of the round-robin group stage at WV Active Aldersley in Wolverhampton, held across two sessions, where Greaves threatened a huge upset in a high-scoring match against the three-time Grand Slam champion.
Greaves capitalised on some wayward finishing by Van Gerwen to hold in the opening leg, with the next three going with throw, only for the Dutchman to pull ahead in the contest by following a 11-dart break by winning the next to move 4-2 up.
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Highlights from Luke Littler’s convincing 5-1 victory over Karel Sedlacek at the Grand Slam of Darts
The contest was dragged into a decider after Greaves produced a 13-dart hold and fired successive 180s on her way to a 12-dart break in the next, with both players squandering match darts before Van Gerwen snatched a dramatic victory on D3.
Greaves posted a 101.47 average and three maximums during her opening-day defeat, leaving her with work to reach the knockout stages for the first time, with Niko Springer moving top of their group after his 5-3 win over former Grand Slam finalist Gary Anderson.
“To win the first game is always a relief for every player,” Van Gerwen said. “I was putting pressure on myself but it gives me confidence towards tomorrow night.
“In my opinion there’s never been a better woman darts player, but now she needs to push herself. She’s still young but I have to focus on myself. It’s not going to get any easier – Niko Springer is next and then Gary Anderson, but I’m not going to walk away from it and you have to battle.”
Michael van Gerwen edged Beau Greaves in a final-leg thriller in Wolverhampton
Littler – looking to defend a TV title for the first time and move to world No 1 – began his title defence with a 5-1 win over Karel Sedlacek, where he produced some sensational set-up play and averaged 98 during a dominant display.
“I really wanted the whitewash win so I am a little bit disappointed,” Littler admitted. “This is the second major I have come to defend. It didn’t go well in the Premier League but I am off to a good start here.
“I want to go back-to-back. If I can win tomorrow night then hopefully I can relax on Tuesday. Coming back here is full of great memories.”
2023 champion Humphries brushed aside Alex Spellman in straight legs, where a 13-dart break and 14-dart hold set him on his way to a one-side win where his opponent never got a dart at double.
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Highlights from the Grand Slam of Darts match between Luke Humphries and Alex Spellman, where the world No 1 made an impressive start
Smith edges Aspinall on TV return
Connor Scutt survived a match dart when 4-3 down to fire five perfect darts – in the deciding leg – to beat Daryl Gurney in a topsy-turvy contest, leaving him second in Group E behind Littler.
Humphries tops Group A ahead of former Grand Slam champion Michael Smith, who capitalised on Nathan Aspinall missing 19 darts at double to claim a 5-3 win in a repeat of the 2022 final.
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Nathan Aspinall produced a little jig after he nailed an 86 checkout against Michael Smith, having missed plenty of chances previously on the outer ring
“To get up there, to win that match is a bit emotional and I’m just glad to get over the line,” said Smith, who has not appeared in a televised event since March’s UK Open. “Nathan should have won that. I just hung in there and I got the job done in the end, and I’ll take the win.”
Luke Woodhouse won the first three legs of his 5-2 victory over Martin Schindler, before closing out his win with a brilliant 120 finish, with Stephen Bunting then suffering a shock final-leg defeat to Alexis Toylo in the last match of the evening.
Springer nailed a 152 finish and won three straight legs from 3-2 down to beat Anderson, who has progressed from the group stage every year, with the Scot now facing Greaves in Sunday’s round-robin fixtures.
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Niko Springer picked up a 5-3 victory over Gary Anderson in the Grand Slam of Darts, with this huge 152 checkout the pick of the bunch from the German
Van Veen pips Ashton as former champion Price beaten
Three-time Grand Slam champion Gerwyn Price opened his campaign with a final-leg defeat against Ricky Evans, despite exchanging seven maximums and landing a brilliant 167 checkout in the contest.
Group D was blown wide open after James Wade was also beaten in a final-leg decider, where ‘The Machine’ squandered four match darts to see Stefan Bellmont snatch a 5-4 victory.
Cam Crabtree thrashed Jonny Clayton 5-1 to top Group H ahead of Danny Noppert, who survived match darts in his 5-4 win over Lukas Wenig, while Chris Dobey and Damon Heta opened Group B with 5-1 wins over Jurjen van der Velde and Martin Lukeman respectively.
Lisa Ashton took reigning world youth champion and European Championship winner Gian van Veen to a last-leg decider, where the Dutchman claimed a narrow win, while Wessel Nijman beat Josh Rock by the same margin in that group.
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Wessel Nijman hits a brilliant 130 on the bullseye as he beat Josh Rock 5-4 in their Grand Slam of Darts match
What’s coming up on Sunday?
Another double session of group-stage matches take place on Sunday, with the top two in each group going head-to-head and the bottom two in the same group playing each other.
Afternoon session (live from 1pm on Sky Sports Mix)
Martin Lukeman vs Jurjen Van der Velde (B)
Jonny Clayton vs Lukas Wenig (H)
Josh Rock vs Lisa Ashton (F)
James Wade vs Gerwyn Price (D)
Ricky Evans vs Stefan Bellmont (D)
Danny Noppert vs Cam Crabtree (H)
Gian van Veen vs Wessel Nijman (F)
Chris Dobey vs Damon Heta (B)
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Alexis Toylo stunned Stephen Bunting with a win during their Grand Slam of Darts match as he pinned 100 with a tops-tops checkout
Evening session (live from 7pm on Sky Sports+ and 7.30pm on Sky Sports Main Event)
Nathan Aspinall vs Alex Spellman (A)
Daryl Gurney vs Karel Sedlacek (E)
Stephen Bunting vs Martin Schindler (C)
Gary Anderson vs Beau Greaves (G)
Luke Littler vs Connor Scutt (E)
Luke Humphries vs Michael Smith (A)
Michael van Gerwen vs Niko Springer (G)
Luke Woodhouse vs Alexis Toylo (C)
Who will win the Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts? Watch throughout the week live on Sky Sports. Live coverage continues Sunday from 1pm on Sky Sports Mix, ahead of the evening session from 7pm on Sky Sports+ and Sky Sports Main Event. Stream darts and more top sport with NOW
