PDC Grand Slam of Darts- 10th-18th November 2018- Wolverhampton

[Buzz Fledderjohn]

The only one of those "BDO player to get out of the group" odds that is even remotely enticing is Mark McGeeney at 7/4, and I'm far from convinced I'll be having a go at that.

[ssjsa]

THE opening day of the 2018 bwin Grand Slam of Darts will see Michael van Gerwen meet Gary Robson, Rob Cross play Mark McGeeney and Glen Durrant take on Simon Whitlock.

The 32-player tournament features stars of the PDC and BDO systems from November 10-18 at the Aldersley Leisure Village in Wolverhampton live on Sky Sports, with tickets available from www.ticketmaster.co.uk or by calling 0870 320 7000.

The opening group matches on Saturday November 10 will see play split across two sessions of action.

Saturday's afternoon session features Groups E-H, which include reigning Lakeside Champion Durrant facing recent European Championship finalist Whitlock.

World Champion Cross plays McGeeney, while 2017 Grand Slam of Darts finalist Peter Wright takes on Jim Williams and Mensur Suljovic plays former Lakeside Champion Scott Mitchell.

Emerging stars Max Hopp and Josh Payne open the event, while Gerwyn Price plays debutant Andrew Gilding, World Youth Champion Dimitri Van den Bergh meets qualifier Ryan Searle and Stephen Bunting takes on German prospect Martin Schindler.

Reigning champion Van Gerwen headlines Saturday evening's play as he takes on Grand Slam debutant Gary Robson.

2012 Grand Slam winner Raymond van Barneveld opens up against Polish debutant Krzysztof Ratajski, while Gary Anderson plays Germany's Michael Unterbuchner.

Two-time Grand Slam finalist James Wade, the winner of two TV titles in the past two weekends, will meet Dutchman Wesley Harms, and Premier League finalist Michael Smith plays World Masters champion Adam Smith-Neale.

Saturday's evening session will open with a tie between former Lakeside Champion Mark Webster and former World Youth Champion Keegan Brown.

Jonny Clayton then plays qualifier Joe Murnan, and Ian White takes on another debutant, Steve Hine.

Sunday's second day of group stage matches will see Saturday's winning players face each other, and the losing players face off.

Groups E-H will conclude their group matches, with Groups A-D completing their action on Tuesday before the top two players from each group progress to the knockout phase from the last 16 onwards.

For ticket information, and details of car parking and shuttle buses, visit www.wolvescivic.co.uk or call 0870 320 7000.

2018 bwin Grand Slam of Darts
Schedule of Play
Saturday November 10
Afternoon Session (1300 GMT)
Groups E-H First Matches
Max Hopp v Josh Payne (E)
Gerwyn Price v Andrew Gilding (F)
Dimitri Van den Bergh v Ryan Searle (H)
Stephen Bunting v Martin Schindler (G)
Simon Whitlock v Glen Durrant (F)
Mensur Suljovic v Scott Mitchell (G)
Rob Cross v Mark McGeeney (H)
Peter Wright v Jim Williams (E)

Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Groups A-D First Matches
Keegan Brown v Mark Webster (C)
Jonny Clayton v Joe Murnan (A)
Ian White v Steve Hine (D)
Michael Smith v Adam Smith-Neale (B)
James Wade v Wesley Harms (C)
Raymond van Barneveld v Krzysztof Ratajski (B)
Gary Anderson v Michael Unterbuchner (D)
Michael van Gerwen v Gary Robson (A)

Sunday November 11
Afternoon Session (1300 GMT)
Groups E-H Second Matches
Saturday's winners face each other, and Saturday's losers face each other.

Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Groups A-D Second Matches
Saturday's winners face each other, and Saturday's losers face each other.

Monday November 12 (1900 GMT)
Groups E-H Final Matches

Tuesday November 13 (1900 GMT)
Groups A-D Final Matches

Wednesday November 14 (1900 GMT)
Second Round x4

Thursday November 15 (1900 GMT)
Second Round x4

Friday November 16 (1900 GMT)
Quarter-Finals x2

Saturday November 17 (1900 GMT)
Quarter-Finals x2

Sunday November 18
Afternoon Session (1300 GMT)
Semi-Finals

Evening Session (1930 GMT)
Final

Format
Group Stage: Best of nine legs
Second Round: Best of 19 legs
Quarter-Finals: Best of 31 legs
Semi-Finals: Best of 31 legs
Final: Best of 31 legs

Prize Fund
Winner: £110,000
Runner-Up: £55,000
Semi-Final Losers: £28,500
Quarter-Final Losers: £16,000
Second Round Losers: £10,000
Group Winner's Bonus: £2,500
Third Place in Group: £5,000
Fourth Place in Group: £3,000
Total: £450,000
Nine-Dart Finish Bonus: £25,000

[daveboygreen]

I can see a few surprise results with the draw of the groups, What people overlook is that this tournament is totally different to a straight knockout and will suit some players more than others with it being a short format and round robin groups, Ive had a bet on Wade e/w for this and will probably do a couple of other bets closer to Saturday.

[nikkiboy]

Durrant has to be happy with his group, Mitchell as well. My favourite tournament this one.

[oche balboa]

Bradders would be sick as a nodding dog if Big Robbo gets out the group

[Moongoose McQueeen]

5 BDO lads to get through

[Ginge]

Thats twice in about 12 hours I've had a mention on this thread. On your mind.

[Moongoose McQueeen]

Big Robbo 3rd
Smith-Neal 4th
Harms 2nd
Unterbucner 3rd
Williams 2nd
Duzza 1st
Mitchell 2nd
McGeeney 2nd

[Deleted User]

Big Robbo 3rd
Smith-Neal 4th
Harms 2nd
Unterbucner 3rd
Williams 2nd
Duzza 1st
Mitchell 2nd
McGeeney 2nd

[BlueSpark]

Not many people giving the reigning World Master much hope...

[daveboygreen]

Not many people giving the reigning World Master much hope...

You would think with confidence being a big part in darts he would have half a chance

[oche balboa]

5 BDO lads to get through

Hope you are right MM

[Deleted User]

Not many people giving the player ranked 37th on the Challenge Tour much hope...

I can't think why.

[BlueSpark]

Not many people giving the reigning World Master much hope...

You would think with confidence being a big part in darts he would have half a chance

I thought he played quite well to win it tbh. Certainly had more of a killer instinct than Durrant.
And much more entertaining to watch.

[BlueSpark]

Not many people giving the player ranked 37th on the Development Tour much hope...

I can't think why.

[Deleted User]

Not many people giving the reigning World Master much hope...

You would think with confidence being a big part in darts he would have half a chance

I thought he played quite well to win it tbh. Certainly had more of a killer instinct than Durrant.
And much more entertaining to watch.

It may be that like DvdB and Jamie Lewis, he has a game he can bring to the TV stage, so I may be doing him a dis-service.

[oche balboa]

Isn't he on the challenge tour Drupes

[BlueSpark]

Wiped out the top 3 in the BDO en route didn't he?
Like I said, more entertaining to watch as well. The others all boring and miserable.

[Moongoose McQueeen]

Wiped out the top 3 in the BDO en route didn't he?
Like I said, more entertaining to watch as well. The others all boring and miserable.

Got a tough draw

[Deleted User]

Isn't he on the challenge tour Drupes

Yeah, that one.