Reigning Lakeside Champion Scott Mitchell has been handed an extremely tough draw on his Grand Slam of Darts debut in Wolverhampton.
Mitchell has been paired with 3 of the PDC’s Top 16; World Number 4 Peter Wright; last year’s finalist Dave Chisnall,as well as veteran Mervyn King, who reached the semi-finals of this competition last-year.
Phil Taylor has been handed a relatively kind draw as he aims to defend his Grand Slam of Darts title. Taylor has been paired with young Austrian Rowby-John Rodriguez, Robbie Green and BDO stalwart Martin Phillips.
World Number One Michael van Gerwen will take on Kim Huybrechts, who knocked him out of last year’s competition at the last 16 stage.
The Belgian averaged 105 and hit a spectacular 9-darter to stun the Dutchman in 2014 and Kim will no doubt be targeting a repeat success this year. Van Gerwen and Huybrechts will be joined by debutants Steve West and BDO qualifier Mark Oosterhuis.
World Champion Gary Anderson will meet 5-Time World Champion and 2012 Grand Slam Champion Raymond van Barneveld in an enthralling Group E tie. The decorated duo have also been drawn against PDC qualifier Andy Boulton and American veteran Larry Butler, who reached the BDO World Masters final just last month.
Martin Adams, who will be competing at the Wolverhampton Civic for the very first time after accepting the PDC’s invitation, has been handed a tough assignment in the group phase.
Adams has been drawn in Group B with World Number 8 Ian White, 2006 Lakeside Champion Jelle Klaasen, and another former World Champion, the ‘Bronzed Adonis’, Steve Beaton.
Elsewhere, Andy Fordham, who emerged from the darting wilderness to qualify for the Grand Slam in extraordinary circumstances, will take on Two-Time World Champion Adrian Lewis in Group C.
The talented Michael Smith has also been drawn in this group, alongside Wolverhampton’s very own Wayne Jones. It will be fantastic to see Andy competing on the big stage once more!
Former Grand Slam finalist James Wade will take on reigning World Youth Champion Keegan Brown in Group F. Brown reached the quarter-finals of last year’s tournament, by beating Adrian Lewis and Raymond van Barneveld. Wade and Brown will be joined by the rejuvenated Mark Webster and BDO’s Dutch star Michael van der Horst.
World-Grand Prix Champion Robert Thornton, who reached the final in Wolverhampton two years ago, will take on former-finalist Terry Jenkins in a tasty-looking Group G.
The experienced duo will be joined by Welshman Jonny Clayton, making his television debut having progressed through the PDC qualifiers. Geert de Vos, who won the BDO World Trophy earlier this year, was the final man to be drawn in Group G.
The opening stage of the event is a round-robin format, with all matches being contested over the best of 9 legs. The top two from each group will progress through to the last 16 knockout stage.
The tournament begins on Saturday 7th November and the schedule of play will be announced in due course. The full group-phase draw can be viewed below.
SINGHA BEER GRAND SLAM OF DARTS
GROUP A
| (1) Michael van Gerwen |
| Kim Huybrechts |
| Steve West |
| Mark Oosterhuis |
GROUP B
| (8) Ian White |
| Jelle Klaasen |
| Steve Beaton |
| Martin Adams |
GROUP C
| (5) Adrian Lewis |
| Michael Smith |
| Wayne Jones |
| Andy Fordham |
GROUP D
| (4) Peter Wright |
| Dave Chisnall |
| Mervyn King |
| Scott Mitchell |
GROUP E
| (2) Gary Anderson |
| Raymond van Barneveld |
| Andy Boulton |
| Larry Butler |
GROUP F
| (7) James Wade |
| Keegan Brown |
| Mark Webster |
| Michael van der Horst |
GROUP G
| (6) Robert Thornton |
| Terry Jenkins |
| Jonny Clayton |
| Geert de Vos |
GROUP H
| (3) Phil Taylor |
| Rowby-John Rodriguez |
| Robbie Green |
| Martin Phillips |
The Viking is back 👌
Love to see him playing again 👍
It’s fantastic isn’t it?! I’d love Andy to have a good run next week!