The 2024 Grand Slam of Darts gets underway in Wolverhampton today with all 32 players taking to the stage at the Aldersley Leisure Village.

Across two sessions, there will be 16 games as the opening matches of the Group Stage take place.

Groups B,C,D and H play their opening matches in the afternoon. Groups A, E, F and G have their opening matches in the evening.

With all the games first to five legs, the short sharp format could see plenty of upsets take place throughout the day.

Here’s what to look forward to on the opening day of the 2024 Grand Slam of Darts.

The Grand Slam of Darts stage.
The 2024 Grand Slam of Darts begins today. Credit: PDC

Cross and Wright headline afternoon session

Two former World Champions will play their opening matches in the day session.

2018 World Champion, and last year’s Grand Slam of Darts runner-up Rob Cross, is the seed in Group C, and he starts his campaign for a first title at this event against CDC Continental Cup champion Leonard Gates. Also in Group C, 2020 and 2023 World Champion Peter Wright will face Martin Lukeman.

Rob Cross playing at the 2023 Grand Slam of Darts
Rob Cross was runner up to Luke Humphries at last year’s Grand Slam of Darts. Credit: PDC

The day begins however with Group H, arguably this year’s “group of death.” Stephen Bunting, the Masters champion, takes on in form Wessel Nijman, the Order of Merit winner on the Development Tour and a winner of a Pro Tour recently. That’s followed by a mouthwatering clash between Josh Rock, a former World Youth Champion, and last year’s World Youth runner up Gian van Veen.

Also involved in the day session is the Women’s Series Order of Merit winner, Beau Greaves. She is involved at the Slam for a second straight year, and she faces eighth seed Danny Noppert in Group B. Also in Group B, we’ll see what should be a great match, as Martin Schindler, a two time European Tour winner, takes on Cameron Menzies, who won the penultimate Pro Tour of 2024.

Beau Greaves playing at the Grand Slam of Darts
Beau Greaves almost made the knockout stages last year. Can she do so this time around? Credit: PDC

The final group in action in the afternoon is another tasty one in the shape of Group D. Dave Chisnall starts his campaign for a first TV title against Challenge Tour Order of Merit winner Connor Scutt, while former European Champion Ross Smith, and current European Champion Ritchie Edhouse, will bring the curtain down on the afternoon in what should be another excellent contest.

Littler to make debut in star studded evening session

Luke Littler qualified for this event 15 months ago by making the final two of the 2023 World Youth Championship. He then of course qualified another two times, making the final of the World Championship, and winning the Premier League.

The Nuke takes on fellow youngster in the shape of Ireland’s Keane Barry, in what on paper looks a fantastic match in Group F. The other game in the group isn’t bad either, as UK Open champion and seventh seed Dimitri Van den Bergh plays Asian Championship winner Lourence Ilagan.

Luke Littler will make his Grand Slam of Darts debut this evening. Credit: PDC

Also involved in the evening session is the defending champion, and world number one, Luke Humphries. Cool Hand gets his bid to be the first player since Gerwyn Price to win this event back to back underway against Austria’s Rowby-John Rodriguez, who got into this event by making the final of the World Cup of Darts. James Wade, a three time runner up of this event, takes on Mickey Mansell in the opening match of the night and the other match in Group A.

Luke Humphries holding the Grand Slam of Darts trophy
Luke Humphries will defend the Grand Slam of Darts title over the next week. Credit: PDC

Group F sees three time champion Michael van Gerwen bid for a first Grand Slam of Darts title since 2017. He takes on Women’s Series Order of Merit runner up Noa-Lynn van Leuven. Also in the same group, Gary Anderson, who’s qualified 17 times in the last 18 years, finally looks to win one of the few events that’s eluded him in his illustrious career. He plays Ryan Joyce in what could be one of the games of the day.

Michael van Gerwen will be looking for his fourth Grand Slam title this week, and his first since 2017. Credit: PDC

The final group to preview is Group E, where second seed Michael Smith plays the other Austrian World Cup of Darts finalist in Mensur Suljovic. Smith won this event in 2022 to capture his first TV ranking title, and is now defending the £153,500 he won on his ranking. The other game in Group E is the final one of the night, as World Grand Prix winner Mike De Decker plays the European Championship runner up Jermaine Wattimena.

2024 Grand Slam of Darts Day One Schedule of Play

Saturday 9 November 

Afternoon Session (1300-1700 GMT)

Group Stage x8 – Groups B-C-D-H First Matches

Stephen Bunting v Wessel Nijman (H)

Josh Rock v Gian van Veen (H)

Dave Chisnall v Connor Scutt (D)

Danny Noppert v Beau Greaves (B)

Martin Schindler v Cameron Menzies (B)

Rob Cross v Leonard Gates (C)

Peter Wright v Martin Lukeman (C)

Ross Smith v Ritchie Edhouse (D)

 

Evening Session (1900-2300 GMT)

Group Stage x8 – Groups A-E-F-G First Matches

James Wade v Mickey Mansell (A)

Gary Anderson v Ryan Joyce (G)

Dimitri Van den Bergh v Lourence Ilagan (F)

Michael Smith v Mensur Suljovic (E)

Michael van Gerwen v Noa-Lynn van Leuven (G)

Luke Littler v Keane Barry (F)

Luke Humphries v Rowby-John Rodriguez (A)

Mike De Decker v Jermaine Wattimena (E)