Michael Smith Among Eight to Qualify for 2025 Grand Slam of Darts

Former champion Michael Smith was among eight players to book their place at the 2025 Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts, coming through Friday’s fiercely contested Tour Card Holder Qualifier in Wigan to seal a return to Wolverhampton next month.

Held at Robin Park Leisure Centre, the qualifier featured 104 players battling for the final eight spots in the £650,000 event, which takes place at WV Active Aldersley from November 8–16. The field is now complete for one of the PDC’s most prestigious tournaments, with reigning champion Luke Littler set to defend his crown against a world-class line-up.

Smith back on the big stage

2022 Grand Slam winner Smith will make his first televised appearance since March’s UK Open after coming through a challenging qualifying run. The St Helens star averaged 105 in a 5–1 win over Rusty-Jake Rodriguez, edged out 2020 champion José de Sousa in a deciding leg, and held off a late comeback from Krzysztof Ratajski to clinch a 5–3 victory in the final round.

The two-time world finalist, who lifted the Eric Bristow Trophy three years ago, now returns to Wolverhampton hoping to rediscover the form that made him one of the sport’s most explosive scorers.

Nijman and Noppert impress

Dutch star Wessel Nijman continued his superb week by sealing qualification less than 24 hours after winning Players Championship 34. Nijman averaged almost 107 in his decisive match against Ritchie Edhouse, who produced a remarkable 112.57 average in defeat, and earlier eliminated 2014 runner-up Dave Chisnall.

Compatriot Danny Noppert also impressed, averaging 107 and 102 in his early rounds before beating Dennie Olde Kalter 5–2 in their final clash. Noppert’s qualification extends an excellent autumn campaign that has already seen him reach the semi-finals of both the World Grand Prix and the European Championship.

Scutt stuns Wright

Connor Scutt produced one of the standout stories of the day, defeating two-time World Champion Peter Wright en route to his second consecutive Grand Slam appearance. The 28-year-old also overcame Belgian number one Mike De Decker, maintaining a tournament average close to 101 across his four matches in Wigan.

Wright’s defeat marks the end of an 11-year run at the Grand Slam, as the Scottish star failed to qualify for the event for the first time since 2012.

Evans, Woodhouse and new faces shine

Ricky Evans was another major winner from the day’s action, averaging 101 in a decisive victory over Mensur Suljovic after earlier dumping out top seed Rob Cross. The Kettering thrower will make his first Grand Slam appearance since 2020.

Luke Woodhouse also secured his place, beating Martijn Dragt, Michele Turetta, and Christian Kist to qualify for Wolverhampton, while two debutants — Karel Sedlácek and Lukas Wenig — completed the list of qualifiers.

Czech number one Sedlácek averaged 103 in a high-quality 5–3 victory over Keane Barry, while Wenig battled past Thibault Tricole and Jermaine Wattimena in a pair of deciding-leg thrillers to book his first Grand Slam berth.

Big names miss out

The strength of the field meant several high-profile casualties. 2018 World Champion Rob Cross, former European Champion Ross Smith, and Belgian stars Dimitri Van den Bergh and De Decker were all eliminated, while Raymond van Barneveld fell to Chisnall in his opening match.

Three-time Grand Slam finalist Wright, as well as established names including Wattimena, Cameron Menzies, Dirk van Duijvenbode, and Joe Cullen, also failed to progress.

Star-studded field for Wolverhampton

The confirmed 32-player line-up will feature the sport’s biggest names, led by reigning champion Luke Littler, world number one Luke Humphries, three-time Grand Slam winner Gerwyn Price, and three-time World Champion Michael van Gerwen.

Newly crowned European Champion Gian van Veen also returns, aiming to complete back-to-back televised title wins after his breakthrough triumph in Dortmund.

The draw for the Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts takes place on Monday, November 3, live across the PDC’s social media channels, as the countdown begins to one of darts’ most anticipated weeks of the year.

Michael Smith Among Eight to Qualify for 2025 Grand Slam of Darts

2025 Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts

Tour Card Holder Qualifier

Robin Park Leisure Centre, Wigan, Friday October 31

Last 16

Ricky Evans 5-1 Mensur Suljovic

Luke Woodhouse 5-2 Christian Kist

Connor Scutt 5-3 Mike De Decker

Wessel Nijman 5-2 Ritchie Edhouse

Danny Noppert 5-2 Dennie Olde Kalter

Karel Sedlacek 5-3 Keane Barry

Michael Smith 5-3 Krzysztof Ratajski

Lukas Wenig 5-4 Jermaine Wattimena

Qualifying Players

Invited in the following order

TV Event Finalists, then European Tour & Players Championship Winners

Luke Littler

Luke Humphries

Gian van Veen

Michael van Gerwen

Josh Rock

Daryl Gurney

Martin Lukeman

James Wade

Jonny Clayton

Gerwyn Price

Nathan Aspinall

Stephen Bunting

Gary Anderson

Martin Schindler

Niko Springer

Chris Dobey

Damon Heta

Additional Qualifiers

Jurjen van der Velde

Lisa Ashton

Cam Crabtree

Stefan Bellmont

Beau Greaves

Alexis Toylo

Alex Spellman

Tour Card Holder Qualifiers

Ricky Evans

Luke Woodhouse

Connor Scutt

Wessel Nijman

Danny Noppert

Karel Sedlacek

Michael Smith

Lukas Wenig