Grand Slam of Darts Qualifier Set as Big Names Battle for Final Spots

Over 100 players will compete in Wigan for the final eight places at next month’s Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts

The field for the 2025 Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts will soon be complete, with the final eight Tour Card places up for grabs in Friday’s qualifier in Wigan.

The one-day shootout will determine who joins the elite 24 players already confirmed for the Wolverhampton showpiece, which takes place at WV Active Aldersley from November 8–16. The event boasts a £650,000 prize fund and one of the most prestigious trophies in the sport — the Eric Bristow Trophy.

Reigning champion Luke Littler will headline the tournament, returning to defend the title that capped off his incredible breakout 2024 season. Littler lifted the Grand Slam crown at just 17 years old, defeating Rob Cross in last year’s final, and he will be back in the West Midlands as one of the headline attractions in a field stacked with world-class talent.

Former Champions in the Hunt

Friday’s qualifier is expected to be fiercely competitive, with more than 100 Tour Card holders set to battle for the last remaining eight places. Among them are several former major winners and Grand Slam champions — including Michael Smith, Raymond van Barneveld, and José de Sousa, all of whom will be hoping to secure a late ticket to Wolverhampton.

Rob Cross, last year’s runner-up, also finds himself in the mix. Despite his consistent form on the PDC circuit in 2025, the former World Champion is yet to guarantee a spot, making him the highest-ranked player still seeking qualification.

Another major storyline surrounds Peter Wright, who has been ever-present at the Grand Slam since 2013. The two-time World Champion has endured a challenging season and now faces the prospect of missing the tournament for the first time in over a decade if he fails to come through the qualifier.

Big Names and Rising Stars

It’s not just the seasoned stars with something to play for. Danny Noppert, semi-finalist at both the World Grand Prix and European Championship in October, will be among the favourites to qualify after a strong run of form.

He will be joined by Ross Smith, Mike De Decker, and Dave Chisnall, who memorably finished runner-up at the Grand Slam back in 2014. The trio will be determined to return to Wolverhampton and make another impact on one of darts’ most competitive stages.

Also in contention is Wessel Nijman, who comes into the qualifier on a high after winning Players Championship 34 on Thursday. The young Dutchman has enjoyed an impressive resurgence on the ProTour this season and will be aiming to maintain that momentum when play begins in Wigan.

Two-time 2025 title winners Jermaine Wattimena and Joe Cullen are also in the mix, adding further depth to an already formidable field. With so much quality on display, the race for qualification promises to be one of the most unpredictable in recent years.

What’s at Stake

The Grand Slam of Darts remains one of the PDC’s most prestigious events — not just because of its history, but because it brings together champions from across the darts landscape. The tournament features title winners from the PDC’s major championships, ProTour events, and select qualifiers, making it one of the most inclusive and unpredictable competitions on the calendar.

Eight places will be awarded through Friday’s Tour Card Holder Qualifier, finalising the 32-player line-up. Once those positions are filled, attention will quickly turn to the official draw, which takes place on Monday, November 3, where players will learn their group-stage fate.

Wolverhampton Awaits

With the sport continuing to surge in popularity, this year’s Grand Slam is expected to draw record crowds to WV Active Aldersley. The event has become one of the highlights of the PDC calendar — a tournament that mixes major winners, emerging talents, and fan favourites in a unique cross-competition format.

For players like Smith, Wright, and Van Barneveld, Friday’s qualifier represents more than just another tournament — it’s a chance to stay on darts’ biggest stages. For rising stars like Nijman and Wattimena, it’s an opportunity to prove they belong among the elite.

Either way, by Friday night, the final eight names will be known — and the countdown to Wolverhampton’s biggest week of darts will be on.

Grand Slam of Darts Qualifier Set as Big Names Battle for Final Spots

2025 Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts Tour Card Holder Qualifier

Friday October 31

Robin Park Leisure Centre, Wigan

8x Players to Qualify

Andy Baetens

Keane Barry

Owen Bates

Darren Beveridge

Sebastian Bialecki

Tom Bissell

William Borland

Andy Boulton

Bradley Brooks

Stephen Burton

Matt Campbell

Dave Chisnall

Brett Claydon

Gabriel Clemens

Rob Cross

Joe Cullen

Maximilian Czerwinski

Mike De Decker

Jeffrey de Graaf

Jose de Sousa

Cor Dekker

Matthew Dennant

Kevin Doets

Brendan Dolan

Martijn Dragt

Tavis Dudeney

Ritchie Edhouse

Ricky Evans

Patrick Geeraets

Andrew Gilding

Rhys Griffin

Dominik Gruellich

Robert Grundy

Florian Hempel

Stefaan Henderyck

Justin Hood

Max Hopp

Adam Hunt

James Hurrell

Kim Huybrechts

Ryan Joyce

Tytus Kanik

Nick Kenny

George Killington

Christian Kist

Jelle Klaasen

Maik Kuivenhoven

Chris Landman

Danny Lauby

Steve Lennon

Adam Lipscombe

Pero Ljubic

Jim Long

Thomas Lovely

Oskar Lukasiak

Mickey Mansell

Ryan Meikle

Cameron Menzies

Wessel Nijman

Danny Noppert

William O’Connor

Dennie Olde Kalter

Rob Owen

Adam Paxton

Ricardo Pietreczko

Darryl Pilgrim

Wesley Plaisier

Haupai Puha

Nathan Rafferty

Krzysztof Ratajski

Madars Razma

Benjamin Reus

Joshua Richardson

Greg Ritchie

Rusty-Jake Rodriguez

Callan Rydz

Connor Scutt

Karel Sedlacek

Dylan Slevin

Michael Smith

Ross Smith

Alan Soutar

Mensur Suljovic

Radek Szaganski

Dom Taylor

Viktor Tingstrom

Thibault Tricole

Michele Turetta

Raymond van Barneveld

Dimitri Van den Bergh

Jitse Van der Wal

Jules van Dongen

Dirk van Duijvenbode

Berry van Peer

Marvin van Velzen

Mario Vandenbogaerde

Richard Veenstra

Adam Warner

Jermaine Wattimena

Leon Weber

Lukas Wenig

Ian White

Jim Williams

Scott Williams

Luke Woodhouse

Peter Wright

Niels Zonneveld

Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts

Confirmed Qualifiers

TV Event Finalists

Luke Littler

Luke Humphries

Gian van Veen

Michael van Gerwen

Josh Rock

Daryl Gurney

Martin Lukeman

James Wade

Jonny Clayton

Gerwyn Price

Additional Qualifiers

Jurjen van der Velde

Lisa Ashton

Cam Crabtree

Stefan Bellmont

Beau Greaves

Alexis Toylo

Alex Spellman

European Tour & Players Championship Winners

Nathan Aspinall

Stephen Bunting

Gary Anderson

Martin Schindler

Niko Springer

Chris Dobey

Damon Heta