Michael Van Gerwen out at Group stage for the first time since 2010 – 2024 Grand Slam of Darts Day 4 Review

Group E

After defeating Mensur Suljovic, Jermaine Wattimena maintained his undefeated start to the 2024 Grand Slam of Darts. In spite of this, he has only lost three legs overall in his last two matches against Mike De Decker and Michael Smith, respectively. Against the Gentle One, the Machine Gun gave up four in all.

Again, it was a tale of missed darts and efficient finishing, with Suljovic missing an incredible nine attempts while Wattimena only missed three. The Austrian was seated back on 77 (after 140 set-up on his previous visit), while Wattimena finished the final with a magnificent 148 after the two swapped the first eight legs.

After a landslide victory over Michael Smith, Wattimena would be followed out of Group E by Mike De Decker, the current Grand Prix Champion.

The Bully Boy did not have an effort on the outer ring, even though he threw four maximums in all. De Decker averaged above 100 for the first time in this year’s Grand Slam of Darts, in route to a commanding five-nil victory over Smith.

 

Group F

After winning three straight games, including the most recent one against Lourence Ilagan, Luke Littler, the Warrington Wonderkid, once again stole the show. Although it was his closest encounter thus far in the tournament, after giving up three legs.

High averages, six maximums (five for Littler and one for Ilagan), and tons of checkouts were all part of the game. The Nuke failed to pin the crucial double 12 in the game’s final leg, just missing a nine-darter. Littler would end the game with a D3 after missing four match darts and both D12 and D6.

Keane Barry and Dimitri Van den Bergh faced off in the final Group F match. Barry’s lone leg occurred in the first leg of the match, therefore the Irish had no luck. Following that, the current UK Open Champion would seize control of the match and win 5-1 with a resounding five-leg run.

The Dream Maker’s performance was his finest of the competition thus far, as he averaged 104.58, more than 20 points above his opponent Barry (83.96).

 

 

Group G

After defeating Noa-Lynn van Leuven, the Flying Scotsman solidified his position at the top of Group G. Ando exploited van Leuven’s missed double attempts, and after swapping legs for the first four legs, it was all one way traffic.

The two-time runner-up put on a merciless show, missing only two tries on the outer ring and recording a 71.43% checkout percentage. With van Leuven sitting back on 128 in leg two, a checkout of 140 put the icing on the cake in his performance.

 

The biggest shock of the day also went down in Group G, as the three time Champion Michael van Gerwen was knocked out of the 2024 Grand Slam of Darts at the hands of Ryan Joyce. Despite being 4-2 at one stage, Relentless would concede the next two legs.

Setting up a last leg decider, however Joyce would prevail after calmly taking out 80. Reaching the knockouts for the first time since 2021.

 

Group H

In the all Dutch showdown, Gian Van Veen met Wessel Nijman a result for either would not affect the standings all too much. However, once more it was stellar showing from Nijman who averaged an incredible 111.10, but once again it wasn’t enough to clinch victory. In total across his three games at the 2024 Grand Slam of Darts he averaged 107.70.

After leg six, it appeared Nijman was on the brink of victory as he carried a 4-2 lead. However, once again he saw victory taken away from him, as the Giant reeled off the next three legs on the spin.

Josh Rock and Stephen Bunting faced off for last place in the round of 16 in the night’s final game. Rocky’s carelessness on doubles, after missing a total of ten, proved the difference again, even though he had been leading after the first three legs.

Soon after, the Bullet would turn the tide of the match in his favor and win by a three-leg margin. In the process, he recorded four 180s and an average of 106.66.

 

Day 4 Results – 2024 Grand Slam of Darts

Group E

Michael Smith 0-5 Mike Decker

Mensur Suljovic 4-5 Jermaine Wattimena

 

Group F

Dimitri Van den Bergh 5-1 Keane Barry

Lourence Ilagan 3-5 Luke Littler

 

Group G

Michael Van Gerwen 4-5 Ryan Joyce

Noa-Lynn van Leuven 2-5 Gary Anderson

 

Group H

Stephan Bunting 5-2 Josh Rock

Wessel Nijman 4-5 Gian Van Veen