The PDC's Grand Slam of Darts continued with a Monday session that saw four groups and eight last 16 places decided, including 2022 winner Michael Smith and 2023 champion Luke Humphries clinching their spots in round two as Premier League star Nathan Aspinall missed out on qualification from Group A in Wolverhampton.
Smith did what he needed to do at WV Active, taking a 5-2 win against Alex Spellman, ending his three matches on four points, and it was over to Aspinall to take a 5-2 win or better against Luke Humphries in order for ‘The Asp’ to join the World number one in the next round.
SIGN UP FOR A DARTS WORLD MEMBERSHIP TODAY!
It wasn’t to be for Aspinall, as Humphries took a 5-3 win to end his hopes in the Midlands.
A 129 finish gave ‘Cool Hand’ a 2-0 lead, and he found a 52 checkout to go 3-1 up to collect the legs he needed in order to qualify and to sink Aspinall, with the remainder of the match a formality.
Humphries will face Jurjen van der Velde in the last 16, as Damon Heta fell through the trap door, with the Dutchman taking a 5-3 win in their meeting that eliminated ‘The Heat’.
Chris Dobey rounded his group stage campaign off with a third straight 5-1 win, as he got the better of a real struggle against Martin Lukeman. ‘Hollywood’ was the runaway group winner, dropping just three legs in his three matches.
THE GRAND SLAM OF DARTS: History, evolution and hall of fame
Gerwyn Price safely negotiated his way to top spot in Group D, taking a 5-1 win against Stefan Bellmont that kept his hopes of a fourth crown here alive.
The opening match of the evening saw the other match in the group, a consolation win for James Wade, and he produced his best performance at the last to take a 5-2 win against the already qualified Ricky Evans.
Luke Woodhouse completed a sobering Grand Slam for Stephen Bunting, as ‘Woody’ ended Group C with a perfect record as he edged past ‘The Bullet’ in a 5-4 success. Woodhouse will face Ricky Evans in the last 16.
Martin Schindler joined Woodhouse in the second round, with the German safely getting past Alexis Toylo in a 5-2 win for ‘The Wall’ that saw him into a second round meeting with Price.
The last 16 field will be confirmed on Tuesday evening, with eight matches on the menu.
2025 Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts
Monday November 10
Groups A-D Final Matches
James Wade 5-2 Ricky Evans (D)
Chris Dobey 5-1 Martin Lukeman (B)
Luke Woodhouse 5-4 Stephen Bunting (C)
Martin Schindler 5-2 Alexis Toylo (C)
Jurjen van der Velde 5-3 Damon Heta (B)
Gerwyn Price 5-1 Stefan Bellmont (D)
Michael Smith 5-2 Alex Spellman (A)
Luke Humphries 5-3 Nathan Aspinall (A)
Tuesday November 11 (1900 GMT)
Groups E-H Final Matches
Jonny Clayton v Danny Noppert (H)
Niko Springer v Beau Greaves (G)
Luke Littler v Daryl Gurney (E)
Lukas Wenig v Cam Crabtree (H)
Connor Scutt v Karel Sedlacek (E)
Michael van Gerwen v Gary Anderson (G)
Wessel Nijman v Lisa Ashton (F)
Gian van Veen v Josh Rock (F)
Wednesday November 12 (1900 GMT)
4x Second Round
Luke Woodhouse v Ricky Evans
Gerwyn Price v Martin Schindler
Luke Humphries v Jurjen van der Velde
Chris Dobey v Michael Smith
Best of 19 legs
For the full stories and more in depth coverage of everything darts, together with the latest issues of their legendary publications, head on over to dartsworld.com