It was knockout time at the 2025 Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts. No more second chances like the group section – lose now and you are out. As always, it was an evening in Wolverhampton packed with star names, drama and quality as the first four quarter-finalists were decided.
Chris Dobey 9-10 Michael Smith
Despite this match being the night's curtain closer we shall put it up front where it belongs!
Bullyboy edged one of the wildest last-leg deciders in Grand Slam history. It genuinely looked like neither player wanted to win – but really, both wanted it too much. Dobey missed eleven match darts; Smith missed nine. Eventually, Dobey watched his final attempt sail wide as Smith pinned the winning double.
For the St Helens star, relief will outweigh the chaos. After months away from the TV stage, qualification for the Grand Slam knockout stages was the main objective. Now he’s into the quarters – the same stage he reached in Minehead on his last such appearance – and he faces Luke Humphries. On paper, it's a belter. In reality, Smith might feel anything from here is a bonus.
So there you go. Two of the four quarter-finals are locked in. By Thursday night, we’ll know the rest.
Luke Woodhouse 9-10 Ricky Evans
Rapid Ricky is the first name through to the 2025 Grand Slam of Darts quarter-finals after a dramatic last-leg deciding victory over his compatriot Woodhouse. Both players came in with identical ranking major records of a quarter-final and semi-final and fancied their chances of adding another last eight appearance to those stats.
At half-time, Woody held a slender 6-4 lead, and after the break pushed on to go 8-6 and then 9-7 up. It seemed impossible for Evans to throw faster without launching two darts at once, but somehow he managed to defy physics and speed up even more. Whether it rattled Woodhouse or filled Ricky with some sort of supernatural turbo mode, we’ll never know – but it worked. The jovial, ever-bubbly Evans pinched the decider.
THE GRAND SLAM OF DARTS: History, evolution and hall of fame
Gerwyn Price 10-6 Martin Schindler
Three-time Grand Slam champion Price will meet Ricky Evans after overcoming the German number one. Dan Dawson summed it up perfectly on commentary: Price “was a convincing winner despite taking a nap halfway through.” It was one of those odd matches where the scoreline suggested tension, yet the Welshman never truly looked in danger. His mid-match meltdown on the doubles dragged things out, but once he recalibrated the sights, normal Iceman service resumed. Rapid Ricky awaits Friday.
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Luke Humphries 10-3 Jurjen van der Velde
The world number one powered into the quarter-finals with a frankly ridiculous performance. Humphries averaged over 108, hit seven 180s, and put on a finishing clinic – and all this after almost pulling out of the event that morning. Apparently, he woke up unable to move his head off the pillow. Thanks to his physio Mandy working miracles, he played like someone who hadn’t just beaten neck pain but had beaten the laws of biology.
Van der Velde was superb and may well have beaten any other mere mortal. Unfortunately, he ran into Humphries, who on this form is essentially Usain Bolt running the 100m in eight seconds while wearing a leg brace. Ludicrously good from the world’s best.
2025 Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts
Wednesday November 12
4x Second Round
Ricky Evans 10-9 Luke Woodhouse
Gerwyn Price 10-6 Martin Schindler
Luke Humphries 10-3 Jurjen van der Velde
Michael Smith 10-9 Chris Dobey
Thursday November 13 (1900 GMT)
4x Second Round
Lukas Wenig v Niko Springer
Josh Rock v Connor Scutt
Luke Littler v Wessel Nijman
Michael van Gerwen v Danny Noppert
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