Sporting Life
Luke Humphries (Picture: PDC)
Luke Humphries (Picture: PDC)

Darts results: Defending champion Luke Humphries crashes out in the group stages of the Grand Slam of Darts

By Sporting Life
Darts
Mon November 11, 2024 · 3d ago

Luke Humphries crashed out of the Grand Slam of Darts in the group stage as his title defence came to a shockingly early end.

The world champion was favourite to lift the Eric Bristow Trophy for the second year in a row but after an unexpected defeat to Rowby-John Rodriguez in his opening game on Saturday, he faced James Wade in a win or bust situation.

Humphries, who was 1/50 before the event to reach the knockout stages and 10/1 to fail, initially made a mockery of the pressure as he promptly cruised into a 2-0 lead but suddenly lost his rhythm as a struggling Wade battled back to level the scores.

The next two legs were shared but Wade held his game together more in the closing stages to run out a 5-3 winner with an average of 88 compared to Humphries' 96.

The Machine now faces Rodriguez in a winner-takes-all showdown on Monday night while Humphries faces Mickey Mansell, who earlier beat the Austrian 5-3 to seal his place in the knockout stages on debut with a game to spare.

“I’m just really happy to win,” reflected Wade, who was beaten by Humphries in the semi-finals of last year’s event.

“Luke is the best player in the world. He’s a shining hope for fans around the world, but that wasn’t quite the real Luke up there tonight.”

The standings heading into the final games in Group A

Gary Anderson and Luke Littler were among the other stars to confirm their place in round two on Sunday, with Gian van Veen, Ritchie Edhouse, Jermaine Wattimena also joining Mansell into the last 16.

Anderson made it two wins from two in Group G with a deciding-leg victory against Van Gerwen, averaging 105.19 and landing five 180s to edge out the three-time Grand Slam champion.

The standings heading into the final games in Group G

“It wasn’t quite as good as last night,” joked the Scot, who averaged 113.2 against Ryan Joyce on Saturday.

“There were a few loose darts and missed doubles, but I stuck in there, kept calm and nicked it!”

Littler maintained his scintillating form with a commanding 5-1 win over Dimitri Van den Bergh in Group F, following up his 112 average on Saturday with a 106.98 average against the Belgian.

The standings heading into the final games in Group F

“I played very well once again which I’m happy with,” claimed the teenage sensation, who has conceded just one leg in his first two matches.

“I knew if I won I would be through so it was all about the win tonight.

“Of course I want to top the group, but I can relax a bit now, and my belief is growing.”

Van Veen produced the third-highest average in Grand Slam history to book his place in the knockout stages, averaging 114.71 to dispatch Stephen Bunting 5-1.

The standings heading into the final games in Group H

The Dutchman agonisingly missed double 12 for a nine-darter in leg two of the contest, before later producing a magnificent double-double 133 checkout on his way to victory.

Bunting’s solitary leg came courtesy of a spectacular 170 checkout, but the Masters champion now faces a straight shoot-out for qualification with Josh Rock on Tuesday evening.

“I am so happy with this performance,” reflected Van Veen, who also averaged 110.39 in his Group G opener against Rock.

“I didn’t think I could top my performance on Saturday, but thankfully I did, and to get through the ‘group of death’ with a game to go is a massive confidence boost for myself.”

In the afternoon’s other Group H tussle, Rock won four straight legs from 3-1 down to end Wessel Nijman’s hopes of qualification, as the Dutchman suffered back-to-back defeats despite producing another 105+ average.

Newly-crowned European Champion Ritchie Edhouse was the first player to confirm a place in the knockout stages, following his 5-2 success against Connor Scutt in Group D.

The standings heading into the final games in Group D

Scutt now faces a straight shoot-out for qualification with former European Champion Smith, who defeated 2014 runner-up Dave Chisnall by the same scoreline to end the fifth seed’s qualification hopes.

Jermaine Wattimena continued his resurgence with a thumping 5-1 victory over 2022 champion Michael Smith, as the European Championship runner-up safely sealed his passage to the last 16.

Smith will now go head-to-head with Mike De Decker for a place in the last 16 on Tuesday, as the World Grand Prix champion preserved his hopes with a 5-2 victory over Mensur Suljovic.

The standings heading into the final games in Group E

Elsewhere, Mansell will feature in the last 16 of a televised ranking event for the first time after maintaining his 100% record in Group A, courtesy of his 5-3 win against Rowby-John Rodriguez.

Sunday action also saw former finalists Rob Cross and Peter Wright suffer defeat in Group C at the hands of Martin Lukeman and Leonard Gates respectively.

Lukeman won five straight legs from 3-0 down to stun 2023 runner-up Cross and establish top spot in Group C, while Gates denied three-time finalist Wright in a gruelling affair to open his account.

The standings heading into the final games in Group C

Danny Noppert established control of Group B with a narrow 5-4 victory against Cameron Menzies, following up five 180s and a 170 checkout with a superb 11-darter in the decider.

Noppert will play Martin Schindler in his final group stage game on Monday, after the German number one claimed his first points with a 5-1 win over Women’s World Matchplay champion Beau Greaves.

The standings heading into the final games in Group B

In Sunday’s other ties, Ryan Joyce won five of the last six legs to defeat Noa-Lynn van Leuven 5-3, which sets up a winner-takes-all showdown against Van Gerwen on Tuesday night.

Meanwhile, in Group G, Keane Barry denied PDC Asian Champion Lourence Ilagan by the same scoreline, conjuring up a magical 158 finish to set up a pivotal tussle against Van den Bergh.

Groups A-D will conclude on Monday evening, before players from Groups E-H continue their battle for qualification on Tuesday.

The top two players from each group will progress to the knockout stage, with the last 16 action set to get underway on Wednesday November 13.

Grand Slam of Darts: Group Stage draw and results

GROUP STAGE

  • Scoring System: Each competitor play each other once in a best-of-nine legs match, with two points going to the winner. The top two from each group will then progress to the knockout stages. Any two-way points tie in any position, the player with best leg difference will finish higher. If two players are still level then the winner of the match between them will progress.
  • There is the potential for a Nine-Dart Shoot-Out should three or more players be tied for points and leg difference. For more details see the format section further down.

Group A

  1. Mickey Mansell P 2 W 2 L 0 LegDiff +4 PTS 4
  2. Rowby-John Rodriguez P 2 W 1 L 1 LegDiff 0 PTS 2
  3. James Wade P 2 W 1 L 1 LegDiff 0 PTS 2
  4. Luke Humphries (1) P 2 W 0 L 2 LegDiff -4 PTS 0

Results

  • James Wade 3-5 Mickey Mansell
  • Luke Humphries 3-5 Rowby-John Rodriguez
  • Rowby-John Rodriguez 3-5 Mickey Mansell
  • James Wade 5-3 Luke Humphries
  • James Wade v Rowby-John Rodriguez
  • Luke Humphries v Mickey Mansell

Group B

  1. (8) Danny Noppert P 2 W 2 L 0 LegDiff +4 PTS 4
  2. Cameron Menzies P 2 W 1 L 1 LegDiff +2 PTS 2
  3. Martin Schindler P 2 W 1 L 1 LegDiff +1 PTS 2
  4. Beau Greaves P 2 W 0 L 2 LegDiff -7 PTS 0

Fixtures & Results

  • Danny Noppert 5-2 Beau Greaves
  • Martin Schindler 2-5 Cameron Menzies
  • Danny Noppert 5-4 Cameron Menzies
  • Martin Schindler 5-1 Beau Greaves
  • Danny Noppert v Martin Schindler
  • Cameron Menzies v Beau Greaves

Group C

  1. Martin Lukeman P 2 W 2 L 0 LegDiff +7 PTS 4
  2. (4) Rob Cross P 2 W 1 L 1 LegDiff +1 PTS 2
  3. Leonard Gates P 2 W 1 L 1 LegDiff -2 PTS 2
  4. Peter Wright P 2 W 0 L 2 LegDiff -6 PTS 0

Fixtures & Results

  • Rob Cross 5-2 Leonard Gates
  • Peter Wright 0-5 Martin Lukeman
  • Peter Wright 4-5 Leonard Gates
  • Rob Cross 3-5 Martin Lukeman
  • Peter Wright v Rob Cross
  • Leonard Gates v Martin Lukeman

Group D

  1. Ritchie Edhouse P 2 W 2 L 0 LegDiff +7 PTS 4
  2. Connor Scutt P 2 W 1 L 1 LegDiff +2 PTS 2
  3. Ross Smith P 2 W 1 L 1 LegDiff -1 PTS 2
  4. (5) Dave Chisnall P 2 W 0 L 2 LegDiff -8 PTS 0

Fixtures & Results

  • Ross Smith 1-5 Ritchie Edhouse
  • Dave Chisnall 0-5 Connor Scutt
  • Dave Chisnall 2-5 Ross Smith
  • Ritchie Edhouse 5-2 Connor Scutt
  • Connor Scutt v Ross Smith
  • Dave Chisnall v Ritchie Edhouse

Group E

  1. Jermaine Wattimena P 2 W 2 L 0 LegDiff +7 PTS 4
  2. Mike De Decker P 2 W 1 L 1 LegDiff 0 PTS 2
  3. (2) Michael Smith P 2 W 1 L 1 LegDiff -1 PTS 2
  4. Mensur Suljovic P 2 W 0 L 2 LegDiff -6 PTS 0

Fixtures & Results

  • Michael Smith 5-2 Mensur Suljovic
  • Mike De Decker 2-5 Jermaine Wattimena
  • Mike De Decker 5-2 Mensur Suljovic
  • Michael Smith 1-5 Jermaine Wattimena
  • Michael Smith v Mike De Decker
  • Mensur Suljovic v Jermaine Wattimena

Group F

  1. Luke Littler P 2 W 2 L 0 LegDiff +9 PTS 4
  2. (7) Dimitri Van den Bergh P 1 W 1 L 1 LegDiff 0 PTS 2
  3. Keane Barry P 2 W 1 L 1 LegDiff -3 PTS 2
  4. Lourence Ilagan P 2 W 0 L 2 LegDiff -6 PTS 0

Fixtures & Results

  • Dimitri Van den Bergh 5-1 Lourence Ilagan
  • Luke Littler 5-0 Keane Barry
  • Keane Barry 5-3 Lourence Ilagan
  • Dimitri Van den Bergh 1-5 Luke Littler
  • Keane Barry v Dimitri Van den Bergh
  • Lourence Ilagan v Luke Littler

Group G

  1. Gary Anderson P 2 W 2 L 0 LegDiff +5 PTS 4
  2. (3) Michael van Gerwen P 2 W 1 L 1 LegDiff +4 PTS 2
  3. Ryan Joyce P 2 W 1 L 1 LegDiff -2 PTS 2
  4. Noa-Lynn van Leuven P 1 W 0 L 1 LegDiff -5 PTS 0

Fixtures & Results

  • Michael van Gerwen 5-0 Noa-Lynn van Leuven
  • Gary Anderson 5-1 Ryan Joyce
  • Ryan Joyce 5-3 Noa-Lynn van Leuven
  • Michael van Gerwen 4-5 Gary Anderson
  • Michael van Gerwen v Ryan Joyce
  • Gary Anderson v Noa-Lynn van Leuven

Group H

  1. Gian van Veen P 2 W 2 L 0 LegDiff +7 PTS 4
  2. Josh Rock P 2 W 1 L 1 LegDiff -1 PTS 2
  3. (6) Stephen Bunting P 2 W 1 L 1 LegDiff -3 PTS 2
  4. Wessel Nijman P 2 W 0 L 2 LegDiff -3 PTS 0

Fixtures & Results

  • Stephen Bunting 5-4 Wessel Nijman
  • Josh Rock 2-5 Gian van Veen
  • Josh Rock 5-3 Wessel Nijman
  • Stephen Bunting 1-5 Gian van Veen
  • Josh Rock v Stephen Bunting
  • Wessel Nijman v Gian van Veen

Grand Slam of Darts: Knockout Stage draw

LAST 16 (Nov 13-14)

  • Winner Group A v Runner-Up Group B
  • Winner Group B v Runner-Up Group A
  • Winner Group C v Runner-Up Group D
  • Winner Group D v Runner-Up Group C
  • Winner Group E v Runner-Up Group F
  • Winner Group F v Runner-Up Group E
  • Winner Group G v Runner-Up Group H
  • Winner Group H v Runner-Up Group G

QUARTER-FINALS (Nov 15-16)

  • W Grp A/RU Group B v W Grp B/RU Group A (QF 1)
  • W Grp C/RU Group D v W Grp D/RU Group C (QF 2)
  • W Grp E/RU Group F v W Grp F/RU Group E (QF 3)
  • W Grp G/RU Group H v W Grp H/RU Group G (QF 4)

SEMI-FINALS (Nov 17)

  • Winner QF 1 v Winner QF 2
  • Winner QF 3 v Winner QF 4

FINAL (Nov 17)

  • Winner SF 1 v Winner SF 2

Darts: Related content