Sporting Life
Luke Littler (Picture: Kieran Cleeves/PDC)
Luke Littler (Picture: Kieran Cleeves/PDC)

Darts results: Luke Humphries loses Grand Slam of Darts opener as Luke Littler and MVG both win 5-0

By Sporting Life
Darts
Sun November 10, 2024 · 4d ago

Luke Littler and Michael van Gerwen both produced whitewash wins on day one of the Grand Slam of Darts, before Luke Humphries suffered a surprise defeat.

The round-robin began on Saturday with a nine-leg epic won by Stephen Bunting, but thereafter it was more about individual performances than classic matches even if the occasional favourite did come unstuck.

Van Gerwen wasn't at his best but didn't need to be to beat Noa-Lynn van Leuven 5-0, throwing a single maximum but allowing his opponent just two looks at double.

Littler on the other hand was electric, averaging 112 to beat Keane Barry 5-0, his opponent unable to create any kind of opening.

"I just wanted to come here, my major tournaments isn't the best record, so I just focused on tonight and making a statement: I'm here to win," said Littler.

"I've been practicing well, and I'm just going to enjoy it. I want to top the group, I know there's a little bonus for finishing top. Then hopefully go on and on, but I'm here."

Things proved more complicated for Humphries and after he trailed 3-1 against Rowby-John Rodriguez, the world champion was never able to get back into the game and lost 5-3.

Humphries pegged a brilliant 164 finish but this was a tale of profligacy in the end, seven missed darts at double standing in stark contrast to his opponent's five-from-six strike-rate.

Humphries will now face fellow Group A loser James Wade on Sunday in what's a vital match for his title prospects.

While it was bad news for backers of the short-priced jolly, Sporting Life readers were buoyed by a 15/2 winning accumulator from Chris Hammer, who also had winners at 15/8 and 6/5 along with a solitary losing single bet.

Also on Saturday evening, two-time runner-up Gary Anderson produced the sixth-highest average in Grand Slam history to commence his Group G challenge with a 5-1 demolition of Joyce.

The Scot kicked off proceedings with a stunning 121 checkout, before reeling off legs of 14, 12, 13 and 13 darts to triumph with a 113.2 average.

"That wasn’t bad after 17 years [at the Grand Slam]," quipped Anderson, who will go head-to-head with van Gerwen in a mouthwatering clash on Sunday evening.

"If my floor game comes on to the stage, there could be trouble, but what will be will be!

"I love this tournament, and I’m looking forward to tomorrow. It will be a good old tussle against Michael."

Afternoon action

Gian van Veen and Stephen Bunting were two of the afternoon's standout performers, as they kicked off their Group H campaigns with sensational wins over Josh Rock and Wessel Nijman respectively.

Van Veen averaged 110.79 to complete a superb 5-2 victory over 2023 quarter-finalist Rock in his opener, converting 126 and 127 checkouts alongside legs of 10, 11 and 12 darts.

Meanwhile, 2023 semi-finalist Bunting won through a thrilling last-leg tie against Nijman, defying a 106.51 average from the Dutch debutant to triumph on his Wolverhampton return.

Martin Lukeman and Connor Scutt enjoyed dream debuts on Saturday afternoon, whitewashing three-time finalist Peter Wright and 2014 runner-up Dave Chisnall in their respective ties.

Lukeman will now play Rob Cross in his second Group C clash, after the 2023 runner-up began his title bid with a convincing 5-2 victory against CDC Continental Cup winner Leonard Gates.

Scutt, meanwhile, averaged 104.38 in his five-leg blitz of Chisnall, and his reward is a Group D showdown against Ritchie Edhouse, who also averaged 104 to dispatch Ross Smith in a battle of the European champions.

Elsewhere, Danny Noppert kicked off his sixth Grand Slam campaign with a 5-2 success against two-time Women’s World Matchplay champion Beau Greaves.

Noppert will face an in-form Cameron Menzies on Sunday afternoon, after the Scottish star defeated German number one Martin Schindler by the same scoreline in the other Group B tussle.

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