The Grand Slam of Darts

The Grand Slam of Darts tournament is always eagerly awaited by darts fans because it features players from both divisions of the sport, although the 2021 event might have a few changes in store.

Previous events featured the cream of the PDC, plus the BDO elite, which also includes two of the top ladies players.  However, the demise of the BDO in 2020 and COVID during 2020-2021 has meant many events were cancelled or postponed. Hence this year there is a new criterion has been established for 2021.

This year the PDC have organised an extended number of women's events with places for the Grand Slam of Darts and World Darts Championships up for grabs. This event is free for women to enter, and a few will walk away with a chance to enter one or two of the biggest dart tournaments to feature on the PDC calendar.

Fallon Sherrock will be one of the hopefuls hoping to qualify. Her reputation on the PDC circuit made headlines in 2020 as she qualified and won two rounds in the World Darts Championships. Recently she was invited to participate in the Nordic Darts Masters, part of the PDC World Series events. She made it to the final, beating two male counterparts online the way, including Dimitri Vanden Bergh, the No.4 seed. Fallon lost out to the eventual winner, Michael van Gerwen.

The Grand Slam of Darts, formally sponsored by BoyleSports, is another unique event. The top-seeded eight PDC players play in a round-robin first round, with the top two players progressing to the straight knock-out second round.  Until now, women thus far as progressed beyond the first round. However, I have a hunch this may change in 2021.

Jose de Soura was crown the BoyleSports 2020 Grand Slam Champion beating James Wade also from the PDC in the final 16-12. But the PDC boys have not always had it their own way, as many dart fans know.

Scott Waites, who played on the BDO circuit for many years, won the 2010 title and was runner-up the previous year. For dart fans and pundits alike, finding the right player to bet on can be tricky as head-to-head comparisons for some of these players is not available as some may never meet as they play of different organised events. Dart fans can have a bet on darts players or outright winners. In the first phase, the player can lose their first make by still qualifying for the second round!

 

Who Qualifiers to play in 2021?

Not as straightforward as some might think. Here is the current criteria and players that have booked a place at this year's Grand Slam of Darts

 

2021 Grand Slam of Darts

Qualifying Players (invited in the following order)
2020/21 PDC World Champion - GERWYN PRICE - 1
2020 Grand Slam Champion - JOSE DE SOUSA - 2
2021 Premier League Champion - JONNY CLAYTON - 3
2021 World Matchplay Champion - PETER WRIGHT - 4
2021 World Grand Prix Champion
2021 Masters Champion - (Jonny Clayton)
2021 UK Open Champion - JAMES WADE - 5
2021 European Champion
2020 Players Championship Finals Champion - MICHAEL VAN GERWEN - 6
2021 World Series of Darts Finals Champion
2021 World Cup Champions x2
2020/21 PDC World Championship runner-up - GARY ANDERSON - 7
2020 Grand Slam runner-up - (James Wade)
2021 Premier League runner-up - (Jose de Sousa)
2021 World Matchplay runner-up - DIMITRI VAN DEN BERGH - 8
2021 World Grand Prix runner-up
2021 Masters runner-up - MERVYN KING - 9
2021 UK Open runner-up - LUKE HUMPHRIES - 10
2021 European Champion
2020 Players Championship Finals runner-up - (Mervyn King)
2021 World Series of Darts Finals Champion
2021 World Cup runners-up x2
This list has 10 players currently qualified and could produce a further 10.

 

2021 European Tour Event Winners

In order of number of event wins and then PDC Ranking Order
Hungarian Darts Trophy (Sep 3-5)
Gibraltar Darts Trophy (Sep 24-26)

 

2021 Players Championship Event Winners

In order of number of event wins and then PDC Ranking Order
Currently (provisional qualifiers listed in capitals):
Multiple Wins: JOE CULLEN
Ranking Order: MICHAEL SMITH, STEPHEN BUNTING, DIRK VAN DUIJVENBODE, CHRIS DOBEY, BRENDAN DOLAN, Ryan Searle, Ross Smith, Callan Rydz, Raymond van Barneveld

PDC Tour Card Holder Qualifier
8x Players (November 5)

 

Additional Qualifiers

2020 World Youth Champion - BRADLEY BROOKS
2020 World Youth Championship runner-up - JOE DAVIS
2021 UK Challenge Tour Order of Merit winner
2021 European Challenge Tour Order of Merit winner
2021 UK Development Tour Order of Merit winner
2021 European Development Tour Order of Merit winner
2021 Women's Series Order of Merit 1-6 Winner
2021 Women's Series Order of Merit 7-12 Winner

 

Grand Slam of Darts - Previous Winners

 

Year	Winner	Org	Score		Score	Runner-up	Org
2020	Jose de Sousa	PDC	16	-	12	James Wade	PDC
2019	Gerwyn Price	PDC	16	-	6	Peter Wright	PDC
2018	Gerwyn Price	PDC	16	-	13	Gary Anderson	PDC
2017	Michael van Gerwen	PDC	16	-	12	Peter Wright	PDC
2016	Michael van Gerwen	PDC	16	-	8	James Wade	PDC
2015	Michael van Gerwen	PDC	16	-	13	Phil Taylor	PDC
2014	Phil Taylor	PDC	16	-	13	Dave Chisnall	PDC
2013	Phil Taylor	PDC	16	-	6	Robert Thornton	PDC
2012	Raymond van Barneveld	PDC	16	-	14	Michael van Gerwen	PDC
2011	Phil Taylor	PDC	16	-	4	Gary Anderson	PDC
2010	Scott Waites	BDO	16	-	12	James Wade	PDC
2009	Phil Taylor	PDC	16	-	2	Scott Waites	BDO
2008	Phil Taylor	PDC	18	-	9	Terry Jenkins	PDC
2007	Phil Taylor	PDC	18	-	11	Andy Hamilton	PDC