Grand Slam Draw: Dutch Duo in 'Group of Death'

Resurgent Stephen Bunting is the seed in what could be the most difficult and interesting Group in the 2024 Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts, with the group stage draw now confirmed.

The Master Champions – and former Lakeside World Champion – is seeded 6 and will have to fend off a trio of ‘Next Gen’ stars. The fascinating Group H, which also features 2023 quarter-finalist Josh Rock, as well as Dutch duo Gian van Veen and Wessel Nijman, is made up of title winners and breakout stars who will see getting out of the Group stage as the minimum requirement.

The Dutch Duo of Van Veen and Nijman have impressed on both senior and Development Tour over the past couple of years with Nijman dominating the ‘Youth’ Tier tour in 2024.

Northern Ireland’s Rock has returned to near his fluent best this year – perhaps as a result of the emergence of Luke Littler relieving ‘Rocky‘ of the ‘Next Big Thing’ burden – and had claimed both European and Players Champions title on the Pro Tour.

Bunting, however, should be confident as his own form has been close to the best we have seen from him since his entry to the PDC as World Champion and a World Master.

It is certain to be an intriguing group and may well provide a player to go much further in this years event?

The schedule of play for Saturday’s double session will be confirmed in due course, with the opening group games getting underway from 1300 GMT in Wolverhampton.

Following the culmination of the group stage, the top two players from each group will progress to the last 16 knockout stage, which begins on Wednesday evening.