Grand Slam Draw: Humphries and Wade Clash

Luke Humphries will take on James Wade, Mickey Mansell and Rowby-John Rodriguez at the 2024 Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts, with the group stage draw now confirmed.

The 32-player tournament will take place from November 9-17 at WV Active Aldersley in Wolverhampton, as Humphries bids to retain the coveted Eric Bristow Trophy in the West Midlands.

The 29-year-old reigning champion will headline Group A, which also features three-time runner-up Wade, Grand Slam debutant Mansell and Austria’s World Cup finalist Rodriguez.

Humphries performed magnificently to take the title 12 months ago, and the world number one will begin his title defence against the returning Rodriguez on Saturday’s bumper opening day.

Three-time champion Michael van Gerwen will renew his rivalry with two-time runner-up Gary Anderson in the group stage – after the Scot took victory when they met in the European Championship recently – as two of the sport’s biggest names go head-to-head in Wolverhampton.

The pair will be joined in Group G by World Grand Prix semi-finalist Ryan Joyce and debutant Noa-Lynn van Leuven, who secured her qualification via the Women’s Series Order of Merit.

World number two Michael Smith celebrated Grand Slam of Darts glory in 2022, and the St Helens star will take centre stage in Group E alongside World Grand Prix champion Mike De Decker.

European Championship runner-up Jermaine Wattimena will also make his Grand Slam return in 2024 as he opens up against De Decker, while Smith begins his campaign against Austrian veteran Mensur Suljovic.

2023 runner-up Rob Cross kicks off his challenge against CDC Continental Cup winner Leonard Gates, with three-time finalist Peter Wright and Martin Lukeman also starring in Group C.

Teenage sensation Luke Littler will make his Grand Slam debut against Ireland’s Keane Barry, with UK Open champion Dimitri Van den Bergh and PDC Asian Champion Lourence Ilagan also drawn in Group F.

Fifth seed Dave Chisnall has been handed a tough assignment in Group D, as he prepares to take on Challenge Tour Order of Merit winner Connor Scutt in his opening fixture.

Chisnall will also come up against newly-crowned European Champion Ritchie Edhouse in the group phase, with Edhouse set to lock horns with 2022 European Champion Ross Smith on Saturday.

Masters champion Stephen Bunting heads up a fascinating Group H, which features 2023 quarter-finalist Josh Rock, as well as Dutch duo Gian van Veen and Wessel Nijman.

Elsewhere, Women’s World Matchplay champion Beau Greaves will make her Grand Slam return against Dutch number two Danny Noppert, who came through Friday’s Tour Card Holder Qualifier.

Greaves – a winner of seven PDC Women’s Series titles in 2024 – also faces German number one Martin Schindler and Scottish star Cameron Menzies in Group B.

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.