Rob Cross and James Wade were amongst the six players to progress to the knockout stages of the Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts on Monday.
Day Three of the prestigious event saw Groups A-D conclude at Wolverhampton’s WV Active Aldersley, as three-time runner-up Peter Wright saw his hopes of qualification quashed by Cross.
Ritchie Edhouse and Mickey Mansell had already confirmed their qualification prior to Monday’s play, and they were joined in the last 16 by a host of established names.
Cross needed to win just two legs against Wright to progress, and the 2023 runner-up ran out a comfortable 5-1 winner over the Scot to join Martin Lukeman in the knockout stages.
“I was playing a legend of the game,” reflected Cross, who has made it through the group stage in each of his eight Grand Slam appearances.
“Peter’s not at his best. He’s a two-time World Champion, he’s a great man and he’s given a lot to the game. I hope he can come back. I hope he can rebuild.
“I wasn’t at my best tonight, but it’s great to be through. It’s a longer format now so I can relax a little bit, and I’ll be ready to go on Wednesday.”
Wade will also feature in the knockout stages after sweeping aside Rowby-John Rodriguez in their winner-takes-all Group A showdown, sealing the deal with a terrific 121 finish.
“Rowby-John didn’t play at his best there, and I made the most of it,” admitted Wade, a Grand Slam runner-up in 2010, 2016 and 2020.
“I’m really happy to be through, and I’m looking forward to the next one!”
Following an incredible conclusion to Group B, Danny Noppert progressed alongside Cameron Menzies, who will compete in the last 16 of a TV ranking event for the first time.
Women’s World Matchplay champion Beau Greaves stormed to a 5-1 victory over Menzies, which left Martin Schindler needing just three legs against Noppert to join the Dutchman in the last 16.
Nevertheless, despite averaging 109, Schindler squandered four darts for qualification in a thrilling finale, as Noppert wrapped up a 5-2 success with a 106 average to send Menzies through.
“Beau played really well,” reflected Menzies, who will play Wade for a place in the quarter-finals.
“Beau under no pressure is a scary Beau. She battered me to be fair.
“I think I got caught up thinking ‘just win, just win’. I’m very lucky to get through, but I guess that’s just darts for you!”
Elsewhere, Grand Slam debutant Lukeman made it three wins from three in Group C with a 5-3 victory against Leonard Gates, defying a mid-game rally from the American to prevail.
Lukeman will now meet Ross Smith for a place in the quarter-finals, after the former European Champion whitewashed a profligate Connor Scutt to confirm second spot in Group D.
Edhouse produced a terrific display to claim top spot in Group D, averaging 105 and landing five 180s to inflict a third straight defeat on Dave Chisnall, wrapping up proceedings with a ten-dart leg.
Meanwhile, in the evening’s opener, 2023 champion Humphries rounded off a difficult campaign in positive fashion, averaging 101 in a 5-1 thumping of Mansell.
The world number one was playing for pride in his final round-robin game, although he signed off from this year’s event in style, following up a brilliant 11-darter with a 135 checkout to triumph.
The Grand Slam of Darts group stage will conclude on Tuesday, as the final round-robin matches in Groups E-H take place at WV Active Aldersley.
Luke Littler, Gary Anderson, Gian van Veen and Jermaine Wattimena have already confirmed their spots in the last 16, with Michael van Gerwen set to take on Ryan Joyce in a straight shoot-out for qualification.
2022 winner Michael Smith plays World Grand Prix champion Mike De Decker in a winner-takes-all Group E showdown, with Stephen Bunting and Josh Rock locking horns in a decisive Group H clash.
UK Open champion Dimitri Van den Bergh and Irish star Keane Barry will also go head-to-head, and the winner will join Littler in coming through Group F.
The 2024 Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts is being broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK, through the PDC’s worldwide broadcast partners including DAZN and Viaplay, and on PDCTV (excluding UK, Germany, Austria & Switzerland based subscribers).
2024 Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts
Monday November 11
Groups A-D Final Matches
Luke Humphries 5-1 Mickey Mansell (A)
Ritchie Edhouse 5-2 Dave Chisnall (D)
Beau Greaves 5-1 Cameron Menzies (B)
Danny Noppert 5-2 Martin Schindler (B)
James Wade 5-1 Rowby-John Rodriguez (A)
Martin Lukeman 5-3 Leonard Gates (C)
Rob Cross 5-1 Peter Wright (C)
Ross Smith 5-0 Connor Scutt (D)
Tuesday November 12 (1900 GMT)
Groups E-H Final Matches
Gary Anderson v Noa-Lynn van Leuven (G)
Jermaine Wattimena v Mensur Suljovic (E)
Luke Littler v Lourence Ilagan (F)
Gian van Veen v Wessel Nijman (H)
Dimitri Van den Bergh v Keane Barry (F)
Michael van Gerwen v Ryan Joyce (G)
Michael Smith v Mike De Decker (E)
Stephen Bunting v Josh Rock (H)
—–ENDS—–
Images: Kieran Cleeves/PDC
