Grand Slam
Grand Slam of Darts Finals Preview – Voltage winning the Grand Slam would be no shock
As the final major competition before the World Darts Championships enters its final stages, we have knockout action to look forward to in the coming evenings to determine the Grand Slam of Darts champion.
It’s been an unforgiving tournament so far, with many of the favourites crashing out early. Could we see yet another new major winner? Our blog takes a look at the remaining players in the competition.
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The tournament so far
Several of the pre-tournament market leaders have been knocked out already, most notably reigning World Champion Luke Humphries and three-time winner Michael van Gerwen. Both players came to a cropper in the group stage, which isn’t the ideal preparation for the upcoming World Championship. Teenage sensation Luke Littler remains in the competition and is a strong 11/8 favourite at the top of the market having breezed through the group stage and looks like he will be tough to beat. He’s in action again this evening against Mike de Decker in a Round of 16 tie, where he is 1/4 to progress.
It can’t be denied that the 17-year-old isn’t now one of the world’s best players and he must be taken seriously here. He sprang a 66/1 shock last year when reaching the final of the World Championship and has been on an upward curve ever since. It would be no surprise if he was to win the Grand Slam this weekend and have a favourite’s chance in the upcoming World Championship. He’s the most likely winner but it might be worth looking for something with some each-way value.
Another player to boast a flawless group record is Gary Anderson. The Scotsman’s form has been inconsistent this season, with his blistering form on the floor not matching that of his TV matches. There is no doubt that he has the game to compete at the top level, and he can’t be ruled out to win the tournament at 11/2.
Judging by the early stages of the competition, it would be remiss to write any player in the tournament off but it cannot be denied that the draw has fallen favourably for Rob Cross, who’s a 5/1 shot outright. The world number four routinely dispatched European Championship-winner Ritchie Edhouse 10-4 in his Round of 16 tie and looks as if he has found a good level of form heading into his quarter-final tie against Martin Lukeman. His opponent Lukeman isn’t shy of taking a big scalp in major competition, but Cross will be favoured to get the better of him.
If he’s successful tomorrow evening, this would set up for a semi-final tie against one of Cameron Menzies and Micky Mansell. Whilst both players have enjoyed break-out years in terms of form, they still must prove themselves in major TV events. Of course, there is a first time for everything, but Cross holds the edge in experience and has done it at the top level for several years now and it looks a very favourable route to the final for Voltage. He has to be of serious interest outright at 5/1.
