Left arrow

Grand Slam of Darts 2024 | Day One Preview and Order of Play

Right arrow

Grand Slam of Darts 2024 | Day Two Preview and Order of Play

Rowby-John Rodriguez stuns Luke Humphries in Grand Slam of Darts opener

Jamie Shaw in Grand Slam of Darts 10 Nov 2024

Rowby-John Rodriguez celebrates (Photo by PDC)

Rowby-John Rodriguez pulled off a shock win over defending champion Luke Humphries on the opening day of the 2024 Grand Slam of Darts, as Gary Anderson and Luke Littler produced stellar displays in Wolverhampton.

Day One of the prestigious major saw 16 group stage matches take place across a thrilling double session at the Aldersley Leisure Village, as Rodriguez produced some late magic to topple the world number one.

Humphries converted a stunning 164 checkout in the penultimate leg of their opening Group A contest, but only for the Austrian to reply with a majestic 141 checkout to wrap up a terrific 5-3 victory.

Anderson and Littler began their campaigns in style, averaging 113 and 112 respectively in wins over Ryan Joyce and Keane Barry.

Two-time Grand Slam runner-up Anderson produced the sixth-highest average in the history of the event to commence his Group G challenge with a 5-1 demolition of Joyce.

The Scottish icon kicked off proceedings with a stunning 121 checkout, before reeling off legs of 14, 12, 13 and 13 darts to triumph with a 113.2 average.

“That wasn’t bad after 17 years [at the Grand Slam],” said Anderson, who will go head-to-head with his great rival Michael van Gerwen in a mouth-watering clash on Sunday evening.

“If my floor game comes on to the stage, there could be trouble, but what will be will be!

“I love this tournament, and I’m looking forward to tomorrow. It will be a good old tussle against Michael.”

Three-time Grand Slam champion Van Gerwen ran out a convincing winner in his opener, pinning five of his ten attempts at double to whitewash debutant Noa-Lynn van Leuven.

Littler also lit up Saturday’s evening session with a blistering display against Keane Barry, averaging 112 to see off the Irish youngster in less than seven minutes.

“I’ve been practising very well leading up to the Grand Slam, and I’m glad I played so well on my debut tonight,” reflected Littler – one of eight debutants in this year’s competition.

“I felt good. It’s a short format so you’ve got to switch on. You have got to be on your A-game, and I was very focused tonight.”

Gian van Veen and Stephen Bunting produced stand-out performances in Group H, kicking off their campaigns with sensational wins over Josh Rock and Wessel Nijman respectively.

Van Veen averaged 110.8 to complete a superb 5-2 victory over 2023 quarter-finalist Rock, converting 126 and 127 checkouts alongside legs of 10, 11 and 12 darts.

Meanwhile, 2023 semi-finalist Bunting won through a thrilling last-leg tie against Nijman, defying a 106.5 average from the Dutch debutant to triumph on his Wolverhampton return.

Michael Smith and Jermaine Wattimena will lock horns for top spot in Group E on Sunday, having celebrated 5-2 wins over Mensur Suljovic and Mike De Decker.

2022 champion Smith reeled off three straight legs to sink Suljovic, while European Championship finalist Wattimena maintained his fine form, averaging 104.3 in seeing off World Grand Prix champion De Decker.

Mickey Mansell marked his Grand Slam debut with a statement 5-3 win over three-time runner-up James Wade, landing a brilliant 140 checkout in a contest which saw both players average above 100.

Martin Lukeman and Connor Scutt also enjoyed dream debuts in Wolverhampton, whitewashing three-time finalist Peter Wright and 2014 runner-up Dave Chisnall in their respective ties.

Lukeman will now face Rob Cross in his second Group C clash, after the 2023 runner-up began his title bid with a convincing 5-2 victory against CDC Continental Cup winner Leonard Gates.

Scutt, meanwhile, averaged 104.4 to dispatch Chisnall, and his reward is a showdown against Ritchie Edhouse – who also averaged 104 to deny Ross Smith in a battle of the European Champions.

Earlier in the afternoon, Danny Noppert kicked off his sixth Grand Slam campaign with a 5-2 defeat of two-time Women’s World Champion Beau Greaves.

Noppert will face an in-form Cameron Menzies on Sunday afternoon, after the Scottish star defeated German number one Martin Schindler by the same scoreline in the other Group B tussle.

UK Open champion Dimitri Van den Bergh punished a profligate display from PDC Asian Champion Lourence Ilagan to close out a 5-1 success, which sets up a showdown against Littler on Sunday evening.

Sunday’s double session will see Saturday’s winning players facing off and the losing players also going head-to-head.

Grand Slam of Darts 2024 Day One Results

Saturday November 9

Afternoon Session
Stephen Bunting 5-4 Wessel Nijman (H)
Josh Rock 2-5 Gian van Veen (H)
Dave Chisnall 0-5 Connor Scutt (D)
Danny Noppert 5-2 Beau Greaves (B)
Martin Schindler 2-5 Cameron Menzies (B)
Rob Cross 5-2 Leonard Gates (C)
Peter Wright 0-5 Martin Lukeman (C)
Ross Smith 1-5 Ritchie Edhouse (D)

Evening Session
James Wade 3-5 Mickey Mansell (A)
Gary Anderson 5-1 Ryan Joyce (G)
Dimitri Van den Bergh 5-1 Lourence Ilagan (F)
Michael Smith 5-2 Mensur Suljovic (E)
Michael van Gerwen 5-0 Noa-Lynn van Leuven (G)
Luke Littler 5-0 Keane Barry (F)
Luke Humphries 3-5 Rowby-John Rodriguez (A)
Mike De Decker 2-5 Jermaine Wattimena (E)

Latest Darts Free Bets

Fairplay Sign-Up Offer: Bet £20 Get £20 in Free Bets

Welcome Bonus

Bet £20 Get £20 in Free Bets

In-Play Betting
Mobile App
Variety Of Sports

Excellent Review

9.0 Our Score

Claim Here

#AD 18+ New Customers Only. Bet £20 and get £20 in free bets. Register an account using the code LD20 in the promotional code box and place a £20 qualifying bet at min odds of evens (2.0). Your free bet will be credited within 24 hours after your qualifying bet has settled. Free bets are non-withdrawable and expire after 30 days. Max offer one per customer. Qualifying bets cannot be placed on a price boost. Full T&Cs apply.

Bet Ahoy Sign-Up Offer: Bet £10 Get £10 in Free Bets

Welcome Bonus

Bet £10 Get £10 in Free Bets

In-Play Betting
Variety Of Sports

Excellent Review

9.0 Our Score

Rowby-John Rodriguez stuns Luke Humphries in Grand Slam of Darts opener

Grand Slam of Darts 2024 Day One Results

Latest Darts Free Bets

Bookmaker Offers

Latest News

Coral World Cup Offer | 66/1 for England to win the group

Players Championship Darts 2026 live stream | How to watch the PDC ProTour online

Ladbrokes World Cup Offer | Get 66/1 for Harry Kane to score a goal

Fairplay Sign-Up Offer | Bet £20 Get £20 in Free Bets with Promo Code LD20

Luke Woodhouse lands maiden European Tour title at the Baltic Sea Darts Open

Baltic Sea Darts Open 2026 | Draw, Live Scores, Results & Schedule of Play

Baltic Sea Darts Open 2026 | Day Three Preview and Order of Play

Luke Littler denies Luke Humphries in historic final to regain Premier League Darts title

Premier League Darts 2026 | Fixtures, Results and Schedule of Play