Grand Slam of Darts 2022 | Day Four Preview and Order of Play
The Group Stage of the 2022 Grand Slam of Darts draws to a close in Wolverhampton on Tuesday with the final set of fixtures from Groups E-H.
Following an intense weekend of round-robin action, the third and final group fixtures will determine the fate of a number of players at the Aldersley Leisure Village.
A further five places remain up for grabs in the knock-out phase of the £650,000 televised major, with a host of decorated darters jostling for position.
Two-time World Champion Peter Wright will look to wrap up top spot in Group E by denying World Grand Prix finalist Nathan Aspinall in their final group fixture.
Wright, a three-time Grand Slam runner-up, has registered back-to-back wins this week despite sub-90 averages, and will be eyeing an improved display against a player in need of a win to keep destiny in his own hands.
The situation for both Wright and Aspinall will depend on the result of the earlier tie between debutant Alan Soutar and Fallon Sherrock.
If Soutar wins 5-1 or 5-0, he will guarantee qualification, while last year’s quarter-finalist Sherrock is already eliminated following successive defeats.
In Group F, Jonny Clayton bids to rubber-stamp top spot and the £3,500 group winner’s bonus by defeating World Cup winner Damon Heta.
Clayton is already assured of qualification after a perfect start which has seen him record back-to-back whitewash wins, while Heta starts the night in third position and his requirement will become apparent following the opening match of the night.
A win for Jermaine Wattimena means that Heta must win by a better margin to qualify, while Leonard Gates must win 5-3 or better to move above Wattimena, and then hope that Heta loses.
Three-time champion Michael van Gerwen has the opportunity to progress as Group G winner if he can see off European Champion Ross Smith.
Van Gerwen has dropped only three legs in his two wins so far, averaging 101.5 and 99.7, and knows the pressure lies firmly on the shoulders of his opponent – who would qualify alongside the Dutchman with a win.
Meanwhile, Nathan Rafferty must win 5-2 or better to move above Luke Woodhouse, and would then need Smith to lose by a sufficient margin.
A win for Tour Card holder qualifier Woodhouse may not be enough, depending on Smith’s later result.
Luke Humphries has already clinched qualification following successive wins in Group H, and the four-time European Tour event winner now looks to seal top spot by denying debutant Josh Rock in their mouth-watering contest which signals a repeat of a recent ProTour final.
Rock’s situation will become clear following the earlier game, however he would qualify with a 5-2 win or better as things stand.
Challenge Tour winner Scott Williams must win in order to move above Ryan Searle in the table, and then hope that Rock loses by a sufficient margin.
A win for Players Championship Finals runner-up Searle may not be sufficient, depending on Rock’s later result.
The action gets under way from 7pm GMT, with group matches to be contested over the best of nine legs.
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Grand Slam of Darts 2022 Day Four Schedule
Tuesday November 15
Groups E-H Third Matches
7pm-11pm
Jermaine Wattimena v Leonard Gates (F)
Jonny Clayton v Damon Heta (F)
Luke Woodhouse v Nathan Rafferty (G)
Michael van Gerwen v Ross Smith (G)
Alan Soutar v Fallon Sherrock (E)
Peter Wright v Nathan Aspinall (E)
Ryan Searle v Scott Williams (H)
Luke Humphries v Josh Rock (H)
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