Van Gerwen Escapes Greaves Scare as Littler Shines at Grand Slam
Tonight at the Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton, fans were treated to some dramatic action as the tournament kicked off in spectacular fashion. Michael van Gerwen, the three-time world champion, faced a real scare from rising star Beau Greaves in a thrilling opening match. Van Gerwen looked to have things under control at 4-2, but the 21-year-old Greaves mounted an incredible comeback, winning back-to-back legs to push the match to a nail-biting decider. The Doncaster star even had three darts to clinch victory, needing just 52 points, but she couldn’t quite seal the deal. Van Gerwen eventually held his nerve to claim the win, leaving Greaves just short of what could have been a historic victory.
Despite the loss, Greaves impressed everyone with her performance. She set a new benchmark as the first woman to average over 100 in a televised PDC event, hitting 102.46 against Gary Anderson in her next match, though she still exited the tournament after back-to-back defeats. Former world champions like Van Gerwen and Anderson praised her talent, calling her the best female darts player of all time and highlighting her potential to dominate the ProTour circuit in the future.
Also Read:- MacKinnon Leads Avalanche to Overtime Win Against Canucks
- Diamondbacks Eye Trade for All-Star Ketel Marte This Offseason
Meanwhile, the defending champion Luke Littler made a strong statement in his title defense, continuing his perfect record at the event with a 5-1 win over Karel Sedlacek. Littler, only 18, showed why he is already considered a world number two, admitting some frustration at dropping a single leg but maintaining his focus on a fast start in the short first-to-five format. He now has his eyes set on the top of the rankings, aiming to overtake Luke Humphries by the end of the year.
Elsewhere on the opening day, the round-robin group stage saw other notable results: Michael Smith defeated Nathan Aspinall 5-3, Gerwyn Price was beaten by Rickey Evans, Wessel Nijman overcame Josh Rock, and Stefan Bellmont edged past James Wade. Van Gerwen also bounced back with a 5-0 win against Alex Spellman to top Group A. With all 32 players taking part across two sessions, the excitement and unpredictability of the Grand Slam were on full display.
Greaves, despite not progressing to the knockout stage, has already made history and left a lasting impression. With multiple titles in the Women’s Series, a PDC Tour card for 2026, and a spot in the World Youth Championship final, her rise in darts is undeniable. Both fans and legends like Raymond van Barneveld are watching closely, suggesting that the Premier League could be her next big stage if she continues on this meteoric path.
The action continues tomorrow with live coverage starting from 7pm on Sky Sports+, where Greaves will face Niko Springer in her final group match, while van Gerwen and Anderson battle for a second qualification spot from Group G. The Grand Slam of Darts is shaping up to be an unmissable spectacle.
Read More:
0 Comments