32 men venture to Wolverhampton's Civic Hall for the ultimate test of PDC versus BDO in the Grand Slam of Darts. 2016 saw the Autism Express of Michael van Gerwen retain his title by spanking James Wade in the final.
Due to the volatility of the BDO 1 year ranking system, this year's selection from the alleged "official side of the game" is arguably worse than last year's. This year's Lakeside champion, Middlesbrough's Glen Durrant, and Dutch runner-up Danny Noppert return as do Tipton's smartest man Jamie Hughes and waddling farmer Scott Mitchell, but it's the other four that drag the side down as supposed Yorkshireman and BDO #1 Mark McGeeney (who lost 6-1 to Krzysztof Ratajski in the Winmau World Masters final), eternal Scottish Lakeside failure Ross Montgomery, young compatriot Cameron Menzies and unknown Aussie Peter Machin make their GSoD debuts.
With there having been 15 different PDC major finalists in the year since the last Grand Slam, only current Gibraltar Darts Trophy winner Michael Smith qualified automatically from the reserves list, which means the first Sky major absence of a certain ferry-loving Stokie in nearly 7 years. In hindsight, considering Adrian Lewis's current form and record in this tournament is garbage (managing to lose to Scottie Dog last year sums his GSoD up) he will not be missed. The floor qualifier this year actually produced some decent names, as 2014 Lakeside finalists Stephen Bunting and Alan Norris, emerging youngsters Jeffrey de Zwaan of the Netherlands and Ireland's Steve Lennon and everyone's favourite midget Darren Webster. Sadly, the same cannot be said of Yorkshire clogger James Wilson, marker-covered Scouser Robbie Green and lazy eyed Joe Murnan.
Coverage starts at 1:00pm UK time on Sky Sports Arena with the evening session from 8:00pm(!) UK time on Sky Sports Action.
All group stage games are the best of 9 legs (first to 5).
>Afternoon session (1:00pm) Michael Smith v James Wilson (G) Stephen Bunting v Jeffrey de Zwaan (F) Simon Whitlock v Berry van Peer (H) Alan Norris v Corey Cadby (E) Dave Chisnall v Scott Mitchell (F) Mensur Suljovic v Mark McGeeney (G) Gary Anderson v Cameron Menzies (H) Peter Wright v Glen Durrant (E)
>Evening session (8:00pm) Gerwyn Price v Steve Lennon (B) James Wade v Robbie Green (C) Darren Webster v Mark Webster (D) Rob Cross v Joe Murnan (A) Phil Taylor v Peter Machin (C) Michael van Gerwen v Ross Montgomery (A) Raymond van Barneveld v Jamie Hughes (B) Daryl Gurney v Danny Noppert (D)
Jaxon Hall
hope ross montgomery gets annihilated desu, despise that prick as much as superchin and cadby
Nathan Gutierrez
I know that nobody will agree with me on this but after the WC the Grand Slam is my favourite tournament.
Thnak you once again, based /180/ OP.
Camden Green
>when he had a tantrum at Lakeside 2016 because Jamie Hughes put his hand on his shoulders
Lucas Cruz
Aww yisss, time for /180/. Had a laugh when I saw fucking Ross Montgomery is going to be there.
Grand Slam shall make for some good moments, I hope. Unfortunately no Wolfie.
Landon Gonzalez
Also no PDC humiliator Scott Waites.
Shame he never tried the PDC circuit for a year after he won.
Josiah Ortiz
Ha ha, time for /180/. Norris vs. Cadby could be good. Also: Can't stoppert the Noppert.
Anthony Rogers
Fuck yes lads COMFY
Charles Morgan
>Also no PDC humiliator Scott Waites. feels bad, he was damn decent once.
Andrew Rogers
That elbow injury he had a few years ago completely killed him.
Bentley Barnes
And we're on now.
William Diaz
Who /stillinbed/ here?
Jordan Wilson
Is dave clarke died?
Nathan Flores
anyone got a sky sports mix/arena acestream?
Jason Perez
Only reeled out for the evening session.
>DBO
Carter Davis
>that Wade/Anderson match Classic Wade
David Young
>Corey Cadby will not qualify for the WC unless he wins the Grand Slam Can anyone confirm this?
Landon Gomez
Impossible.
Winning the Grand Slam doesn't earn enough money from £0 to make it into the Top 32.
>you now remember Gilding's career peak against MVG at the 2015 UK Open Has anyone had one match define them like that?
Brandon Wilson
...
Owen Cook
excellent
was sick of watching the same beaten down plodders get thumped in the early rounds of all the majors
Colton Robinson
Well this is already a whipping.
Thomas Collins
Dolan not at the Worlds? How did that happen?
Just seen he went down to 34 in the ooM. Must have really fucked up this year.
Liam Scott
wilson looks like he wants to die already
Easton Thomas
Wilson fucking everything up big time here.
They need to cut the floor qualifiers from this shit.
Parker Brooks
>Dolan not at the Worlds? How did that happen? Been rubbish on the floor.
Just 4 quarter finals in 2017.
Aiden Lee
34 on the OoM and only 19th on the Pro Tour. The cunt will probably climb to 16th in time to be knocked out of the first round by Mervyn King in a classic.
Jaxson Sanders
jammie aint done yet
Asher Howard
Pure madness.
Hunter Gonzalez
>The cunt will probably climb to 16th in time to be knocked out of the first round by Mervyn King in a classic. Can't happen because there are no more Pro Tour events this year.
Only way he can make Ally Pally is with a run at Minehead, which incidentally starts against Merv.
Josiah Torres
>Not giving the history maker a wildcard to every WC for life
It's like the PDC don't like money.
Aaron Bell
>41
Connor Nguyen
wilson has a great throwing action.
Tyler Perez
>Snackpot the Second
John Jackson
On that subject: >We are pleased to reveal the 2018 dart shirt of ‘Jackpot’. On one of the sleeves the ace of spades makes for a bold graphic statement, the other sleeve features two stars to represent his World Championship titles.
Brayden King
Only one who will be mossed is Gilding.
>Wezzzzz
lel this wasn't really surprising, was it?
Ryan Gomez
>The body inside, though, is still the same lazy bag of meat as last year.
Ayden Reyes
>WILSON How in the fuck?
Carter Ramirez
Shame, I was warming to Snackpot's shirt.
Angel Diaz
The absolute fucking state of this leg
Liam Reyes
But I want it in snackpot size too for maximum two times b2b WChampion feeling.
Jordan Scott
kek
Joshua Brown
>12 darts to level it
if he doesnt win this he shit quit darts forever desu
Cooper Nguyen
PDC showing the BDO how to properly sling some nails.