Rowby-John Rodriguez caused a major upset with victory over reigning champion Luke Humphries on the opening day of the Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts, as Gary Anderson and Luke Littler produced stellar displays in Wolverhampton.
Day One of the unique £650,000 event saw 16 round-robin matches take place across a bumper double session at WV Active Aldersley, as Rodriguez produced some late magic to topple the world number one.
Humphries converted a stunning 164 skin-saver in the penultimate leg to preserve his hopes, only for the Austrian to reply with a majestic 141 checkout to wrap up a famous 5-3 victory.
However, Anderson and Littler took centre stage on a memorable day of action on Saturday, averaging 113 and 112 respectively in wins over Ryan Joyce and Keane Barry.
Two-time runner-up Anderson produced the sixth-highest average in Grand Slam history 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],” quipped 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 opening day with a blistering display against Keane Barry, averaging 112.16 to see off the Irish youngster in just six minutes and 48 seconds.
“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 field.
“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 110.79 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 106.51 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 104.32 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 finish in a contest which saw both players average in three figures.
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 play 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 104.38 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 success against two-time Women’s World Matchplay 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.
Elsewhere, UK Open champion Dimitri Van den Bergh punished a profligate display from PDC Asian Champion Lourence Ilagan to close out a 5-1 success in Group F, 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 meeting each other, as Humphries and Wade collide in a crucial Group A tussle.
Van Gerwen and Anderson will renew their rivalry in a blockbuster Group G showdown, while 2022 champion Smith takes on Wattimena in what promises to be a quick-fire affair.
The 2024 Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK, through the PDC's worldwide broadcast partners including DAZN and Viaplay, and on PDCTV (excluding UK, Germany, Austria & Switzerland based subscribers).
Click here for match stats & results.
2024 Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts
Schedule of Play
Saturday November 9
Afternoon Session
Group Stage x8 – Groups B-C-D-H First Matches
Stephen Bunting 5-4 Wessel Nijman (H)
Gian van Veen 5-2 Josh Rock (H)
Connor Scutt 5-0 Dave Chisnall (D)
Danny Noppert 5-2 Beau Greaves (B)
Cameron Menzies 5-2 Martin Schindler (B)
Rob Cross 5-2 Leonard Gates (C)
Martin Lukeman 5-0 Peter Wright (C)
Ritchie Edhouse 5-1 Ross Smith (D)
Evening Session
Group Stage x8 – Groups A-E-F-G First Matches
Mickey Mansell 5-3 James Wade (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)
Rowby-John Rodriguez 5-3 Luke Humphries (A)
Jermaine Wattimena 5-2 Mike De Decker (E)
Sunday November 10
Afternoon Session (1300 GMT)
Group Stage x8 - Groups B-C-D-H Second Matches
Danny Noppert v Cameron Menzies (B)
Martin Schindler v Beau Greaves (B)
Peter Wright v Leonard Gates (C)
Rob Cross v Martin Lukeman (C)
Dave Chisnall v Ross Smith (D)
Ritchie Edhouse v Connor Scutt (D)
Josh Rock v Wessel Nijman (H)
Stephen Bunting v Gian van Veen (H)
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Sunday November 10
8x Group Stage - Groups A-E-F-G Second Matches
Keane Barry v Lourence Ilagan (F)
Ryan Joyce v Noa-Lynn van Leuven (G)
Rowby-John Rodriguez v Mickey Mansell (A)
Mike De Decker v Mensur Suljovic (E)
James Wade v Luke Humphries (A)
Michael Smith v Jermaine Wattimena (E)
Michael van Gerwen v Gary Anderson (G)
Dimitri Van den Bergh v Luke Littler (F)