ROBERT THORNTON'S victory in the partypoker.com World Grand Prix secured his place in the SINGHA Beer Grand Slam of Darts next month.
The Scot claimed his second major PDC title on Saturday when he overcame Michael van Gerwen 5-4 in a memorable World Grand Prix final in Dublin.
Reaching the final ensured that Thornton will return to Wolverhampton from November 7-15 for the 32-player SINGHA Beer Grand Slam of Darts - with the 48-year-old having been the runner-up in the event two years ago.
A total of 11 players have now qualified through the PDC's major tournaments, including reigning champion Phil Taylor, world number one van Gerwen and World Champion Gary Anderson.
In addition, reigning World Youth Champion Keegan Brown and World Cup of Darts winner Adrian Lewis are joined by finalists Dave Chisnall, James Wade, Peter Wright, Raymond van Barneveld and Rowby-John Rodriguez.
A final two places in the Grand Slam of Darts are available for the finalists of the Unibet European Championship, which will be held in Belgium from October 30-November 1.
Michael Smith is now guaranteed a place by virtue of his European Tour victories this year, with the winner of this weekend's final European Tour event in Sindelfingen also certain of a Grand Slam of Darts spot.
Any remaining places up to a total of 16 players would then be allocated to Players Championship event winners this year, based on their ProTour Order of Merit ranking at November 1, with Ian White, Jelle Klaasen, Terry Jenkins, Alan Norris and Joe Murnan all having claimed victories during 2015 and two tournaments remaining.
A further eight players will come through the PDC Qualifier on Friday October 23 in Coventry, while the final two BDO places will be decided at the BDO European Qualifier on Sunday October 18.
The BDO's UK Qualifier saw Andy Fordham and Larry Butler win through last week to join Scott Mitchell, Martin Phillips, Geert De Vos and Martin Adams in competing in Wolverhampton.
Tickets for the SINGHA Beer Grand Slam of Darts can be purchased from the Wolves Civic Box Office on 0870 320 7000 or online via www.wolvescivic.co.uk.
The draw for the SINGHA Beer Grand Slam of Darts is expected to be made in the evening of Monday November 2. Details will be announced on www.pdc.tv once confirmed.
SINGHA BEER GRAND SLAM OF DARTS
CURRENT QUALIFIERS
One-Year Invitations to be issued to a maximum of 16 players from the events below in the order of automatic qualifiers listed (players who have already qualified listed in brackets):
2015 PDC World Champion - Gary Anderson
2014 Grand Slam of Darts Champion - Phil Taylor
2015 Premier League Champion - (Gary Anderson)
2015 World Matchplay Champion - Michael van Gerwen
2015 World Grand Prix Champion – Robert Thornton
2014 Players Champion - (Gary Anderson)
2015 UK Open Champion – (Michael van Gerwen)
2015 European Champion
2015 Masters Champion – (Michael van Gerwen)
2014 World Youth Champion - Keegan Brown
2015 World Series of Darts Ranking List Leader (Phil Taylor)
2015 World Cup Champions – Adrian Lewis (& Phil Taylor)
2015 PDC World Championship Runner-Up - (Phil Taylor)
2014 Grand Slam of Darts Runner-Up - Dave Chisnall
2015 Premier League Runner-Up - (Michael van Gerwen)
2015 World Matchplay Runner-Up - James Wade
2015 World Grand Prix Runner-Up – (Michael van Gerwen)
2014 Players Championship Finals Runner-Up (Adrian Lewis)
2015 UK Open Runner-Up - Peter Wright
2015 European Championship Runner-Up
2015 Masters Runner-Up - Raymond van Barneveld
2014 World Youth Championship Runner-Up - Rowby-John Rodriguez
2015 World Series of Darts Ranking List Runner-Up (Adrian Lewis)
2015 World Cup Runners-Up (Gary Anderson & Peter Wright)
Should the list above produce 16 players in the order of events listed, no further players shall qualify automatically.
Should the list above produce fewer than 16 players, then additional places up to a total of 16 players shall be filled from the reserve list in the following order:
2015 PDC European Tour event winners (in ProTour Order of Merit position order at cut-off date)
(Michael van Gerwen), Michael Smith, (Robert Thornton).
2015 Players Championship event winners (in ProTour Order of Merit position at cut-off date - current order in brackets below)
(Gary Anderson), (James Wade), (Adrian Lewis), (Michael van Gerwen), (Peter Wright), (Keegan Brown), (Phil Taylor), Joe Murnan (5), (Dave Chisnall), Jelle Klaasen (2), Terry Jenkins (3), Ian White (1), Alan Norris (4).
If the automatic qualifiers list and reserve list as stated above produces less than 16 players, then additional places shall be awarded to the PDC Qualifier.
The remaining 16 places shall be filled with eight players from a PDC Qualifier (October 23, Ricoh Arena, Coventry) and eight players from the BDO system.
The four BDO invitees are:
2015 Lakeside World Champion - Scott Mitchell
2015 Lakeside World Championship Runner-Up - Martin Adams
2014 World Masters Champion – Martin Phillips
2015 World Trophy Champion - Geert De Vos
BDO UK Qualifiers: Larry Butler, Andy Fordham
In addition, the BDO European Qualifier will be held on Sunday October 18 at the NH Conference Centre Koningshof, Veldhoven, which will produce two players.
The Scot claimed his second major PDC title on Saturday when he overcame Michael van Gerwen 5-4 in a memorable World Grand Prix final in Dublin.
Reaching the final ensured that Thornton will return to Wolverhampton from November 7-15 for the 32-player SINGHA Beer Grand Slam of Darts - with the 48-year-old having been the runner-up in the event two years ago.
A total of 11 players have now qualified through the PDC's major tournaments, including reigning champion Phil Taylor, world number one van Gerwen and World Champion Gary Anderson.
In addition, reigning World Youth Champion Keegan Brown and World Cup of Darts winner Adrian Lewis are joined by finalists Dave Chisnall, James Wade, Peter Wright, Raymond van Barneveld and Rowby-John Rodriguez.
A final two places in the Grand Slam of Darts are available for the finalists of the Unibet European Championship, which will be held in Belgium from October 30-November 1.
Michael Smith is now guaranteed a place by virtue of his European Tour victories this year, with the winner of this weekend's final European Tour event in Sindelfingen also certain of a Grand Slam of Darts spot.
Any remaining places up to a total of 16 players would then be allocated to Players Championship event winners this year, based on their ProTour Order of Merit ranking at November 1, with Ian White, Jelle Klaasen, Terry Jenkins, Alan Norris and Joe Murnan all having claimed victories during 2015 and two tournaments remaining.
A further eight players will come through the PDC Qualifier on Friday October 23 in Coventry, while the final two BDO places will be decided at the BDO European Qualifier on Sunday October 18.
The BDO's UK Qualifier saw Andy Fordham and Larry Butler win through last week to join Scott Mitchell, Martin Phillips, Geert De Vos and Martin Adams in competing in Wolverhampton.
Tickets for the SINGHA Beer Grand Slam of Darts can be purchased from the Wolves Civic Box Office on 0870 320 7000 or online via www.wolvescivic.co.uk.
The draw for the SINGHA Beer Grand Slam of Darts is expected to be made in the evening of Monday November 2. Details will be announced on www.pdc.tv once confirmed.
SINGHA BEER GRAND SLAM OF DARTS
CURRENT QUALIFIERS
One-Year Invitations to be issued to a maximum of 16 players from the events below in the order of automatic qualifiers listed (players who have already qualified listed in brackets):
2015 PDC World Champion - Gary Anderson
2014 Grand Slam of Darts Champion - Phil Taylor
2015 Premier League Champion - (Gary Anderson)
2015 World Matchplay Champion - Michael van Gerwen
2015 World Grand Prix Champion – Robert Thornton
2014 Players Champion - (Gary Anderson)
2015 UK Open Champion – (Michael van Gerwen)
2015 European Champion
2015 Masters Champion – (Michael van Gerwen)
2014 World Youth Champion - Keegan Brown
2015 World Series of Darts Ranking List Leader (Phil Taylor)
2015 World Cup Champions – Adrian Lewis (& Phil Taylor)
2015 PDC World Championship Runner-Up - (Phil Taylor)
2014 Grand Slam of Darts Runner-Up - Dave Chisnall
2015 Premier League Runner-Up - (Michael van Gerwen)
2015 World Matchplay Runner-Up - James Wade
2015 World Grand Prix Runner-Up – (Michael van Gerwen)
2014 Players Championship Finals Runner-Up (Adrian Lewis)
2015 UK Open Runner-Up - Peter Wright
2015 European Championship Runner-Up
2015 Masters Runner-Up - Raymond van Barneveld
2014 World Youth Championship Runner-Up - Rowby-John Rodriguez
2015 World Series of Darts Ranking List Runner-Up (Adrian Lewis)
2015 World Cup Runners-Up (Gary Anderson & Peter Wright)
Should the list above produce 16 players in the order of events listed, no further players shall qualify automatically.
Should the list above produce fewer than 16 players, then additional places up to a total of 16 players shall be filled from the reserve list in the following order:
2015 PDC European Tour event winners (in ProTour Order of Merit position order at cut-off date)
(Michael van Gerwen), Michael Smith, (Robert Thornton).
2015 Players Championship event winners (in ProTour Order of Merit position at cut-off date - current order in brackets below)
(Gary Anderson), (James Wade), (Adrian Lewis), (Michael van Gerwen), (Peter Wright), (Keegan Brown), (Phil Taylor), Joe Murnan (5), (Dave Chisnall), Jelle Klaasen (2), Terry Jenkins (3), Ian White (1), Alan Norris (4).
If the automatic qualifiers list and reserve list as stated above produces less than 16 players, then additional places shall be awarded to the PDC Qualifier.
The remaining 16 places shall be filled with eight players from a PDC Qualifier (October 23, Ricoh Arena, Coventry) and eight players from the BDO system.
The four BDO invitees are:
2015 Lakeside World Champion - Scott Mitchell
2015 Lakeside World Championship Runner-Up - Martin Adams
2014 World Masters Champion – Martin Phillips
2015 World Trophy Champion - Geert De Vos
BDO UK Qualifiers: Larry Butler, Andy Fordham
In addition, the BDO European Qualifier will be held on Sunday October 18 at the NH Conference Centre Koningshof, Veldhoven, which will produce two players.