Brilliant Buntz stuns Wright on Mr Vegas Grand Slam debut

Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts

Stowe Buntz caused a huge upset on the opening day of the 2023 Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts, producing a stunning display to dispatch world number two Peter Wright on his televised bow in Wolverhampton.

Where to watch the 2023 Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts

Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts

Check out where you can watch the 2023 Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts.

Sherrock 'excited' for Grand Slam of Darts challenge

Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts

Fallon Sherrock is riding the crest of a wave ahead of her Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts return, less than a fortnight after being awarded her MBE by the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle.

2023 Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts preview

Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts

The 2023 Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts gets underway at Wolverhampton's WV Active Aldersley on Saturday, as Michael Smith begins his defence of the Eric Bristow Trophy.

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Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts

The PDC are delighted to welcome Pallet-Track as a partner of the 2023 Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts.

Determined Dobey eyeing more silverware ahead of Wolverhampton return

Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts

Chris Dobey believes he’s on the cusp of landing another major piece of silverware as he prepares to return to the scene of his televised breakthrough at the Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts

Greaves & Bunting set for Selco Wolverhampton appearance on November 13

Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts

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Smith: 'I owe everything to my Grand Slam success'

Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts

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Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts

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2023 Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts draw confirmed

Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts

Michael Smith will take on James Wade, Krzysztof Ratajski and Nathan Girvan at the 2023 Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts, while Michael van Gerwen and Fallon Sherrock also collide, with the group stage draw now confirmed.

The 2023 Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts took place from November 11-19 at WV Active Aldersley, Wolverhampton.

2023 Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts
Saturday November 11
Afternoon Session

Group Stage x8 – Groups B-D-F-H First Matches
Damon Heta 5-4 Ricardo Pietreczko (H)
Andrew Gilding 5-3 Brendan Dolan (F)
Ryan Searle 5-4 Gian van Veen (D)
Josh Rock 5-2 Chris Dobey (B)
Danny Noppert 5-3 Haruki Muramatsu (F)
Nathan Aspinall 5-4 Beau Greaves (H)
Jonny Clayton 5-2 Berry van Peer (B)
Gerwyn Price 5-1 Nathan Rafferty (D)

Evening Session
Group Stage x8 – Groups A-C-E-G First Matches
Krzysztof Ratajski 5-4 James Wade (A)
Rob Cross 5-4 Martijn Kleermaker (G)
Stephen Bunting 5-4 Dave Chisnall (E)
Gary Anderson 5-4 Dirk van Duijvenbode (C)
Luke Humphries 5-2 Steve Lennon (C)
Stowe Buntz 5-1 Peter Wright (E)
Michael van Gerwen 5-1 Fallon Sherrock (G)
Michael Smith 5-2 Nathan Girvan (A)

Sunday November 12
Afternoon Session

Group Stage x8 – Groups B-D-F-H Second Matches
Nathan Rafferty 5-2 Gian van Veen (D)
Brendan Dolan 5-2 Haruki Muramatsu (F)
Chris Dobey 5-4 Berry van Peer (B)
Danny Noppert 5-3 Andrew Gilding (F)
Gerwyn Price 5-0 Ryan Searle (D)
Beau Greaves 5-1 Ricardo Pietreczko (H)
Nathan Aspinall 5-2 Damon Heta (H)
Josh Rock 5-1 Jonny Clayton (B)

Evening Session
Group Stage x8 – Groups A-C-E-G Second Matches
Dirk van Duijvenbode 5-2 Steve Lennon (C)
James Wade 5-2 Nathan Girvan (A)
Peter Wright 5-4 Dave Chisnall (E)
Fallon Sherrock 5-4 Martijn Kleermaker (G)
Stowe Buntz 5-3 Stephen Bunting (E)
Michael van Gerwen 5-4 Rob Cross (G)
Michael Smith 5-4 Krzysztof Ratajski (A)
Luke Humphries 5-1 Gary Anderson (C)

Monday November 13 (1900 GMT)
Group Stage x8 – Groups A-D Final Matches

Gerwyn Price 5-1 Gian van Veen (D)
Josh Rock 5-1 Berry van Peer (B)
Gary Anderson 5-1 Steve Lennon (C)
Luke Humphries 5-1 Dirk van Duijvenbode (C)
Ryan Searle 5-3 Nathan Rafferty (D)
Krzysztof Ratajski 5-1 Nathan Girvan (A)
James Wade 5-1 Michael Smith (A)
Chris Dobey 5-3 Jonny Clayton (B)

Groups A-D

Tuesday November 14
Group Stage x8 – Groups E-H Final Matches

Dave Chisnall 5-4 Stowe Buntz (E)
Ricardo Pietreczko 5-4 Nathan Aspinall (H)
Michael van Gerwen 5-4 Martijn Kleermaker (G)
Andrew Gilding 5-1 Haruki Muramatsu (F)
Danny Noppert 5-4 Brendan Dolan (F)
Stephen Bunting 5-3 Peter Wright (E)
Rob Cross 5-2 Fallon Sherrock (G)
Damon Heta 5-4 Beau Greaves (H)

Groups E-H

Wednesday November 15
Second Round x4

Josh Rock 10-5 Krzysztof Ratajski
James Wade 10-8 Chris Dobey
Gary Anderson 10-6 Gerwyn Price
Luke Humphries 10-7 Ryan Searle

Thursday November 16
Second Round x4

Stowe Buntz 10-5 Andrew Gilding
Stephen Bunting 10-4 Danny Noppert
Damon Heta 10-7 Michael van Gerwen
Rob Cross 10-8 Nathan Aspinall

Friday November 17 (1900-2300 GMT)
Quarter-Finals x2

James Wade 16-15 Josh Rock
Luke Humphries 16-14 Gary Anderson

Saturday November 18 (1900-2300 GMT)
Quarter-Finals x2

Stephen Bunting 16-8 Stowe Buntz
Rob Cross 16-6 Damon Heta

Sunday November 19 
Afternoon Session (1300-1700 GMT)

Semi-Finals
Luke Humphries 16-10 James Wade
Rob Cross 16-13 Stephen Bunting

Evening Session (1900-2100 GMT)
Final
Luke Humphries 16-8 Rob Cross

Format
Group Stage - Best of Nine legs
Second Round - Best of 19 legs
Quarter-Finals - Best of 31 legs
Semi-Finals - Best of 31 legs
Final - Best of 31 legs

Prize Fund
Winner £150,000
Runner-Up £70,000
Semi-Finalists £50,000
Quarter-Finalists £25,000
Second Round Losers £12,250
Third in Group £8,000
Fourth in Group £5,000
Group Winner Bonus £3,500
Total £650,000

Sensational Luke Humphries scooped his second televised title in as many months with a brilliant Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts triumph in Wolverhampton on Sunday, powering past Rob Cross 16-8 in the final.

Humphries had won his maiden PDC Premier ranking title at October's World Grand Prix, and claimed the Eric Bristow Trophy as Grand Slam champion to crown a wonderful week at WV Active Aldersley.

The 28-year-old had raced through the Group Stage with three wins for the loss of just four legs, before defeating Ryan Searle and Gary Anderson with huge ton-plus averages to reach the semi-finals.

He began Sunday's decisive final day in Wolverhampton by defeating James Wade 16-10 in the last four, prevailing despite 36 missed darts at a double as he overturned an early 5-3 deficit.

Humphries then dominated the final against Cross, who was a 16-13 semi-final winner against Stephen Bunting to reach the Grand Slam decider for the first time.

However, Humphries produced another unstoppable display to claim the £150,000 top prize - plus a £3,500 group winner bonus - defying an early 170 checkout from Cross to pull away for a glorious triumph.

"To pick up two TV titles is fantastic - I don't believe it," smiled Humphries, who averaged 104.69, landed eight 180s and finished almost 60% of his darts at a double.

"To pick up another major title after winning my first one not so long ago is a dream come true. It's something I didn't imagine so I'm really proud.

"It feels just as good - obviously nothing can ever beat the first one but the second one does feel as good, especially the way I've played again there.

"It was a long, gruelling slog today but I think we put on a good show. It was a really tough game but I think we both played really well.

"I had to rely on that European Tour experience that I've had over the last couple of years where I seem to play my best stuff in semi-finals and finals.

"It was a contrast from the semi-final to the final, I played much, much better and I played pretty much how I did throughout the tournament.

"Rob was absolutely fantastic, he didn't give me a leg and I had to work for every leg. He's another great of our generation, a World Champion and I respect him a lot.

"This week I've beaten some great, great players who I've looked up to over the years - Gary, James and Rob. I'm very blessed and happy to be a two-time major champion."

Humphries took the final's opening two legs as he followed a 14-darter with a 12-dart leg, only for Cross to fire in a tremendous 170 checkout to get himself off the mark.

The Hastings ace levelled in leg four, but Humphries then pulled clear in a relentless five-leg burst - punishing three misses from Cross in leg six and landing a 144 checkout to move 7-2 up.

Two missed doubles in leg ten allowed Cross to respond, but Humphries followed legs of 14 and 13 darts with double ten to open up a 10-3 cushion.

A 90 finish for another 12-darter from Cross was bettered by an 11-dart leg as Humphries restored a seven-leg gap, before he followed up a 104 checkout with a 13-dart leg to move three legs away from glory.

Cross fired in his fifth leg of the game with an 11-darter, and though Humphries' charge continued with double 18 for a 13-darter, double eight and an 11-dart break of throw kept the 2018 World Champion in the hunt at 14-7.

Another 12-darter moved Humphries to the brink of the title, and though Cross punished a missed bullseye with double nine, the reprieve was only temporary as a 91 checkout sealed a stunning Grand Slam success.

"The best man won on the night, no doubt about it - he was fantastic," said Cross, who claimed £70,000 as runner-up before setting his sights on next weekend's Cazoo Players Championship Finals.

"I gave it my best but I lost to the better man - he played great. The crowds have been amazing and so respectful, and I've really enjoyed going up there and trying to produce my best stuff in front of them.

"Sometimes you don't always get what you want in life, and sometimes you have to take it on the chin. It's a little bit hurtful to lose but he was excellent tonight.

"I've had a good week and I'll come back. I'm playing great at the minute and I'm in a really good place. I'll regroup and go into next week with the ambitions to win that."

Cross had followed up his 16-6 quarter-final demolition of Damon Heta with a semi-final success against Bunting, pulling clear from seven-all to win nine of the final 15 legs.

He also averaged over 103 for the second time in the final, but was denied the title by Humphries' majestic display.

Drawboard