GRAND DESIGNS
Grand Slam of Darts draw simulated as Luke Littler is handed group of death for tournament debut
The penultimate major tournament of 2024 is already shaping up to be a belter
LUKE LITTLER eagerly awaits the draw for the Grand Slam of Darts knowing he could face a nightmare group of death.
The penultimate major tournament of 2024 kicks off on Saturday, with a stacked 32-strong field fighting for a share of the £650,000 prize pot as the rarely-seen 'nine-dart shootout' returns.
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The draw for the Wolverhampton showpiece takes place TODAY - with Littler facing the very real possibility of a group-stage exit.
The 17-year-old Brit is good for only the second pot, meaning he will be drawn against one of the best eight players in darts regardless.
Luke Humphries, Littler's conqueror from his breakout World Championship, is the No1 seed and sits in Group A.
Michael Smith, the 2022 champion, goes straight into Group E as the second seed - with Michael van Gerwen, Danny Noppert, Dimitri van den Bergh, Rob Cross, Dave Chisnall and Stephen Bunting the other seeds.
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Littler cannot be drawn against any of Peter Wright, Josh Rock, James Wade, Gary Anderson, Ross Smith, Martin Schindler or Mike de Decker.
However, he could face some truly tasty group ties based on SunSport's simulated draw.
In a horror scenario, the Warrington teenager was picked out of the hat and straight into Group A, going toe-to-toe with old foe Humphries.
Ritchie Edhouse was drawn from Pot 3 to join the Lukes in Group A, with Wessel Nijman coming from Pot 4.
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And that could prove to be the ultimate group of death.
Littler and Humphries rivalry is in its infancy having first met in the World Championship final in January.
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However, the pair have already faced off a staggering 13 times - with Littler actually leading 8-5 in the head-to-head.
However, the top seed always brings his A game for the biggest tournaments and would go into the match against Littler as favourite, regardless.
In Edhouse, Littler would be strong favourite against the world No39.
However, late last month the 150/1 outsider crushed Jermaine Wattimena 11-3 to win his first major title in Dortmund.
‘Madhouse’, 41, rattled off NINE legs in succession, three ton-plus finishes and wrapped it up in style with two double 18s.
In such great form, a win for Littler would certainly not be a given.
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And, coming out of Pot 4, Littler would be hoping for a bit of relief.
Yet, Nijman has beaten the Brit ace SIX TIMES out of their eight head-to-head matches.
The pair have faced off twice on the pro circuit, with each oche ace winning one apiece.
To qualify for the knockout stages, Littler must finish in the top two places in his group.
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And while he and Humphries are the likely pair to make it through to the last 16, there will be no certainties.
The tournament in the Midlands runs from November 9, with the final taking place on November 17 - with the winner earning a whopping £150,000.
Inside Littler's massive rise
LUKE LITTLER has taken the darts world by storm since exploding onto the scene at the PDC World Championship at the beginning of the year.
The Nuke reached the final on his Ally Pally debut at just 16 years of age - smashing records along the way.
He has then gone on to win a host of PDC events and the Premier League title - which he claimed at the O2 Arena by beating world champion Luke Humphries in May.
He also finished his first season in the World Series as the No1 ranked player.
He has joined Jude Bellingham on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list.
And the teenage titan even had to snub an invite from the WWE.
The Sun exclusively revealed that Littler is plotting to create a fitness empire.
He is also cashing in away from the Oche thanks to an Instagram side hustle.
And he's even the face of a brand new cereal.
But he is newly single after splitting from girlfriend Eloise Milburn following a 10-month relationship.
Check out all of our latest Luke Littler stories.
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