Grand Slam of Darts 2024 LIVE RESULTS: Luke Littler pulls off an epic comeback to seal a last-8 spot – updates

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Schedule reminder

Quarter-final action schedule.

Tonight:

Cameron Menzies v Mickey Mansell - 7.15pm

Martin Lukeman v Rob Cross - 9pm

Saturday:

Jermaine Wattimena v Luke Littler - 7.15pm

Gary Anderson v Glen van Veen - 9pm

Gian van Veen warns it will take 'something special' to stop him

Gian van Veen, ranked No30 in the world, has rocked the Grand Slam of Darts with an emphatic set of group stage victories averaging more than 100 before beating Ryan Joyce 10-6 in the last-16.

He faces Gary Anderson in the quarter-finals, but the 22-year-old believes it is the former world champion who should be fearful of his current form.

Van Veen said: "There was always going to be pressure on myself to continue that form, and I’m really happy with that performance.

"I think if I can maintain this level it’s going to take a special performance to stop me, but every player in this tournament is capable of doing that."

Littler hints at darts style change

Luke Littler has hinted that he could change his darts style after his stunning comeback win over Mike De Decker.

The darts sensation looked down and out against the Belgian ace as he faced exiting the Grand Slam of Darts at the Round of 16 stage.

Littler, 17, recovered from 4-8 and 7-9 down in order to complete a sensational turnaround.

He was able to pull off two 12-dart finishes in his run to make it to the final eight of the tournament.

After the match, Littler hinted that he could change his style to slow down at the oche.

He is no stranger to experimentation, having done so during his Premier League campaign.

Mansell and Menzies longest matches

Tonight's Grand Slam of Darts quarter-final showdown could be decided by a battle of stamina between Mickey Mansell and Cameron Menzies.

The pair are looking to book their spot in the final four of the Wolverhampton tournament and a £50,000 prize.

However, if they find themselves on equal footing the match could be decided by who can keep their form the longest.

Tonight's match is a best of 31 legs tournament, with Menzies playing his longest PDC match only in the last-16.

Mansell has the advantage in terms of long-game experience, but Menzies sits 16-places higher in the official rankings table (there is an eight-place difference in the live table)

'I took advantage', says Littler after De Decker crowd rant

Luke Littler has admitted he took full advantage of the crowd being on Mike De Decker's back during his 10-9 comeback win in the Grand Slam of Darts last-16.

Littler had fallen to an 8-4 deficit, but De Decker was affected by crowd jeers and unable to finish off the teen.

He later blasted the referee for not stopping the fans, though Littler confessed he used that opening to his advantage.

Littler said: "It’s up there with one of the best games I’ve been involved in. Obviously my favourite is the Premier League final, but that was some game, and to pick myself up from four legs down just goes to show what I can do.

"Mike played his part in a brilliant game, but I’m really happy to advance to the quarter-finals...

"I don’t know if I enjoyed that. I've got to feel for Mike. I didn't think I was in the game, but I know I can always switch that gear. I didn't think I could overturn the deficit. I just can't believe it.

"I got one back and then the crowd, obviously they were on his back even worse. I just took full advantage."

De Decker slams referee

Mike De Decker slammed referee Kirk Bevins for doing nothing to stop whistling fans.

The Belgian was clearly affected the the crowd trying to put him off as he looked set to KO Luke Littler from the Grand Slam.

De Decker was seen speaking to ref Bevins at the break and told Viaplay after the match: “I asked Kirk Bevins to address the crowd, but he wouldn’t even do that. Where is he even there then?”

When asked if he would file a complaint to the PDC, he replied: “Filing a complaint? That won’t do anything.

"The PDC will just say they will look into it, and then that’s it. It’s sad, but that’s how it works.”

Bevins said on X: “The crowd just get worse when referees address the crowd."

Menzies 'grateful' to be in Grand Slam quarter-final

Cameron Menzies has admitted he is grateful to be in the Grand Slam of Darts quarter-finals, but is now excited to see how he can go.

Menzies, who also works as a plumber, will be taking on Mickey Mansell later today after beating James Wade on Thursday.

He said: "This has been a rollercoaster. I left here after Beau [Greaves] battered me and I was fearing the worst.

“I was going home thinking about getting my tools for work. I was raging at myself for how badly I played, and now I’ve achieved something I’ve never done before.

“I didn’t think I deserved to be here, but I’m very grateful to be where I am, and it just shows you that darts is such an unpredictable sport...

“James wasn’t at his best. It was a slugfest in my opinion, but I was buzzing to get over the line.

"That is normally a game I would have faltered in, but that confidence of finally doing stuff on the ProTour is maybe starting to pay off.

“I feel like I’ve got more in me. I just need to start doing it on the big stage.

“I’m ecstatic to be in the quarter-finals. I have played very well to be in the position that I’m in, but it’s about winning one game at a time.

“It’s about focusing on my technique and my beliefs, and seeing where that takes me."

'Brilliant' De Decker helps pupils in Bullseye club

Mike De Decker and Jermaine Wattimena were the latest stars to join the award-winning Bullseye Maths session scheme as they headed to a school in Wolverhampton.

On Wednesday, the pair greeted a group from Woden Primary School during a visit to WV Active Aldersley to experience a special Bullseye Maths session during the Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts.

Local boxing star Conah Walker was also seen at the session.

Co-ordinator, Gary Horsley, said: "Since we launched Bullseye Maths in 2022 we've enjoyed many fun sessions and this was a great afternoon spent with Woden Primary School.

"Mike and Jermaine were brilliant with the pupils and shared their experiences with maths, and it was a bonus to have a local sports star like Conah join us too."

De Decker will be 'fuming' over Littler defeat

Gary Anderson believes Mike de Decker will be fuming after his comeback defeat against Luke Littler.

De Decker was one round from winning the last-16 match against the Warrington teen, but failed to finish the game off before his rival made a comeback to win the game 10-9.

Reacting to the defeat, Anderson told : "Mikey should've won that. I think Luke will tell you the same.

"He'll be absolutely fuming tonight and tomorrow and the next all the way up to Minehead and he will be wanting to make it right.

"Talk about Littler, but Mike de Decker that boy's good."

Anderson says he and Bunting played 'scrappy' darts

Gary Anderson believes Stephen Bunting played "scrappy" darts as he won 10-6 in their Grand Slam of Darts showdown.

The 53-year-old stormed into an 8-2 lead before Bunting threatened to mount a comeback, however, Anderson was ultimately able to close off the escape route and win.

Speaking to , he said: "I thought it was scrappy from me and Stephen. He missed a lot of darts in the first 10 legs. I think it's why it ended up 8-2, it was one of these games.

"But I want the floor tournaments, that's what I want. First game was great that's how I've been playing and it's gone drastically down hill since.

"Every game is always different so you've just got to try. I've been doing this for 30 years, so I know what it's like to miss doubles.

"I've lost a lot of tournaments missing doubles. My very first night I took out 121, I was settled.

"Tonight no I knew my doubles weren't going well and Stephen's were just as bad."

Anderson jokes 'I played better when I couldn't see' after Specsavers trip

Gary Anderson was the talk of the town after it was revealed how he needed to take a trip to Specsavers.

SunSport exclusively revealed how the two-time champion had to get his glasses changed because he could not see the board properly.

Anderson managed to defeat Stephen Bunting following the trip, but reckons his restored vision may have actually hindered his game.

He told : "I did [go to Specsavers] and I could see the actual treble great. It's made it all the worse.

"I think I played better when I couldn't see it. This morning, quick tweak, and they're bang on now. No blurred vision or anything like that."

The Sun Darts Championships Preview Night

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Grand Slam of Darts prize money

There is a grand total of £650,000 being distributed at this year's Grand Slam of Darts

The winner will receive £150,000 of that, while the runner-up is set to pocket a cool £70,000 for his troubles.

There is also a reward for the group winners and nine-dart finishes.

• Winner: £150,000
• Runner-up: £70,000
• Semi-finalists x2: £50,000
• Quarter-finalists x4: £25,000
• Last-16 x8: £12,250
• Third in group x8: £8,000
• Fourth in group x8: £5,000
• Group winner bonus x8: £3,500
• Nine dart finish: £10,000

'It's crazy' says Littler in response to fans song

Luke Littler admitted "it's a crazy feeling" when fans chant a song which used to be reserved for darts icon Phil Taylor.

The Nuke, 17, came from 8-4 down to beat Mike De Decker 10-9 in a thrilling clash at the Grand Slam of Darts on Thursday night.

The crowd in Wolverhampton were captivated throughout as the teenager superstar battled back to clinch his spot in the quarter-finals.

Throughout the contest the jubilant fans could be heard singing "There's only one Luke Littler," to the tune of "Winter Wonderland".

It is a chant that for years was sung to the legendary Taylor - a 16-time world champion who dominated the sport for more than a decade.

And Littler graciously spoke after about the darts world re-homing the song for him.

'We bullied him'

Seven-time Grand Slam of Darts star Vincent van der Voort, who is a good friend to three-time winner Michael van Gerwen, has revealed how the pair "bullied" referee George Noble during a game of snooker.

Speaking on podcast Darts Draait Door, Van der Voort explained how him and Van Gerwen had gone out to a snooker hall in Wolverhampton, before getting a game against Noble.

He said: "Michael and I often went snooker during the tournament. In one of those snooker halls. Well, those tend to look really nice in the Netherlands.

"But where we were in Wolverhampton was really a sight to behold. Really such a junkie den. There was a friend of mine, who could still play reasonably, but Michael and I really can't do anything."

On playing Noble, he added: "He can play really well, had even brought his own cue. (Laughing)We bullied him so much, he just threw his cue away, that's how angry he was.

"We made comments all the time, so he didn't hit a ball anymore. He also lost to us. Then he just walked away. Otherwise he was bad and couldn't do anything."

However, he finished the story by saying Noble was a "great guy" whom he has "experienced great things" with.

Bracket

Littler and Anderson may have avoided each other in the quarters but they will meet in the semis should they both win their next match.

On the other side of the draw, 2018 world champion will know the pressure is on him to reach the final - he is by far the most decorated player remaining.

What a night of action

Just in case you missed it, we had a thrilling night of darts in Wolverhampton last night.

Two of the matches went to a final leg while Gian van Veen continued his immense form in a dominant 10-2 win over Ryan Joyce.

Big guns Luke Littler and Gary Anderson made it into the quarters and will have been glad to avoid each other at this stage.

Full results here:

• Jermaine Wattimena 10-9 Dimitri van den Bergh
• Gian van Veen 10-2 Ryan Joyce
• Luke Littler 10-9 Mike de Decker
• Gary Anderson 10-6 Stephen Bunting

Tonight's last-eight action

After last night's four thrilling clashes, we're into the quarter-finals now.

Rob Cross, one of the top performers in Wolverhampton so far, faces Martin Lukeman.

And Cameron Menzies takes on Mickey Mansell in another intriguing clash.

Quarter-Finals (from 7pm):
Cameron Menzies v Mickey Mansell
Martin Lukeman v Rob Cross

This is up there with my Prem glory!

Luke Littler claims he’s had few better feelings in darts than his 10-9 late-escape win against Mike De Decker.

The Warrington ace, 17, said: “I think it’s in line with the best.

“Obviously my favourite is the Premier League final!

“But it was one hell of a game to pick myself up and get over the line from four legs down and just goes to show what I can do.”

Luke admits sheer relief

Luke Littler revealed his relief at his 10-9 comeback win over Mike De Decker – and admitted he thought he was heading out.

The Nuke recovered from 4-8 and 7-9 down to triumph with back-to-back 12-darters.

He said: “Obviously I’m very happy to get over the line.

“I’d thought it was over, but I got one or two legs back and thought to myself, ‘let’s try to kick on now’.

“We got to 9-7 and I just said to myself, ‘Do your best’.

“Early in I felt like I had to throw 10 or 11 darts to even get a leg.

“I feel sorry for him in a way but I’m also happy to get over the line and advance to the quarter-finals.”

'I thought I was out'

Jermaine Wattimena almost can't believe he beat Dimitri Van den Bergh 10-9 after surviving EIGHT match darts.

Wattimena led 7-5 after trailing 4-0 but was up against it once more - before prevailing with his own fifth match dart.

The Dutchman, who next faces Luke Littler, said: "I thought it was all over. It was incredible

“This was a really difficult game, but a win is a win, and I’m looking forward to the quarter-finals."

You need to be 'special' to beat me

Gian van Veen believes only a "special performance" can beat his this week - if he keeps up his current form.

The Dutchman derailed Ryan Joyce 10-2 as his wondrous ways at Wolverhampton went on.

Having averaged a tournament record of 108.89 in the group stage, he clocked 106.45 last night.

That included winning seven legs in a row and landing ten of his 17 shots at double.

Van Veen said: “There was always going to be pressure on myself to continue that form, and I’m really happy with that performance.

“I think if I can maintain this level I think it’s going to take a special performance to stop me, but every player in this tournament is capable of doing that.

“Next up it’s best of 31 [legs]. I have never played that before so we will see how that goes, but if I continue playing like this, I’m definitely in with a chance this week.”

Anderson admits win was a 'struggle'

Gary Anderson rated his 10-6 win over Stephen Bunting as "scrappy" and a "struggle".

Anderson notched four 100-plus finishes and won six legs in a row to lead 8-2 before Bunting rallied.

But the Scot did enough to earn a quarter-final with Gian van Veen - ending with a 103 checkout.

Anderson said: "The game felt scrappy. It was a struggle.

"Stephen missed a lot of doubles at the start of the game, but I managed to pinch it at the end.

"I think I needed that 138 [checkout] to give me a bit of a boost, but I'm over the moon to be through."

What a night!

We've had two nailbiting matches go all the way.

And both ended with comeback wins - for Jermaine Wattimena and Luke Littler.

Those two will now meet in the quarter-finals.

Gian van Veen stormed home against Ryan Joyce.

And Gary Anderson held off a late Stephen Bunting revival to also make the last eight.