Grand Slam of Darts 2024 LIVE RESULTS: Luke Littler pulls off an epic comeback to seal a last-8 spot – updates
LUKE LITTLER has booked his spot in the Grand Slam of Darts quarter-finals after seeing off Mike de Decker in an epic last-16 tie.
The Nuke survived a match dart to knock out the Belgian in Wolverhampton.
Heavy hitters Michael van Gerwen, Michael Smith and Luke Humphries all suffered early exits.
- Start time: From 7pm GMT
- TV channel: Sky Sports Main
- Live stream: NOW/Sky Sports app
- Full schedule/results and prize money
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Wattimena 7-5 Dimitri Van den Bergh
Five in a row from Wattimena, this time on throw.
Wattimena 6-5 Dimitri Van den Bergh
Wattimena got down to an 82 finish with Van den Bergh still stuck on 142.
But Wattimena was left needing double top after his next visit to the oche.
Poor finishing from both players left this leg in the balance - but Wattimena eventually took out double 5.
WE'RE LEVEL! Wattimena 5-5 Dimitri Van den Bergh
Wattimena kept his nerve on throw, with both men on a finish, to make it three legs in a row.
So they go into the interval all square.
Jermaine Wattimena 4-5 Dimitri Van den Bergh
Dutch ace Wattimena clawed this leg against throw - a great fightback from 5-2 down.
And he's done it with back-to-back bull finishes!
Jermaine Wattimena 3-5 Dimitri Van den Bergh
Wattimena's dodgy finishing nearly cost him but he held on throw.
Jermaine Wattimena 2-5 Dimitri Van den Bergh
Wattimena has settled down somewhat.
But he's got a tough task to turn this match around.
Jermaine Wattimena 1-4 Dimitri Van den Bergh
Wattimena broke the Belgian to give himself hope.
They're off for a mini-break now
Jermaine Wattimena 0-4 Dimitri Van den Bergh
It's all too easy for Van den Bergh so far.
And he's on throw as he bids to win five in a row.
Jermaine Wattimena 0-3 Dimitri Van den Bergh
Wattimena got to a finish first via a 140 but wasted his next visit to the oche.
Then he only got down to 40 from 100 and VDB returned to take out the double he needed
Jermaine Wattimena 0-2 Dimitri Van den Bergh
Wattimena lost the leg on throw but it's been tight so far.
Jermaine Wattimena 0-1 Dimitri Van den Bergh
Van den Bergh got down to a finish with Wattimena way out.
He failed to check out on 50 but did the trick next time at the oche.
Jermaine Wattimena 0-0 Dimitri Van den Bergh
Wattimena is throwing first.
What's at stake
The total prize pot for the Grand Slam of Darts 2024 is a whopping £650,000.
And 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 for a nine-dart finish.
- 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
Ready for action
Remember, it's the first to 10 legs in each match.
The first contest is due to start in about 10 minutes.
Running order:
Jermaine Wattimena v Dimitri Van den Bergh
Gian van Veen v Ryan Joyce
Luke Littler v Mike De Decker
Gary Anderson v Stephen BuntingHow the bookies rate tonight's action
We've four more intriguing matches this evening - and only one of them should be straightforward.
That at least appears to be the verdict of the bookmakers.
Jermaine Wattimena is a lukewarm 4/6 favourite against 26/19 Dimitri van den Bergh in tonight's first match.
Gian van Veen is a slightly stronger tip at 4/7 to defeat Ryan Joyce, whose victory odds are 13/8.
Then comes the sole clash where the bookies seem sure who'll win.
Not surprisingly it's Warrington whizkid Luke Littler - 1/3 on to overcome Mike De Decker.
The Belgian is 14/5 - incredibly, really, for such an in-form player, but it shows the quality of the Nuke's current streak.
Last up is what could be the most intriguing match-up.
Gary Anderson is the narrow outsider at 13/18 against long-time rival Stephen Bunting at 11/8.
We've never had it so exciting!
Wayne Mardle reckons darts has rarely been more thrilling.
And ahead of tonight's four clashes, the Sky Sports pundit explained why.
The 2001 World Championship semi-finalist said: "The sport has changed within the last year.
"We've had outsiders winning the last couple of events, with De Decker winning the Grand Prix and Ritchie Edhouse winning European Championship.
"There are so many players now who were outside the top 32 who are now playing beautifully.
Those inside the top 10 are not playing well. It's a world-class top 10, but unfortunately, some of them are not playing well.
"Michael van Gerwen, Michael Smith, Peter Wright, who has really dropped out. Gerwyn Price, Jonny Clayton and Nathan Aspinall are not here [at the Grand Slam of Darts], and there are others who are not at the top of their game.
"It's just one of those periods, one of those spells, one of those phases where the bottom is so near the top.
"It makes it so unpredictable. I love unpredictable sport. It makes us [pundits] look like idiots, but the bottom line is it's so watchable. "
Electric Watt hopes to Dim rival
Man-in-form Jermaine Wattimena faces UK Open champion Dimitri Van den Bergh in tonight's opener.
Dutchman Wattimena notched a 160 checkout in his earlier victory over Mike De Decker in the Grand Slam of Darts. the quarter-finals.
But he meets in Belgian in Van den Bergh who's also impressed of late.
Nonetheless, Wattimena is the warm favourite with bookies.
Bunting playing 'best darts of my life'
Stephen Bunting reckons surviving the "group of death" confirms he's playing the "best darts of my life".
Now he faces long-time rival Gary Anderson tonight.
Bunting said: “It will be one hell of a game against Gary. It should be a cracker,
“I believe in my own ability, I believe in how well I’m playing, and that makes me dangerous.
“My form is really good, so I’m looking forward to pitting my wits against the best of the best, and listen, I’m still in, so I can win!
“I think there’s more to come. I still don’t think I’m 100% at it. It’s down to me to keep on doing what I’m doing."
Reminder of what's coming up tonight
Action is due to start not long after 7pm - and it should be a cracking night of darts.
Luke Litter will be on the oche sometime after 9pm.
Then we conclude with a fascinating clash between Gary Anderson and Stephen Bunting.
Schedule:
Jermaine Wattimena v Dimitri Van den Bergh
Gian van Veen v Ryan Joyce
Luke Littler v Mike De Decker
Gary Anderson v Stephen Bunting'I've played very well'
More from Mansell who was chuffed with his win over Ross Smith.
He said: "I’m ecstatic to be through.
"The field I’ve came through so far, it’s a confidence boost that I’m not here by luck and I’ve played very well to be in the position that I am."
"The only difference (on the big stage) is I’ve only got one or two opportunities between Players Championship, UK Opens or World Championships, they are breaks from maybe two or three days in a row.
";The three days in a row playing on the stage is a big advantage and winning in the group I was in and coming out of it, it gave me a lot of confidence.
"I had to put things into perspective. The best player in the world and the world number one (Luke Humphries) was in that group so to get beaten by him on Monday wasn’t a disappointment.
"I was glad of the day off to have a mental switch-off."
Mansell and Wade beef
Mickey Mansell is another surprise name into the last eight after an impressive 10-7 win over Ross Smith
In his post-match interview, Mansell's name was clearly expecting to play James Wade - who was later beaten by Cameron Menzies in a 10-9 thriller.
Mansell had beaten Wade in the group stage with the Northern Irishman clearly taking exception to post-match comments.
Wade had complained about Mansell's slow walking to and from the oche and forgot his name - although whether that was a disrespectful dig or a genuine blank moment is not clear.
Mansell said: "[Wade] couldn't remember my name three days ago so he'll probably not remember me beating him..."
He had promised to give him "more of it" but Menzies ended any hopes of the spiky grudge match with a brilliant win.
'She's a trooper'
Lukeman's wife Mel has also been ill in the last year and continues to battle illness.
Lukeman fought back tears during the World Championships after revealing Mel had been given the "thumbs up" - but on Wednesday night said she is not totally out of the woods yet.
"It's not over yet, my wife has still got to go through a couple of things but it's good," said Lukeman.
"The main stuff's gone, it's all prevention. She's a trooper, I'm a trooper. We're all fighters.
"We want a nice little house in Portugal in 5-10 years to retire, I ain't doing this forever I tell you that. I ain't no Gary Anderson or MVG."
More from Lukeman
He added: "I still feel I can play better. I've not hit a 100 average, it's crazy. I beat whoever's in front of me, if I'm behind I'll bulldog it.
"If not I'll just try to get the job done.
"I can't have more preparation, just win. I've had loads of Europeans. Loads of other competitions, it's got to be done in the next three. Hopefully this one and the next one but I'll take this one."
'I want that picture'
Martin Lukeman is the man standing in Rob Cross' way and he is desperate to win this tournament.
Lukeman has been in sparkling form in Wolverhampton, winning all three group games - including a win over Cross that will give him huge confidence going into their quarter-final clash.
"I'm feeling good, said Crash.
"My second TV Quarter-Final this year, UK Open and now this. I want to go one more or maybe three.
"I want that picture with my wife on the stage. I don't care about the money. I want that picture saying we're winners.
"A lot goes into darts, the wives in the background they do a lot of work.
"I want that picture."
'It's down to me to be different'
As the field narrows and big names continue to tumble, Cross is squarely in the frame for that £150,000 top prize.
Luke Littler remains the favourite with the bookies, but Cross is trailing him, narrowly ahead of Gary Anderson and well in front of the trailing pack.
"I think it’s fair to say there’s a lot of the big players who haven’t really performed," said the 2018 world champion.
"If I had picked three games tonight, I would have looked at them going the other way.
"It's testament to the boys, they're working hard and playing hard and that's where you end up.
"It’s down to me to be different. It's down to me to go out to perform."
