Ever since the first time it was held in 2007, the Grand Slam of Darts (or the Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts as we are encouraged to call it), has been one of the highlights of the darts calendar.
An invitation-only event, with the best players in the sport doing battle over nine days in an effort to win the coveted Eric Bristow Trophy. What more could you want?
We wanted to take a trip down memory lane and relive some of the greatest moments in the history of the Grand Slam of Darts.
Scott Waites becomes the first BDO Grand Slam of Darts Champion - 2010
The 2010 final was remarkable for a couple of reasons. First of all, a bit of background. The Grand Slam of darts was originally created to bring together players from the two major darts organisations – the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) and the, now defunct, British Darts Organisation (BDO). Before 2010, no BDO player had ever won the tournament. In fact, nobody had won the tournament other than Phil Taylor!
Taylor had beaten BDO player Scott Waites in the 2009 final, however in 2010 Taylor suffered a shock defeat in the quarter finals to Steve Beaton. Waites made light work of Beaton in the semi finals to set up a final against James Wade of the PDC.
Things didn’t start well for Waites, who found himself 8-0 down, only to complete one of the most miraculous comebacks in darts history, with an incredible 16-12 victory. The trophy, for the first and only time, belonged to the BDO. This was also the last Grand Slam of Darts to be broadcast on ITV sport, before the move to Sky Sports.
Taylor showing his Power - 2009
As mentioned above, Phil Taylor took the Grand Slam of Darts title in 2009, but it was the way he did it that was so memorable. This was a player at the peak of his powers. Having won his first two games of the group stage 5-0, he had already qualified for the knockouts by the time he lost to Vincent van der Voot in the final game before the knockouts – and that’s where he really found his stride.
Taylor was in imperious form as he swept aside Colin Lloyd (second round), Tony O’Shea (quarter finals), Raymond van Barneveld (semi finals) and Scott Waites (final) – and only lost 19 legs in the process. An aggregate score of 58-16 against some of the best players in the world.
Van Gerwen takes down the Champ - 2015
The changing of the guard in any sport is always a momentous event, and darts had one of these moments in 2015. Phil Taylor had won 6 of the first 8 Grand Slam of Darts titles, emphasising his dominance in the sport. But in 2015 he finally met his match in Michael van Gerwen.
Both players had breezed into the knockout stages, and van Gerwen eased his way into the final, while Taylor had to struggle past Raymond van Barneveld in the semis – but he made it to set up the final everyone wanted to see. And it was a humdinger, with van Gerwen eventually taking the title 16-13.
Gerwyn Price & Gary Anderson get heated - 2018
One of the most controversial matches in Grand Slam of Darts history now, when Gerwyn Price and Gary Anderson met in the final of the 2018 tournament. The entire match saw the two players getting more and more agitated, as tempers threatened to boil over.
The two squared up to each other in the 15th and 28th legs, as Price’s perceived slow play pushed Anderson to his limits. It’s the type of thing you just don’t see in major finals. Price was fined £21,500 and given a 3 match ban (he had been in trouble for his behaviour in the quarter finals as well), and Anderson was given a formal warning.
Humphries makes his mark - 2023
The Aldersley Leisure Village in Wolverhampton hosted the 2023 Grand Slam of Darts, and it saw Luke Humphries win just his second ever televised title, as he defeated Rob Cross 16-8 in the final.
It was a cracking match – Cross hit a 170 checkout early on, but Humphries hit back with two 100+ checkouts of his own. Humphries became just the 8th player to win the title in 23 tournaments.
How to get Grand Slam of Darts tickets
Want to experience the thrill of the Grand Slam of Darts in 2024? Call us now on 0333 2309115 or contact us to secure your place at the Aldersley Leisure Village!
