It’s back to the Ricoh Arena in Coventry for this year’s Grand Slam of Darts Finals, the 14th year of the event. The 2020 event will run from 16-22 November and include players from both the PDC and BDO, the only tournament to do so.
Can Gerwyn Price make it three in a row?
There are 32 players drawn from both codes in competition and all of the big hitters will be there including Gerwyn Price. The past two years of the Grand Slam have provided The Iceman with his first two PDC televised wins and this year he is aiming for a third in a row.
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Right now, the Welshman is playing like the best player in the world and only last week, along with Johnny Clayton, picked up the World Cup of Darts for Wales after beating England in the final.
Will it be thrice for Price? Highly likely yes.
The former Rugby man is playing like a machine right now, landing almost every arrow on point. And with Michael van Gerwen dropping off ever so slightly from his brilliant best, Price looks a good shout for next month’s World Championship also.
He has always enjoyed this event but has really stepped up his game of late, scooping the World Grand Prix title last month before absolutely owning the World Cup of Darts. In 2020 so far, he has eight titles to his name. Should The Iceman win on Sunday, he would join Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen in the unique achievement winning the same major in three consecutive years.
The Welshman is now the joint favourite at 7/2, a half a point ahead of Michael van Gerwen, while the 2019 runner-up Peter Wright is also available at 4/1.
There is little point, we believe, in looking beyond the Welshman who, aside from appearing the best around right now, can overcome any early shocks he may come across from his fellow Group G members Mikuru Suzuki, Ryan Joyce and his Welsh World Cup winning partner Johnny Clayton. It’s a decent draw and one that will not worry him.
The rest of the field
I think Rob Cross’ group of Dave Chisnall, Luke Humphries and Justin Pipe is a whole lot harder, which is a shame. Voltage’s heavy price of 35/1 might have tempted otherwise.
He may have had a horrible year form-wise. but he has won both the World Matchplay Darts and the Darts World Championship before. As a player that thrives on confidence – of which admittedly he has none right now – a couple of gimme wins in the group stages might have set the ball rolling for a deeper run than we have seen from him this year.
The advantage of groups is that there are a minimum of three games to be played which is about the same amount of wayward shots Gerwyn Price has thrown of late. Plus, by the second round, the games develop into a much longer format and play to a best of 19 legs before upping the ante to a best of 31 legs.
Right now, in a longer game, only MVG looks capable of matching The Iceman but on current form you would, for the first time in years, bet against the Dutchman. MVG remains world number one and will no doubt find his form before long, but his last victory came all the way back in March when early exits have been the order of his day.
Glenn Durrant, Peter Wright and Michael Smith are also others worth monitoring.
In the Grand Slam, each darter plays all other group members in a best of nine leg match worth two points. The top two will then move on to the knockout rounds.
Mighty Mike is drawn in Group A, while Gary Anderson will lead Group B. Group C is led by Michael Smith and Rob Cross takes Group D with Peter Wright back in Group E. James Wade and Glenn Durrant have both landed in Group F and finally Nathan Aspinall finds himself in Group H.
Grand Slam of Darts 2020 Draw
Group A
- Michael van Gerwen (4/1)
- Joe Cullen (40/1)
- Gabriel Clemens (40/1)
- Adam Hunt (200/1)
Group B
- Gary Anderson (16/1)
- Simon Whitlock (66/1)
- Ryan Searle (125/1)
- Adam Gawlas (500/1)
Group C
- Michael Smith (16/1)
- Krzysztof Ratajski (18/1)
- Jose De Sousa (20/1)
- Lisa Ashton (500/1)
Group D
- Rob Cross (35/1)
- Dave Chisnall (25/1)
- Luke Humphries (66/1)
- Justin Pipe (250/1)
Group E
- Peter Wright (4/1)
- Ian White (40/1)
- Devon Petersen (22/1)
- Dirk van Duijvenbode (100/1)
Group F
- James Wade (33/1)
- Glen Durrant (16/1)
- Jermaine Wattimena (100/1)
- Damon Heta (33/1)
Group G
- Gerwyn Price (7/2)
- Jonny Clayton (50/1)
- Ryan Joyce (150/1)
- Mikuru Suzuki (750/1)
Group H
- Nathan Aspinall (11/1)
- Dimitri Van den Bergh (40/1)
- Ricky Evans (150/1)
- Wayne Warren (200/1)
Odds from bet365.
Grand Slam of Darts 2020 Schedule
Monday November 16
Best of 9 legs
- Rob Cross v Justin Pipe
- Dave Chisnall v Luke Humphries
- James Wade v Damon Heta
- Simon Whitlock v Ryan Searle
- Glen Durrant v Jermaine Wattimena
- Nathan Aspinall v Wayne Warren
- Dimitri Van den Bergh v Ricky Evans
- Gary Anderson v Adam Gawlas
- Jonny Clayton v Ryan Joyce
- Joe Cullen v Gabriel Clemens
- Krzysztof Ratajski v Jose De Sousa
- Michael Smith v Lisa Ashton
- Michael van Gerwen v Adam Hunt
- Gerwyn Price v Mikuru Suzuki
- Peter Wright v Dirk van Duijvenbode
- Ian White v Devon Petersen
Tuesday November 17
Best of 9 legs
- 16 Group Matches
Wednesday November 18
Best of 9 legs
- 16 Group Matches
Friday November 20
Second Round (Best of 19 legs)
- 4 Matches
Saturday November 21
Second Round (Best of 19 legs)
- 4 Matches
Sunday November 22
Quarter-finals (Best of 31 legs)
- 4 Matches
Monday November 23 (7pm)
Semi-finals (Best of 31 legs)
- 2 Matches
Tuesday November 24
Final (Best of 31 legs)
QUICK GLANCE AT GRAND SLAM OF DARTS 2020
Venue: Ricoh Arena, Coventry
Dates: 16/11/20 to 24/11/2020
Format: Best of 9, 19 and 31 legs
Current Champion: Gerwyn Price
Where To Watch: Sky Sports
When To Watch: (1300 GMT)