Michael van Gerwen and Michael Smith were knocked out of the Grand Slam of Darts; Luke Littler got eight darts into a nine-darter on his way to victory over Lourence Ilagan; watch the Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton until November 17, live on Sky Sports
Wednesday 13 November 2024 17:36, UK
Michael van Gerwen suffered a shock 5-4 defeat to Ryan Joyce at the Grand Slam of Darts to send him out of the tournament at the group stages.
Joyce came out firing against the former champion, winning the opening two legs in a row, the 'Green Machine' struggling on the doubles.
Van Gerwen then managed to break back but then Joyce matched him to go 4-2 up, the nerves then getting the better of Joyce as Van Gerwen brought the game level.
However, in the deciding leg Joyce came through with a clutch 80 checkout on D10 to complete the upset.
It is Van Gerwen's first group stage exit at the Grand Slam since 2010, the losses to Joyce and also to Gary Anderson sending him home.
Following the match, Joyce admitted that playing the likes of Van Gerwen and Anderson no longer have the "fear factor" they used to.
"I thought it was a really tough group on paper but if I am being honest, Michael and Gary are nowhere near the players they used to be," Joyce said.
"Although Gary played like that when he played against me. But they won't mind me saying, they know they're not playing at their highest level so they don't have that fear factor any more for me."
Former champion Michael Smith was also sent home as World Grand Prix champion Mike De Decker cruised to a 5-0 win.
Smith did not get a chance of a dart at double due to De Decker's dominance, meaning the top three in the world are all out of the tournament.
In the third of the straight shoot-outs, this time in Group H, Stephen Bunting showed his class to defeat Josh Rock 5-2.
Both were playing brilliant darts as the crowd got right behind fan favourite Bunting and it played to his strengths, the St Helens man finishing with an 11-darter and two 12-darters to take the win.
Luke Littler was in sensational form once again as he entertained the crowd and topped Group F with a 5-3 victory over Lourence Ilagan.
Littler hit three maximums in his first three legs in a sensational start but Ilagan hit back with a clinical break of throw to bring the game to 2-2.
The 17-year-old was enjoying himself and took out a sensational 130 checkout on the bull for a break back but as he purposefully left 170 for the match, he could not finish it off and Ilagan pounced with a brilliant 148 of his own.
That put Littler right back in the zone, and he got eight darts into what would have been a fifth nine-darter of the year but could not finish it off to send Wolverhampton wild, finally taking out the leg on D3.
"I was just relaxed," said Littler. "I knew I qualified but the important thing was to win this last game and go three out of three."
And on the prospect of what would be a record-breaking fifth nine-darter in a calendar year, he added: "I know if I do hit another one then that's it [the record]. But I'm playing well and I feel it coming. Obviously didn't go then, but we try again next time."
Dimitri Van den Bergh put in his best performance of the tournament so far in a 5-1 victory over Keane Barry to pick up the other spot in Group F.
Van den Bergh was in the zone and picked up five legs on the bounce, his double-hitting sensational.
Gary Anderson finished top of Group G by making it three wins from three in a 5-2 win over history-maker Noa-Lynn van Leuven.
Both were in fine form and hitting maximums with ease, a 140 checkout plus a break of throw giving the 'Flying Scotsman' the advantage.
Gian van Veen fought off an incredible performance from Wessel Nijman to end the group stages top of Group H.
Nijman was averaging close to 119 at points throughout the match and ended with a 111 average but Van Veen kept his cool and took opportunities when they arose, a break of throw and clutch tops completing the job.
Jermain Wattimena finished top of Group E with a close 5-4 victory over Mensur Suljovic.
Suljovic, who was already out of the running for the knockout stages, put in his best performance of the Grand Slam 2024 but Wattimena was clinical, his double-hitting consistent throughout the contest.
The tournament continues on Wednesday November 13 as the last 16 gets under way, live on Sky Sports from 7pm.
Littler will now face De Decker as Van den Bergh will now face Wattimena in the knockout stages. That means Joyce is up against Van Veen, Anderson facing Bunting.
James Wade is facing Cameron Menzies, Danny Noppert plays Mickey Mansell, Martin Lukeman is up against Ross Smith and Ritchie Edhouse takes on Rob Cross.
