Gerwyn Worth has missed out on a spot on this month’s Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts after failing to safe one of many eight spots on supply on the Tour Card Holder Qualifier in Leicester.
The three-time Grand Slam champion initially instructed he would skip Friday’s qualifying occasion, reporting on Instagram after his European Darts Championship closing exit final month he would solely play the Gamers Championship Finals and the World Darts Championship this yr.
Worth headlined the sturdy 99-player line-up on the Mattioli Enviornment and fired a 101 common in his 5-2 win over Jurjen van der Velde, then despatched Robert Owen by the identical margin to achieve the final 16.
Victory over Mickey Mansell would have been sufficient to qualify for the Grand Slam of Darts from November 9-17, dwell on Sky Sports activities, however a 5-3 defeat means Worth – a winner in 2018, 2019 and 2021 – won’t characteristic within the occasion for the primary time since 2015.
Mansell joins James Wade, Cameron Menzies, Danny Noppert, Ross Smith, Ryan Joyce, Keane Barry and Martin Lukeman as the ultimate eight qualifiers, with the ultimate place within the 32-player discipline to be confirmed following the conclusion of the Winmau Problem Tour this weekend.
Huge names miss out in Grand Slam qualifier
Wade thrashed former World Championship runner-up Simon Whitlock in straight legs and despatched Germany’s Florian Hempel by the identical margin, with a 5-1 victory over Michele Turetta making certain the top-eight end required to safe his Grand Slam of Darts return.
Mansell will now make his Grand Slam of Darts debut, having additionally overwhelmed former world champion Raymond van Barneveld throughout his run, whereas Noppert’s qualification began with a final-leg victory over Steve Beaton – taking part in his closing season on the PDC ProTour.
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Steve Beaton performed his final PDC ProTour match in opposition to Niels Zonneveld within the Gamers Championship 30 [Credit: PDC]
Lukeman fired 4 consecutive ton-plus averages to verify his place, with Smith edging Jeffrey de Graff – who knocked out Joe Cullen within the earlier spherical – within the final 16 and Joyce knocking out final yr’s quarter-finalist Damon Heta throughout his run to a qualification spot.
Menzies defeated former Grand Slam semi-finalist Mervyn King, Steve Lennon and final yr’s World Matchplay runner-up Nathan Aspinall – the world No 7 – throughout his qualification, coming the identical week he gained his maiden PDC rating title at Gamers Championship 29.
Daryl Gurney, Gabriel Clemens and Chris Dobey have been all eradicated within the final 32, whereas Jonny Clayton noticed his hopes ended a spherical earlier by Latvia’s Madars Razma and Dirk van Duijvenbode knocked out by Danny van Trijp. Final yr’s UK Open champion Andrew Gilding additionally missed out.
The draw for the Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts can be made on Monday November 4.
How does the Grand Slam of Darts work?
The group stage of the 32-player occasion sees the gamers competing in a round-robin format throughout the opening 4 days at WV Energetic Aldersley, with 16 ties happening throughout two periods on Saturday November 9 and Sunday November 10.
Following the conclusion of the group stage, the highest two gamers from every group make it by to the knockout stage, with the final 16 cut up throughout Wednesday and Thursday night.
The quarter-finals are held on Friday and Saturday, earlier than the event concludes with a bumper double-session on Sunday, November 17 – the afternoon’s semi-finals are adopted by the ultimate within the night session.
Watch the Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts on November 9-17 dwell on Sky Sports activities or stream with NOW, offering on the spot entry to dwell motion from the Premier League and EFL, plus darts, cricket, tennis, golf and a lot extra.
