Grand Slam of Darts 2024: Reigning champion Luke Humphries knocked out by James Wade as Luke Littler by way of to final 16

Reigning Grand Slam champion Luke Humphries was knocked out of the 2024 version of the match after a 5-3 defeat to James Wade cemented his lack of ability to get out of Group A.

Within the crunch conflict with Wade, each gamers wanted victory to maintain their match hopes alive after the world champion misplaced to Rowby-John Rodriguez and Wade to Mickey Mansell on the opening night time.

At first, Wade was within the zone however Humphries discovered a sensational 130 checkout within the fifth leg for a vital break and seemed to be on high.

Nevertheless, Wade battled exhausting and an excellent break, adopted by a stress 76 checkout, gave him a 4-3 lead – his class on D10 serving to him seal a momentous victory.

It signifies that world no 1 Humphries won’t defend his title and has not gone back-to-back in both the World Grand Prix or Grand Slam.

In an announcement on social media after his loss, Humphries mentioned: “What can I say.. gutted to be out of the Grand Slam.. simply wasn’t me up on that stage this week, however I’ve had different issues on my thoughts and it makes it a lot more durable to carry out at this stage, wanting ahead to getting again to my son who’s not been properly the previous few days!

“Thank you to everyone for the support and the lovely messages this week. Love you all, and I’m looking forward to spending some time at home with my family, I’ll be back and good luck to the remaining players in the competition!”

Luke Littler secured his spot within the final 16 of the Grand Slam with a dominant 5-1 victory over Dimitri Van den Bergh in Group F.

Coming into the batch after his six-minute scalp of Keane Barry on Saturday, Littler made fast work of going 3-0 up, taking an early break, after which a 105 checkout on the best way.

From there he was 4-0 up very quickly with a 106 common and, regardless of Van den Bergh holding his throw for a leg, he got here away with one other breeze of a win on D5.

In a conflict of former World Champions, the gang went wild as Michael van Gerwen took on Gary Anderson in Group G, the latter clinching an enormous win in a last-leg decider.

The pair had been hitting maximums for enjoyable as they traded breaks of throw and because the sport was stage at 3-3 and the followers had been at fever pitch, the Scotsman took out a sensational 136 checkout for the lead.

With the Inexperienced Machine taking the match to a last-leg decider with a stress bull end, Anderson took out 134 to depart tops for the win, sealing it along with his first match dart.

Historical past-maker Noa-Lynn van Leuven suffered a 5-3 defeat to Ryan Joyce within the different match of Group G.

Van Leuven, who’s the primary transgender participant to participate in a televised PDC match in opposition to males, received an early break of throw however then missed too many darts on the double to let Joyce again into the sport, a stunning 110 checkout serving to him out.

She managed to deliver the sport again stage at 3-3 however then Joyce romped on to take back-to-back legs for the win.

Within the different Group F sport, Keane Barry picked up a vital 5-3 win in opposition to Lourence Ilagan, who received off to a flyer with a ton-plus common.

Barry will now play Van den Bergh to see who will take the opposite last-16 place within the group.

Jermaine Wattimena despatched out a message in Group E as he shocked world no 2 Michael Smith in a 5-1 victory, placing himself by way of to the final 16.

Wattimena was averaging over 103 as he shocked Bullyboy, successful the primary three legs on the bounce earlier than clinching the win on his fourth match dart.

Mike De Decker picked up a a lot wanted 5-3 win over Mensur Suljovic in Group E, the World Grand Prix champion battling exhausting to win three legs on the bounce.

De Decker and Smith are actually going through a shootout for the second place within the remaining 16.

Mardle: Anybody can now go on and win this!

“The best player in the world is out. Anyone now will be thinking why can’t they go and win this,” mentioned Sky Sports activities Darts’ Wayne Mardle.

“We’ve got to that point in darts now where no one is untouchable. When the top boys play well, they win, but when they play poorly, anyone can beat them.

“The previous few months have confirmed that. The remainder of the world shall be pondering this could be their probability now the reigning champion is out.”

Elsewhere in Group A, Mickey Mansell kept his winning run going with a 5-3 victory over Rowby-John Rodriguez to put himself top.

Rodriguez was firing in maximums but Mansell managed to pull his darts back, 114 and 118 checkouts helping him secure another big win.

What occurred within the afternoon session?

Danny Noppert made it two wins from two in a last-leg decider in opposition to Cameron Menzies, the eighth seed sealing the win with an 11-darter.

The sport went with throw all through, Noppert additionally reeling within the Massive Fish on the best way to cementing himself on the high of his group.

In the meantime, Beau Greaves suffered a 5-1 loss to Martin Schindler which suggests she is at the moment backside of her group.

Schindler was medical as he discovered his second highest ever common on this match, hitting the doubles properly to seek out two essential breaks of throw.

Peter Wright suffered one other loss in Group C as Leonard Gates boosted his hopes of progressing in a last-leg shootout.

Gates held off a Wright rally with an excellent D7 to interrupt again in an encounter each gamers struggled in, D4 then sealing the large win, that means Snakebite is now in bother.

Within the different conflict, Martin Lukeman missed 5 match darts however secured an enormous 5-3 victory over Rob Cross to maneuver to the highest of Group C.

Lukeman was 3-0 down in what seemed to be a simple win for the fourth seed, however he fought again valiantly to win 5 legs on the bounce. He now simply must win one leg in his remaining match in opposition to Gates to safe his place within the final 16.

Ritchie Edhouse secured his place within the final 16 with a vital win in a detailed encounter with Connor Scutt, successful 5-2 to remain unbeaten in Group D.

The victory sees Dave Chisnall unable to progress after he misplaced 5-3 to Ross Smith within the different sport of the group.

Smith struggled on the doubles all through however managed to take the possibilities when given them, two breaks of throw cementing the victory.

Smith and Scutt will face one another on Monday in a straight shootout for the opposite spot within the knockouts.

Gian Van Veen is thru to the final 16 after a sensational 5-1 dismantling of Stephen Bunting within the remaining match of the afternoon session, averaging almost 115 as he placed on a present.

Van Veen was on fireplace within the opening few legs, breaking immediately after which falling one dart wanting a nine-darter within the second.

He did not cease there, taking out 133 with two T19s to go 4-0 up, Bunting hitting again by reeling within the Massive Fish to get a leg on the board.

That victory means Wessel Nijman can not qualify after Josh Rock fought again from 3-1 all the way down to safe an enormous 5-3 victory within the ‘Group of Loss of life’.

Behind on 180s and legs, Rock discovered some sensational treble-hitting, averaging 155 within the remaining leg to get a vital win on the board and can now face Bunting for the second Group H spot within the final 16.

What’s subsequent?

The Grand Slam of Darts continues on Monday November 11, with eight extra group stage clashes as we get nearer to discovering out who our final 16 shall be. It is going to be dwell on Sky Sports activities+ from 7pm.