Grand Slam of Darts: Wayne Mardle talks us by way of this 12 months’s occasion with Michael van Gerwen and Fallon Sherrock in motion

All eyes flip to the highly-anticipated Grand Slam of Darts at Wolverhampton’s Aldersley Leisure Village. There are many questions, so who higher to ask them to than our very personal Wayne ‘Hawaii 501’ Mardle.

The 32-player match will likely be staged on the Aldersley Leisure Village in Wolverhampton from November 12-20, with the gamers competing for the coveted Eric Bristow Trophy and the £150,000 prime prize – each session is dwell on Sky Sports.

Welsh ace Price has gained all three Grand Slam tournaments staged on the venue, and the world No 1 will bid for a fourth title in 5 years. However, ‘The Iceman’ faces stiff competitors from three-time runner-up Peter Wright in addition to three-time champion Michael van Gerwen.

Add World Grand Prix runner-up Nathan Aspinall, Women’s World Matchplay winner Fallon Sherrock, Masters champion Joe Cullen and 2012 champion Raymond van Barneveld to the combo and you’ve got yourselves a cracking spectacle.

So, with out additional ado, this is our man Wayne Mardle to speak us by way of what to anticipate over the following 9 days of tungsten motion.

Is there a Group of Death?

Watch out darts followers! Rookie Josh Rock will likely be able to placed on a present in Wolverhampton

There’s one tough group and I’m not placing gamers down after I say this however for those who have a look at the seeds, they’re going to all be joyful.

Group H with Luke Humphries, Ryan Searle, Josh Rock and Scott Williams is the hardest group.

Williams is one hell of a participant and he would be the outsider for that group. I would not be shocked if he acquired by way of, whereas tens of millions on the planet assume Rock can go on and win it and possibly even win the World Championship. Let’s simply hope he can calm down and play to the perfect of his skill.

Then you’ve got acquired Searle and Humphries who’re able to something – horrible group. The remainder of the teams are fairly pleasant.

Lisa is enjoying nowhere close to the shape she was displaying final 12 months and Fallon – we all know she’s a TV participant – however she’s had a couple of knocks not too long ago.

Mardle on Ashton and Sherrock’s possibilities

What are the perfect opening matches in Wolverhampton?

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All of Raymond van Barneveld’s nine-darters captured by the Sky Sports cameras!

There’s a couple of that basically do stand-out however within the best-of-nine-legs, the likes of Ted Evetts will fancy his possibilities towards Gerwyn Price, so there’s a bit of bit extra perception in regards to the underdogs.

I’m trying ahead to seeing Dirk van Duijvenbode as a result of I feel he is a possible hazard to win the occasion. I need to see him play and I’m trying ahead to seeing Dave Chisnall tackle Raymond van Barneveld. It’s nice to see Barney again within the large time. He believes he needs to be again within the large time – he is so good.

I’m trying ahead to seeing Ross Smith after he gained the European Championship as a result of Luke Woodhouse will not be a pushover in his group.

The recreation of the afternoon session might nicely be Ryan Searle and Josh Rock. I actually consider that. Rock is thrilling as a result of we do not know what he will flip into, however Searle can beat anybody.

Is there a darkish horse for the match?

Nathan Aspinall has the potential to make a run to the semi-finals

It’s an extended format this. Forget in regards to the best-of-nine-legs as a result of getting out of the group is clearly the primary precedence for any participant however when you do it is best-of-19-legs within the final 16, then it is best-of-31-legs within the quarter-finals.

Underdogs seldom win this for those who have a look at the winners in the previous couple of years. Gerwyn Price has gained it three out of the final 4 and then you definitely had Jose De Sousa and earlier than that you simply had Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld.

You can speak about Scott Waites, however he was probably the greatest gamers on the time and simply because he was the BDO consultant he was fully neglected. That was at all times fallacious on the time.

I’m not saying these gamers can win it however I would not be shocked if Nathan Aspinall made a run to the semi-finals. Luke Humphries and Damon Heta would not shock me, whereas Joe Cullen is taken into account a little bit of an outsider and Rob Cross is not even talked about.

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Polly James and Michael Bridge pick their winners, surprises and must-watch tie for the Grand Slam of Darts…

Fallon & Lisa’s possibilities

Fallon Sherrock and Lisa Ashton will likely be flying the flag for ladies’s darts in Wolves

No disrespect to them however no matter group they have been going to be in it was going to be robust. Lisa Ashton might be enjoying a bit of bit higher than Fallon Sherrock proper now they usually’ve each regressed.

Lisa is enjoying nowhere close to the shape she was displaying final 12 months and Fallon – we all know she’s a TV participant – however she’s had a couple of knocks not too long ago.

She’s put in some stinkers on the latest World Series of Darts occasions which makes me assume she can’t be assured and he or she’s acquired a tough group.

Fallon’s acquired Peter Wright, Nathan Aspinall and Alan Soutar and Soutar is a tough man to do enterprise with.

For Lisa, she’s acquired Michael Smith, Joe Cullen and somebody very succesful on their day in Ritchie Edhouse.

I do not fancy their possibilities in any respect however I hope I’m fallacious. I need to see them win video games and trigger upsets, however it does not occur for me.

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Sherrock mentioned she was getting used to this ‘history-making factor’ after turning into the primary ever winner of the Women’s World Matchplay

Then there’s the massive three…

Gerwyn Price, Michael van Gerwen and Peter Wright are anticipated to battle it out for glory on the Grand Slam of Darts

Van Gerwen is your rightful favorite together with Price and Wright however the lengthy format is made for the massive boys. Just have a look at the runner-ups since 2015. You’ve had Phil Taylor, James Wade, Peter Wright and Gary Anderson, so it is the big-hitters, it is the winners that appear to do nicely on this occasion.

I do not see quite a bit altering.

I simply hope Michael Smith believes it should occur as a result of if it does not, it will not.

Mardle is backing ‘Bully Boy’ to win the Grand Slam of Darts

Who wins?

Is this Michael Smith time? Wayne Mardle believes so…

I’m predicting Michael Smith to win it this 12 months. He was the perfect participant within the match final 12 months however he misplaced the final eight legs on the bounce to Peter Wright.

Weirdly sufficient, he misplaced 9 of the final 10 within the World Championship closing as nicely, however I feel he will get again on the horse after dropping on the European Championship.

I would not rule out Dave Chisnall but when it wasn’t Price, Wright, Van Gerwen and fourth-seeded Smith within the semi-finals, wouldn’t it shock me? Not a jot.

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After profitable his third Grand Slam of Darts title final 12 months, Wayne Mardle mentioned he expects Price to proceed having additional success

I like Smith’s draw. He’s in an excellent group and if he comes by way of that he in all probability faces Rob Cross or Dirk van Duijvenbode, then he performs somebody from his group once more, who I feel may very well be Joe Cullen, after which he is within the semi-finals. He can beat Price or Chisnall to achieve the ultimate, however he is by no means made a closing.

I simply hope Michael Smith believes it should occur as a result of if it does not, it will not.

Watch the Grand Slam of Darts at Aldersley Leisure Village in Wolverhampton from 12-20 November – with each session dwell on Sky Sports.