Grand Slam of Darts Groups E-H: Holder Taylor in opening session
Published:
Sam Barnard, Assistant Sports Editor | November 6, 2015
Groups E-H first games
- Grand Slam of Darts
- Saturday, November 7th
- Afternoon session: 13:00-17:00 GMT
- Civic Hall, Wolverhampton
- Live on Sky Sports 2
Afternoon fixtures in order of play (groups in brackets)
The Grand Slam of Darts, which Coral are the official betting partner of, is always one of the tournaments everyone looks forward to, as it remains the sole televised events where all the world’s top players, from both the PDC and BDO, battle against each other.
GRAND SLAM OF DARTS | Here is the order of play for @Singha_Beer Grand Slam on Saturday 7th November. #SINGHAGSOD pic.twitter.com/bm83Vi3k1k
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) November 4, 2015
This year’s edition kicks off with stars from Groups E-H in the afternoon session, where the likes of title holder Phil Taylor, past winner Raymond van Barneveld and former runner-ups Gary Anderson, Terry Jenkins, James Wade and Robert Thornton are in action.
Read our first day evening session preview too.
Rowby-John Rodriguez v Robbie Green (H)
Young Austrian Rodriguez takes on recent PDC convert Green in the opening match of the tournament, and both put in decent showings last year beating the likes of Adrian Lewis and Thornton respectively.
Liverpudlian Kong is the slight 8/11 favourite with Coral to beat Little John (11/10), and is second-favourite at 7/5 behind The Power to qualify from Group H.
Terry Jenkins v Jonny Clayton (G)
The Bull has been one of the most consistent darts players throughout his long career, and is still going strong aged 52 being ranked number 10 in the PDC.
Runner-up in 2008 Jenkins (1/3) is up against a PDC Coventry qualifier, Welshman Clayton (9/4), and should have no troubles getting past him. He is a great shout at 13/8 to top Group G.
Robert Thornton v Geert de Vos (G)
Recent World Grand Prix champ Thornton (2/5) and BDO World Trophy winner back in March De Vos (15/8) make up the rest of the pool, and face off on an intriguing match.
Belgian De Vos, world number two in his darting organisation has the potential to cause a shock over the older Scotsman Thorn, but this could go all the way. Back Foxy at 13/2 to win 5-4.
James Wade v Michel van der Horst (F)
With Wade being a former finalist here, back in 2010, he is a great tournament outright shout at 20/1 and is the heavy 1/6 odds-on favourite to Grand Slam debutant Van der Horst, from the BDO.
Dutchman The Invisible Man is a long shot at 4/1, but back multiple major champion The Machine at a more enticing 10/3 price to triumph 5-1.
Keegan Brown v Mark Webster (F)
This is perhaps the most even matchup of the session on paper, as Coral’s odds also suggest, with both rising star Brown and former BDO world champion Webster priced at 10/11 to beat the other.
World Youth Championship holder Armageddon burst onto the darting scene in this event last year, shocking the likes of Lewis and Barney to reach the quarters, so is a terrific 5/1 shout to defeat The Spider 5-3.
Gary Anderson v Larry Butler (E)
USA’s most successful darts player Butler (4/1), who won the first ever PDC World Matchplay way back in 1994, locks horns with perhaps Scotland’s most talented thrower Anderson (1/6).
Now in the BDO and aged 58, The Bald Eagle shouldn’t provide PDC world and Premier League champion The Flying Scotsman much trouble, and the latter is the tournament 9/2 third-favourite to kick on from his recent final appearance at the World Grand Prix.
Phil Taylor v Martin Phillips (H)
Unsurprisingly, Taylor (3/1 tournament shout) is the most successful player at this event, as he is for pretty much all the tournaments he has entered, but will up against it in his title defence after a somewhat shaky season to date.
The Power (1/6 odds-on favourite) goes up against fellow veteran and 2014 BDO World Masters winner Phillips (4/1) of the BDO, and has triumphed in all three of their meetings, although they haven’t faced each other since 1992.
Raymond van Barneveld v Andy Boulton (E)
Last, but certainly not least, 2012 champ Barney really needs a good run in a tournament after a somewhat troubled year, and he is 10/3 to top Group E.
A win at 2/7 for the crowd favourite over recent PDC convert and Stoke-born Boulton (13/5) will give him much-needed confidence and is certainly on the cards, so long as he hits his doubles.
GRAND SLAM OF DARTS | Missed the draw for the @Singha_Beer Grand Slam? Here it is in full: #SinghaGSOD pic.twitter.com/fD0bebBmLz
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) November 3, 2015
Related
Check out our darts archive, where you can find our Grand Slam of Darts top five groups tips and Gary Anderson feature
