2007 Grand Slam of Darts

Grand Slam of Darts
Tournament information
Dates	November 17–25
Venue	Civic Hall
Location	Wolverhampton
Country	England
Organisation(s)	PDC
Format	Legs
Prize fund	£300,000
Winners share	£80,000
High checkout	170 James Wade
Champion(s)
Phil Taylor
2008»

The 2007 Grand Slam of Darts was the inaugural staging of the darts tournament, the Grand Slam of Darts, held by the Professional Darts Corporation. The tournament invited the best performing players from the PDC and its rival the British Darts Organisation. There had been two previous head-to-head matches between the champions of the two organisations and a few tournaments have also featured BDO v PDC clashes. This tournament was the first of its kind to be held in the United Kingdom.

The 2007 tournament was staged at the Wolverhampton Civic from 17–25 November 2007. Phil Taylor won the title, beating Andy Hamilton 18–11 in the final. In one of the early group matches which may not have stood out at the time, John Part narrowly beat Mark Webster 5–4 and less than two months later the two players became the World Champions of their respective organisations.

Format

The 32 players were split into eight groups of four players with the top two from each group qualifying for the last 16 knockout stages. Each player was therefore guaranteed three matches in the competition. Two points were awarded for a win. All group games were best of 9 legs, the second round games were extended to best of 19 legs, the semi-finals best of 25 legs, and the final best of 35 legs.

Prize money

PartyPoker.net increased the prize fund for the event from the original announcement of £250,000 to £300,000 making it the second richest tournament in 2007 – ahead of both the Premier League and the BDO World Championship.^[1]

• Total £300,000

Winner £80,000

Runner-Up £35,000

Semi-Finalists £15,000

Quarter-Finalists £10,000

Second Round Losers £6,000

First Round Losers £4,000

Controversy

Controversy hit the tournament in May when it was confirmed by the BDO that the Winmau World Masters had been moved from its original dates of 26–28 October to a new date of 16–18 November^[2] clashing directly with the Grand Slam. This meant that players from the BDO were forced into a direct choice between competing at the Masters for valuable ranking points or taking their place at the Grand Slam for better prize money. BDO World Champion Martin Adams almost immediately confirmed that he would participate in the Masters, though he was the only BDO player to do so.^[3] Adams went out in the quarter finals of the World Masters meaning his pay cheque of £1,250 was significantly less than the £4,000 he would have received simply for turning up at the Grand Slam. Adams also declined the chance to compete in 2008, even though the two tournaments did not clash as the Masters was moved to December.

Qualifiers

The PDC Chairman Barry Hearn announced on 21 February 2007 that all major tournament finalists for the past two years from both the BDO and PDC will be invited to the event. Also World Championship semi-finalists from the same period would receive an invite. The tournaments used for the qualifying criteria were the two World Championships, the World Matchplay, World Grand Prix and World Masters (2006 only), UK Open, Las Vegas Desert Classic, Premier League, World Series of Darts, International Darts League and the World Darts Trophy with the field set at 32 players.

BDO players Gary Anderson, Mark Webster Shaun Greatbatch, Niels de Ruiter, Phill Nixon and Scott Waites all accepted invites to the event leaving Martin Adams (the BDO World Champion) as the only player to have rejected the opportunity to play.^[4] He participated in the 2007 Winmau World Masters instead, losing at the quarter final stage.

PDC Tournament Year Position Player World Championship 2006 Winner Phil Taylor Runner-Up Peter Manley Semi-Finalist 1 Wayne Jones Semi-Finalist 2 Wayne Mardle 2007 Winner Raymond van Barneveld Runner-Up Phil Taylor Semi-Finalist 1 Andy Hamilton Semi-Finalist 2 Andy Jenkins World Matchplay 2006 Winner Phil Taylor Runner-Up James Wade 2007 Winner James Wade Runner-Up Terry Jenkins World Grand Prix 2006 Winner Phil Taylor Runner-Up Terry Jenkins 2007 Winner James Wade Runner-Up Terry Jenkins Las Vegas Desert Classic 2006 Winner John Part Runner-Up Raymond van Barneveld 2007 Winner Raymond van Barneveld Runner-Up Terry Jenkins UK Open 2006 Winner Raymond van Barneveld Runner-Up Barrie Bates 2007 Winner Raymond van Barneveld Runner-Up Vincent van der Voort World Series of Darts 2006 Winner Phil Taylor Runner-Up Adrian Lewis US Open 2007 Winner Phil Taylor Runner-Up Raymond van Barneveld Premier League 2006 Winner Phil Taylor Runner-Up Roland Scholten 2007 Winner Phil Taylor Runner-Up Terry Jenkins

BDO Tournament Year Position Player World Championship 2006 Winner Jelle Klaasen Runner-Up Raymond van Barneveld Semi-Finalist 1 Martin Adams Semi-Finalist 2 Shaun Greatbatch 2007 Winner Martin Adams Runner-Up Phill Nixon Semi-Finalist 1 Mervyn King Semi-Finalist 2 Niels de Ruiter World Masters 2006 Winner Michael van Gerwen Runner-Up Martin Adams Defunct Tournaments Tournament Year Position Player International Darts League 2006 Winner Raymond van Barneveld Runner-Up Colin Lloyd 2007 Winner Gary Anderson Runner-Up Mark Webster World Darts Trophy 2006 Winner Phil Taylor Runner-Up Martin Adams 2007 Winner Gary Anderson Runner-Up Phil Taylor

Note: Players in italics had already qualified for the tournament.

During the qualification period, players who had already sealed their places at the Grand Slam continued to reach major finals which left the PDC with several vacant positions. The qualifying criteria was therefore extended to include the highest ranked non-qualifiers from the PDC and WDF (Dennis Priestley and Scott Waites^[5]). A wildcard tournament qualifier was expanded to two qualifiers (Chris Mason & Kevin McDine). Other events to be awarded places were the DPA Australian Open (Glenn Power, who was replaced by Pat Orreal due to visa restrictions^[6]), the South African Open (Charles Losper), the North American Order of Merit (Gary Mawson). Finally, the next two highest ranked players from the PDC rankings were added (Ronnie Baxter and Kevin Painter^[7]) to complete the 32 man field.

Draw and results

Group Stages

All matches race-to-5/best of 9.

NB: P = Played; W = Won; L = Lost; LF = Legs For; LA = Legs Against; +/- = Plus/Minus Record, in relation to legs; Average = 3-dart average; Pts = Points

Group A

POS Player P W L LF LA +/- Pts Status 1 Raymond van Barneveld 3 3 0 15 8 +7 6 Advance to the last 16 2 Adrian Lewis 3 2 1 13 9 +4 4 3 Dennis Priestley 3 1 2 11 14 −3 2 Eliminated 4 Chris Mason 3 0 3 7 15 −8 0

17 November 2007: Raymond van Barneveld 105.26 5 – 3 Chris Mason 95.94 Highest Checkout: 157 (Mason) Adrian Lewis 94.08 5 – 4 Dennis Priestley 95.93 Highest Checkout: 150 (Lewis) 18 November 2007: Raymond van Barneveld 100.94 5 – 3 Adrian Lewis 94.03 Highest Checkout: 121 (Lewis) Chris Mason 81.44 4 – 5 Dennis Priestley 87.81 Highest Checkout: 89 (Mason) 19 November 2007: Chris Mason 82.48 0 – 5 Adrian Lewis 101.55 Highest Checkout: 78 (Lewis) Raymond van Barneveld 104.08 5 –2 Dennis Priestley 103.53 Highest Checkout: 120 (van Barneveld)

Group B POS Player P W L LF LA +/- Pts Status 1 Andy Hamilton 3 3 0 15 8 +7 6 Advance to the last 16 2 Terry Jenkins 3 2 1 12 9 +3 4 3 Vincent van der Voort 3 1 2 10 11 −1 2 Eliminated 4 Charles Losper 3 0 3 6 15 −9 0

17 November 2007: Vincent van der Voort 97.39 3 – 5 Andy Hamilton 100.94 Highest Checkout: 96 (van der Voort) Terry Jenkins 94.34 5 – 2 Charles Losper 85.75 Highest Checkout: 121 (Jenkins) 18 November 2007: Andy Hamilton 93.24 5 – 2 Terry Jenkins 86.28 Highest Checkout: 40 (Jenkins) Vincent van der Voort 96.85 5 – 1 Charles Losper 89.18 Highest Checkout: 76 (van der Voort) 19 November 2007: Andy Hamilton 85.78 5 – 3 Charles Losper 82.56 Highest Checkout: 145 (Hamilton) Vincent van der Voort 82.23 2 – 5 Terry Jenkins 90.06 Highest Checkout: 140 (Jenkins)

Group C

POS Player P W L LF LA +/- Pts Status 1 James Wade 3 3 0 15 6 +9 6 Advance to the last 16 2 Pat Orreal 3 2 1 11 10 +1 4 3 Phill Nixon (BDO) 3 1 2 13 10 +3 2 Eliminated 4 Niels de Ruiter (BDO) 3 0 3 2 15 −13 0

17 November 2007: James Wade 91.82 5 – 4 Phill Nixon 92.19 Highest Checkout: 65 (Wade) Niels de Ruiter 76.61 1 – 5 Pat Orreal 86.21 Highest Checkout: 98 (de Ruiter) 18 November 2007: James Wade 102.79 5 – 1 Pat Orreal 90.35 Highest Checkout: 100 (Orreal) Phill Nixon 81.68 5 – 0 Niels de Ruiter 75.69 Highest Checkout: 116 (Nixon) 19 November 2007: James Wade 97.42 5 – 1 Niels de Ruiter 85.15 Highest Checkout: 158 (Wade) Phill Nixon 76.61 4 – 5 Pat Orreal 81.89 Highest Checkout: 64 (Nixon)

Group D

POS Player P W L LF LA +/- Pts Status 1 Jelle Klaasen (BDO) 3 2 1 14 9 +5 4 Advance to the last 16 2 Kevin McDine 3 2 1 13 8 +5 4 3 Shaun Greatbatch (BDO) 3 1 2 7 11 −4 2 Eliminated 4 Peter Manley 3 1 2 8 14 −6 2

17 November 2007: Jelle Klaasen 86.82 5 – 1 Shaun Greatbatch 86.07 Highest Checkout: 110 (Klaasen) Peter Manley 87.83 2 – 5 Kevin McDine 97.62 Highest Checkout: 161 (McDine) 18 November 2007: Jelle Klaasen 91.62 5 – 3 Kevin McDine 91.48 Highest Checkout: 121 (Klaasen) Shaun Greatbatch 95.29 5 – 1 Peter Manley 81.65 Highest Checkout: 164 (Greatbatch) 19 November 2007: Jelle Klaasen 93.56 4 – 5 Peter Manley 92.71 Highest Checkout: 94 (Klaasen) Kevin McDine 97.47 5 – 1 Shaun Greatbatch 90.87 Highest Checkout: 102 (McDine)

Group E

POS Player P W L LF LA +/- Pts Status 1 Phil Taylor 3 3 0 15 5 +10 6 Advance to the last 16 2 Colin Lloyd (BDO) 3 2 1 11 9 +2 4 3 Wayne Mardle 3 1 2 8 12 −4 2 Eliminated 4 Ronnie Baxter 3 0 3 7 15 −8 0

17 November 2007: Phil Taylor 91.64 5 –2 Wayne Mardle 87.45 Highest Checkout: 153 (Taylor) Colin Lloyd 99.37 5 – 3 Ronnie Baxter 91.76 Highest Checkout: 134 (Baxter) 18 November 2007: Phil Taylor 104.82 5 – 1 Colin Lloyd 91.45 Highest Checkout: 56 (Lloyd) Wayne Mardle 85.68 5 – 2 Ronnie Baxter 81.59 Highest Checkout: 80 (Baxter) 20 November 2007: Ronnie Baxter 86.09 2 – 5 Phil Taylor 97.24 Highest Checkout: 129 (Baxter) Colin Lloyd 93.91 5 – 1 Wayne Mardle 80.75 Highest Checkout: 106 (Lloyd)

Group F

POS Player P W L LF LA +/- Pts Status 1 John Part 3 2 1 12 9 +3 4 Advance to the last 16 2 Gary Mawson 3 2 1 11 10 +1 4 3 Mark Webster (BDO) 3 1 2 10 11 −1 2 Eliminated 4 Andy Jenkins 3 1 2 8 11 −3 2

17 November 2007: Mark Webster 93.54 1 – 5 Andy Jenkins 96.45 Highest Checkout: 141 (Jenkins) John Part 81.50 2 – 5 Gary Mawson 87.03 Highest Checkout: 126 (Part) 18 November 2007: Mark Webster 97.70 4 – 5 John Part 94.89 Highest Checkout: 105 (Webster) Andy Jenkins 85.23 3 – 5 Gary Mawson 87.57 Highest Checkout: 110 (Mawson) 20 November 2007: Andy Jenkins 95.13 0 – 5 John Part 95.13 Highest Checkout: 124 (Part) Gary Mawson 85.76 1 – 5 Mark Webster 96.20 Highest Checkout: 117 (Webster)

Group G

POS Player P W L LF LA +/- Pts Status 1 Kevin Painter 3 2 1 14 6 +8 4 Advance to the last 16 2 Gary Anderson (BDO) 3 2 1 11 6 +5 4 3 Barrie Bates 3 1 2 5 11 −6 2 Eliminated 4 Wayne Jones 3 1 2 7 14 −7 2

17 November 2007: Gary Anderson 93.54 1 – 5 Kevin Painter 96.45 Highest Checkout: 104 (Anderson) Barrie Bates 86.50 5 – 1 Wayne Jones 80.82 Highest Checkout: 123 (Bates) 18 November 2007: Kevin Painter 87.38 5 – 0 Barrie Bates 83.14 Highest Checkout: 40 (Painter) Gary Anderson 94.86 5 – 1 Wayne Jones 86.41 Highest Checkout: 51 (Anderson) 20 November 2007: Kevin Painter 91.79 4 – 5 Wayne Jones 101.48 Highest Checkout: 102 (Painter) Barrie Bates 86.78 0 – 5 Gary Anderson 107.36 Highest Checkout: 96 (Anderson)

Group H

POS Player P W L LF LA +/- Pts Status 1 Roland Scholten 3 3 0 15 4 +11 6 Advance to the last 16 2 Mervyn King (BDO) 3 2 1 13 10 +3 4 3 Michael van Gerwen (BDO) 3 1 2 8 14 −6 2 Eliminated 4 Scott Waites (BDO) 3 0 3 7 15 −8 0

17 November 2007: Michael van Gerwen 88.07 5 – 4 Scott Waites 84.92 Highest Checkout: 94 (Waites) Roland Scholten 98.35 5 – 3 Mervyn King 102.05 Highest Checkout: 144 (Scholten) 18 November 2007: Scott Waites 87.83 3 – 5 Mervyn King 95.31 Highest Checkout: 96 (Waites) Michael van Gerwen 97.62 1 – 5 Roland Scholten 110.21 Highest Checkout: 136 (Scholten) 20 November 2007: Roland Scholten 104.38 5 – 0 Scott Waites 90.55 Highest Checkout: 101 (Scholten) Mervyn King 94.61 5 – 2 Michael van Gerwen 90.42 Highest Checkout: 64 (van Gerwen)

Knockout Stages

	Second Round (best of 19) Wednesday 21 & Thursday 22 November					Quarter Finals (best of 19) Friday 23 November					Semi Finals (best of 25) Saturday 24 November					Final (best of 35) Sunday 25 November
	1	Raymond van Barneveld 101.01	7
	8	Terry Jenkins 102.14	10
						8	Terry Jenkins 93.59	8
							Andy Hamilton 98.24	10
		Andy Hamilton 96.60	10
		Adrian Lewis 96.08	8
												Andy Hamilton 94.30	13
												Kevin McDine 94.73	12
	4	James Wade 102.55	7
		Kevin McDine 105.79	10
							Kevin McDine 98.97	10
						5	Jelle Klaasen (BDO) 91.90	3
	5	Jelle Klaasen (BDO) 89.14	10
		Pat Orreal 85.47	9
																	Andy Hamilton 100.97	11
																2	Phil Taylor 101.75	18
	2	Phil Taylor 103.17	10
		Gary Mawson 91.12	4
						2	Phil Taylor 99.28	10
						7	John Part 92.61	7
	7	John Part 96.18	10
		Colin Lloyd (BDO) 93.67	7
											2	Phil Taylor 96.86	13
											3	Gary Anderson (BDO) 99.11	11
		Kevin Painter 97.27	10
		Mervyn King (BDO) 92.57	7
							Kevin Painter 91.74	7
						3	Gary Anderson (BDO) 94.06	10
		Roland Scholten 95.70	7
	3	Gary Anderson (BDO) 98.35	10

Statistics

Player	Played	Legs Won	Legs Lost	100+	140+	180s	High Checkout	3-dart Average [8]
Raymond van Barneveld	4	22	18	47	32	14	120	102.82
Adrian Lewis	4	21	19	60	25	6	150	96.44
Dennis Priestley	3	11	14	42	11	7	88	95.76
Chris Mason	3	7	15	33	6	4	157	86.62
Andy Hamilton	7	59	54	127	76	33	145	95.61
Vincent van der Voort	3	10	11	22	20	3	96	92.16
Terry Jenkins	5	30	26	70	52	10	140	93.28
Charles Losper	3	6	15	25	14	1	68	85.83
James Wade	4	22	16	49	31	10	170	98.65
Phill Nixon	3	13	10	31	13	4	116	83.49
Pat Orreal	4	20	20	40	28	7	115	85.98
Niels de Ruiter	3	2	15	20	6	1	98	79.15
Jelle Klaasen	5	27	28	84	33	9	125	90.61
Kevin McDine	6	45	31	114	45	23	161	97.68
Shaun Greatbatch	3	7	11	25	14	3	164	90.74
Peter Manley	3	8	14	34	15	2	76	87.40
Phil Taylor	7	66	39	128	89	29	153	99.25
Wayne Mardle	3	8	12	26	7	3	65	86.57
Colin Lloyd	4	18	19	39	33	7	150	94.60
Ronnie Baxter	3	7	15	25	13	4	134	86.48
Gary Mawson	4	16	20	46	25	5	136	87.87
Andy Jenkins	3	8	11	25	15	2	141	90.84
John Part	5	29	26	66	28	9	126	92.06
Mark Webster	3	10	11	25	17	2	117	95.81
Kevin Painter	5	31	23	66	33	19	120	92.82
Gary Anderson	6	42	33	99	67	22	158	97.50
Barrie Bates	3	5	11	26	10	0	123	85.47
Wayne Jones	3	7	14	27	21	2	81	89.57
Roland Scholten	4	22	14	56	28	10	144	102.16
Mervyn King	4	20	20	57	30	8	78	96.14
Michael van Gerwen	3	8	14	25	19	6	76	92.04
Scott Waites	3	7	15	25	11	3	96	87.77

Television coverage

The tournament was televised by ITV. The first afternoon session on 17 November, the Sunday afternoon session on 18 November, the semi-finals, and the final were all be broadcast live on ITV1. The rest of the tournament was shown live on ITV4. It was ITV's first televised darts tournament since they ceased coverage of the Winmau World Masters in 1988 – although they did show the first Clash of Champions match between Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld in 1999.^[9]

The ITV Sport team consisted of lead presenter Matt Smith, analysts Steve Beaton and Alan Warriner-Little, and commentators John Rawling from ITV Boxing, Stuart Pyke from Sky Sports and Nigel Pearson of talkSPORT.

References

External links

• Announcement of tournament PlanetDarts.tv