Key Highlights
- The 2025 Grand Slam of Darts is set to begin on Saturday, November 8.
- The tournament features a unique group stage followed by knockout rounds.
- Luke Littler will defend his title against new qualifiers in the upcoming edition.
- Phil Taylor holds the record for most titles with six wins.
Tournament Overview and Format
The 2025 Grand Slam of Darts, organized by the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC), is scheduled to commence on November 8 in Wolverhampton. Unlike other major darts tournaments which follow a knockout format, this event introduces an innovative group stage followed by traditional knockout rounds.
Group Stage
The tournament kicks off with a group stage that runs from Saturday, November 8 to Monday, November 10. This phase involves 32 qualifiers being divided into eight groups of four players each. Each player will face three opponents within their respective group through matches consisting of either nine or five legs.
Knockout Rounds
The group stage winners progress to the last 16, followed by quarter-finals, semi-finals, and ultimately the final on November 16. The knockout rounds employ progressively longer match formats: second-round matches are a best-of-19 legs or first to 10 legs, while the latter stages (quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final) adopt a best-of-31 legs or first to 16 legs format.
Prize Money and Player Qualification
The tournament offers significant prize money. The winner will receive £150,000, with additional bonuses for group stage winners. Specifically:
- Group stage winner bonus: £3,500
- Third place in the group: £8,000
- Fourth place in the group: £5,000
The 10 players qualifying for the tournament are selected based on their recent performances. These include those who have reached televised major finals over the past year and winners of PDC events such as the Championship Darts Corporation (for US and Canadian players), Women’s Tour, European Tour, and a PDC Tour qualifying event.
Previous Champions
The tournament has witnessed several notable champions. Notably, Michael van Gerwen dominated between 2015 and 2017, securing the title three years in a row. Phil Taylor, widely regarded as one of the most successful players in darts history, holds six titles to his name.
Currently, Luke Littler is set to defend his championship after an impressive 16-3 victory over Martin Lukeman in the 2024 final.
The Grand Slam of Darts continues to be a significant event in the professional darts calendar, attracting top players and showcasing the sport’s growing popularity. As the tournament approaches, fans can look forward to intense competition and exciting matches across its unique format.
