Grand Slam of Darts 2026: Predictions, Tips, and Schedule for Day One

Overview of the First Day Matches

The Grand Slam of Darts 2026 kicks off with an exciting slate of matches on the first day. Fans can look forward to thrilling competitions as players vie for an early advantage in the group stage.

Evening Session Showdowns

The evening matchups, beginning at 19:00, will be broadcast on Sky Sports. Each match follows a Best of nine legs format.

• Gerwyn Price vs. Joe Hunt (Group E)

  Price finds himself in a favorable group, but no match can be underestimated. His opponent, Joe Hunt, despite his solid average of over 90, is making a major tournament debut, which could be overwhelming.

  Prediction: Price to win 5-2.

• James Wade vs. Cam Crabtree (Group K)

  Wade, a strong contender for the title, faces rising star Crabtree, who recently captured headlines by defeating Luke Littler. However, Wade's extensive experience provides him a significant edge.

• Ross Smith vs. Rusty-Jake Rodriguez (Group O)

  Smith is another title favorite who has claimed six titles this season. Rodriguez struggled in his last Grand Slam appearance and will find it challenging against Smith.

  Prediction: Smith to win 5-1.

• Michael van Gerwen vs. Henry Coates (Group L)

  Van Gerwen's struggles this year may have led to some underestimation, but his experience will be crucial against tournament newcomer Coates, who is yet to face a major stage atmosphere.

  Prediction: Van Gerwen to win 5-3.

• Luke Humphries vs. Paolo Nebrida (Group I)

  Humphries has hit form just in time for the tournament, making him a favorite against Nebrida, who is returning from an impressive Asian Championship win.

• Luke Littler vs. Beau Greaves (Group A)

  This contest features reigning champion Littler against Greaves. Their previous encounters suggest a closely contested match, especially after Greaves's recent historic title win.

  Prediction: Littler to edge out Greaves 5-4.

• Gian van Veen vs. Carl Sneyd (Group M)

  Van Veen, despite lacking titles this year, remains a top seed against Sneyd, who has had a mediocre performance.

• Chris Dobey vs. Jan Schmidt (Group N)

  Dobey holds the upper hand with multiple ranking titles this year, making him the favorite against Schmidt, who is making his big stage debut.

Afternoon Matches to Watch

The afternoon session starts at 12:00 GMT, featuring more heated contests that set the tone for the tournament.

• Luke Woodhouse vs. Tom Sykes (Group J)

  Woodhouse has had a breakout season and aims to continue his success against Sykes, who lacks significant stage experience.

• Jermaine Wattimena vs. Lisa Ashton (Group B)

  Wattimena is expected to dominate against Ashton, who is still in search of her first win in group stages.

• Stephen Bunting vs. Raymond Smith (Group D)

  Bunting, despite a tough season, is favored due to his experience over the newcomer Smith.

• Ryan Searle vs. Charlie Manby (Group F)

  Manby aims to establish himself further after a strong performance recently, facing off against seasoned player Searle.

• Josh Rock vs. Tommy Morris (Group C)

  Rock, although not at his best, has considerable experience over newcomer Morris, which may give him the edge.

• Wessel Nijman vs. Adam Sevada (Group H)

  Nijman, a frontrunner this season, is expected to win comfortably against Sevada.

• Nathan Aspinall vs. Maik Kuivenhoven (Group P)

  Aspinall's superior stats and experience indicate a likely victory against Kuivenhoven.

• Jonny Clayton vs. Anton Ostlund (Group G)

  Clayton appears too strong for Ostlund, who is likely to find the pressure overwhelming.

Event Structure and Prize Money

The Grand Slam features 16 groups, with the top players vying for two points for every win. The prize pool totals £1,000,000, with the champion pocketing £200,000.

Fans are in for a remarkable start to the Grand Slam of Darts 2026, with the first day promising plenty of excitement and surprises as the competitors go head-to-head!