The 2026 Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts is set to explode with an unmissable opening! Defending back-to-back champion Luke Littler will kick off his campaign in Group A against rising female star Beau Greaves and Niels Zonneveld. This expanded 48-player tournament, running from November 14-22, promises intense action, with only group winners advancing to battle for the prestigious Eric Bristow Trophy and a massive £200,000 prize. Get ready for early clashes featuring darts legends like Luke Humphries, Gerwyn Price, and Michael van Gerwen, all vying for glory in Wolverhampton.
The Road to Glory: Tournament Format Explained
The Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts returns with an exciting, expanded format for 2026, featuring an impressive 48 players. These elite players are divided into groups, and the competition is fierce from the very start. The stakes are incredibly high:
- Only the group winners will advance to the Last 16 knockout stage.
- The ultimate champion will not only claim the coveted Eric Bristow Trophy but also a staggering £200,000 in prize money.
The tournament unfolds over nine days, promising non-stop darts drama from November 14th to 22nd at Aldersley Leisure Village in Wolverhampton.
Key Groups and Star Showdowns
The group stage draw has delivered some truly captivating matchups right out of the gate. Here’s a look at some of the most anticipated groups:
Group A: The Headline Act
All eyes will be on Group A, where reigning back-to-back champion Luke Littler begins his quest for a third consecutive title. Littler, who famously swept to victory in 2024 and triumphed 16-11 over Luke Humphries in the 2025 final, faces a tough challenge. He’s drawn alongside the formidable female phenom Beau Greaves and talented Dutchman Niels Zonneveld.
The most anticipated match of the opening night will undoubtedly be Littler vs. Greaves, a clash of generational talents set to ignite the tournament on Saturday evening.
Other Major Contenders
- Group I: 2023 champion Luke Humphries starts his campaign in a group featuring Joe Cullen and Paolo Nebrida. Humphries will be eager to add another title to his name.
- Group E: Three-time former winner Gerwyn Price is placed in Group E, battling against Sebastian Bialecki and Joe Hunt. Price’s powerful game always makes him a threat.
- Group L: Darts legend Michael van Gerwen, a champion in 2015, 2016, and 2017, will compete in Group L with Jeffrey de Graaf and Henry Coates. Can ‘Mighty Mike’ reclaim his dominance?
- Group O: Fresh off winning the European Championship and World Series Finals this year, Ross Smith will fancy his chances of progressing from Group O, which includes Gabriel Clemens and Rusty-Jake Rodriguez.
Full Schedule at a Glance (November 14-22)
The tournament schedule is packed with crucial matches at every stage:
- Saturday, November 14 (Day 1): The Grand Slam kicks off with two sessions of Group Matches. The afternoon session sees seeded players facing their third group opponent, while the evening session features more seeded players against their third group opponent, including the highly anticipated Luke Littler vs. Beau Greaves showdown.
- Sunday, November 15 (Day 2): Two more sessions of Group Matches, where the second player in each group (Player B) takes on the losing player from Saturday’s matches.
- Monday, November 16 (Day 3): The final set of Group Matches for Groups A-H, with Player B facing Saturday’s winning player.
- Tuesday, November 17 (Day 4): The concluding Group Matches for Groups I-P, with Player B again facing Saturday’s winning player. At the end of these matches, all 16 group winners will be determined.
- Wednesday, November 18 (Day 5): The knockout stage begins with the first four Round Two Matches, pitting the winners from Groups A-H against each other.
- Thursday, November 19 (Day 6): Another four thrilling Round Two Matches, this time featuring the group winners from I-P.
- Friday, November 20 (Day 7): The tension escalates with the first two high-stakes Quarter-Finals.
- Saturday, November 21 (Day 8): The remaining two intense Quarter-Finals will take place, determining the semi-finalists.
- Sunday, November 22 (Day 9): The climax of the tournament, featuring the Semi-Finals and the Grand Final, where a new (or familiar) champion will be crowned.
Source: Based on an article from Darts World Magazine.
