Grand Slam of Darts 2024: Luke Humphries knocked out at group stage

Defending champion and world number one Luke Humphries suffered a shock group-stage exit from the Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton.

Humphries lost his second match 5-3 to fellow Englishman James Wade, after his day one defeat by Austrian Rowby-John Rodriguez.

World champion Humphries checked out a 130 to take a 3-2 lead, but Wade held his nerve to win the next three sets.

Rodriguez and Wade will face each other in the final match of Group A to decide who will join Mickey Mansell in the next round.

Gary Anderson secured his progression with a thrilling 5-4 win over three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen.

Anderson checked out a 136 for a 4-3 lead before Van Gerwen fought back to force a deciding set, which the Scot won comfortably to finish with an average of 105.19.

Van Gerwen will need to beat Ryan Joyce in the next group match to qualify.

Former world champion Michael Smith was beaten 5-1 by Jermaine Wattimena, who ensured his qualification with two wins from two.

Smith beat Mensur Suljovic on day one, meaning he can still qualify with a win over Mike de Decker on Monday.

Peter Wright is also winless after he was beaten by Leonard Gates in the afternoon session, while Rob Cross lost 5-3 to Martin Lukeman.

Dave Chisnall and Stephen Bunting lost to Ross Smith and Gian van Veen respectively and the Netherlands’ Noa-Lynn van Leuven was eliminated by Ryan Joyce.

Ireland’s Keane Barry responded to his 5-0 thrashing by Luke Littler one day one, beating Lourence Ilagan 5-3 to keep himself in contention of qualifying.

The group stages continue on Monday, while the last 16 rounds begin on Wednesday followed by the semi-finals and finals on Sunday, 17 November.