2007 Grand Slam of Darts

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2007 PartyBets.com Grand Slam of Darts
Tournament information
Dates17–25 November 2007
Venue Wolverhampton Civic Hall
Location Wolverhampton
CountryFlag of England.svg  England
Organisation(s) PDC
FormatLegs
Prize fund£300,000
Winner's share£80,000
High checkout170 Flag of England.svg James Wade
Champion(s)
Flag of England.svg Phil Taylor
2008»

The 2007 PartyBets.com 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.

Contents

The 2007 tournament was staged at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, England 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]

Position (num. of players)Prize money
(Total: £300,000)
Winner(1)£80,000
Runner-up(1)£35,000
Semi-finalists(2)£15,000
Quarter-finalists(4)£10,000
Last 16 (second round)(8)£6,000
Last 32 (group stage)(16)£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

TournamentYearPositionPlayerQualifiers
PDC World Darts Championship 2006 Winner Flag of England.svg Phil Taylor Flag of England.svg Phil Taylor
Flag of England.svg Peter Manley
Flag of England.svg Wayne Jones
Flag of England.svg Wayne Mardle
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Raymond van Barneveld
Flag of England.svg Andy Hamilton
Flag of England.svg Andy Jenkins
Flag of England.svg James Wade
Flag of England.svg Terry Jenkins
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg John Part
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Barrie Bates
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Vincent van der Voort
Flag of England.svg Adrian Lewis
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Roland Scholten
Runner-up Flag of England.svg Peter Manley
Semi-finalists Flag of England.svg Wayne Jones
Flag of England.svg Wayne Mardle
2007 Winner Flag of the Netherlands.svg Raymond van Barneveld
Runner-up Flag of England.svg Phil Taylor
Semi-finalists Flag of England.svg Andy Hamilton
Flag of England.svg Andy Jenkins
World Matchplay 2006 Winner Flag of England.svg Phil Taylor
Runner-up Flag of England.svg James Wade
2007 Winner Flag of England.svg James Wade
Runner-up Flag of England.svg Terry Jenkins
World Grand Prix 2006 Winner Flag of England.svg Phil Taylor
Runner-up Flag of England.svg Terry Jenkins
2007 Winner Flag of England.svg James Wade
Runner-up Flag of England.svg Terry Jenkins
Las Vegas Desert Classic 2006 Winner Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg John Part
Runner-up Flag of the Netherlands.svg Raymond van Barneveld
2007 Winner Flag of the Netherlands.svg Raymond van Barneveld
Runner-up Flag of England.svg Terry Jenkins
UK Open 2006 Winner Flag of the Netherlands.svg Raymond van Barneveld
Runner-up Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Barrie Bates
2007 Winner Flag of the Netherlands.svg Raymond van Barneveld
Runner-up Flag of the Netherlands.svg Vincent van der Voort
World Series of Darts 2006Winner Flag of England.svg Phil Taylor
Runner-up Flag of England.svg Adrian Lewis
US Open 2007 Winner Flag of England.svg Phil Taylor
Runner-up Flag of the Netherlands.svg Raymond van Barneveld
Premier League Darts 2006 Winner Flag of England.svg Phil Taylor
Runner-up Flag of the Netherlands.svg Roland Scholten
2007 Winner Flag of England.svg Phil Taylor
Runner-up Flag of England.svg Terry Jenkins
Note: Players in italics had already qualified for the tournament.

BDO

TournamentYearPositionPlayerQualifiers
BDO World Darts Championship 2006 Winner Flag of the Netherlands.svg Jelle Klaasen Flag of the Netherlands.svg Jelle Klaasen
Flag of England.svg Shaun Greatbatch
Flag of England.svg Phill Nixon
Flag of England.svg Mervyn King
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Niels de Ruiter
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Michael van Gerwen
Runner-up Flag of the Netherlands.svg Raymond van Barneveld
Semi-finalists Flag of England.svg Martin Adams
Flag of England.svg Shaun Greatbatch
2007 Winner Flag of England.svg Martin Adams
Runner-up Flag of England.svg Phill Nixon
Semi-finalists Flag of England.svg Mervyn King
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Niels de Ruiter
World Masters 2006 Winner Flag of the Netherlands.svg Michael van Gerwen
Runner-up Flag of England.svg Martin Adams
Note: Players in italics had already qualified for the tournament.

Defunct Tournaments

TournamentYearPositionPlayerQualifiers
International Darts League 2006 Winner Flag of the Netherlands.svg Raymond van Barneveld Flag of England.svg Colin Lloyd
Flag of Scotland.svg Gary Anderson
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Mark Webster
Runner-up Flag of England.svg Colin Lloyd
2007 Winner Flag of Scotland.svg Gary Anderson
Runner-up Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Mark Webster
World Darts Trophy 2006 Winner Flag of England.svg Phil Taylor
Runner-up Flag of England.svg Martin Adams
2007 Winner Flag of Scotland.svg Gary Anderson
Runner-up Flag of England.svg Phil Taylor
Note: Players in italics had already qualified for the tournament.

Other qualifiers

[5]

CriteriaPlayer
Highest Ranked PDC Non-Qualifier Flag of England.svg Dennis Priestley
Highest Ranked BDO Non-Qualifier Flag of England.svg Scott Waites
Wildcard Qualifier Flag of England.svg Chris Mason
Flag of England.svg Kevin McDine
DPA Australia Open Winner Flag of Australia (converted).svg Pat Orreal
South African Open Winner Flag of South Africa.svg Charles Losper
North American Order Of Merit Leader Flag of the United States.svg Gary Mawson
Late Entry Highest PDC Non-Qualifiers Flag of England.svg Ronnie Baxter
Flag of England.svg Kevin Painter

Draws

Group stages

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

NB in Brackets: Number = Seeds; BDO = BDO Darts player; RQ = Ranking qualifier; Q = Qualifier
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

Knockout stages

Second round(best of 19 legs)
21–22 November
Quarter-finals(best of 19 legs)
23 November
Semi-finals(best of 25 legs)
24 November
Final(best of 35 legs)
25 November
            
A1 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Raymond van Barneveld (1) 101.017
B2 Flag of England.svg Terry Jenkins (8) 102.1410
B2 Flag of England.svg Terry Jenkins (8) 93.598
B1 Flag of England.svg Andy Hamilton 98.2410
B1 Flag of England.svg Andy Hamilton 96.6010
A2 Flag of England.svg Adrian Lewis 96.088
B1 Flag of England.svg Andy Hamilton 94.3013
D2 Flag of England.svg Kevin McDine (Q) 94.7312
C1 Flag of England.svg James Wade (4) 102.557
D2 Flag of England.svg Kevin McDine (Q) 105.7910
D2 Flag of England.svg Kevin McDine (Q) 98.9710
D1 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Jelle Klaasen (5) 91.903
D1 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Jelle Klaasen (5) 89.1410
C2 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Pat Orreal (Q) 85.479
B1 Flag of England.svg Andy Hamilton 100.9711
E1 Flag of England.svg Phil Taylor (2) 101.7518
E1 Flag of England.svg Phil Taylor (2) 103.1710
F2 Flag of the United States.svg Gary Mawson (Q) 91.124
E1 Flag of England.svg Phil Taylor (2) 99.2810
F1 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg John Part (7) 92.617
F1 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg John Part (7) 96.1810
E2 Flag of England.svg Colin Lloyd 93.677
E1 Flag of England.svg Phil Taylor (2) 96.8613
G2 Flag of Scotland.svg Gary Anderson (BDO, 3) 99.1111
G1 Flag of England.svg Kevin Painter (RQ) 97.2710
H2 Flag of England.svg Mervyn King 92.577
G1 Flag of England.svg Kevin Painter (RQ) 91.747
G2 Flag of Scotland.svg Gary Anderson (BDO, 3) 94.0610
H1 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Roland Scholten 95.707
G2 Flag of Scotland.svg Gary Anderson (BDO, 3) 98.3510

Statistics

PlayerPlayedLegs WonLegs Lost100+140+180sHigh checkout3-dart average [6]
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Raymond van Barneveld 42218473214120102.82
Flag of England.svg Adrian Lewis 421196025615096.44
Flag of England.svg Dennis Priestley 31114421178895.76
Flag of England.svg Chris Mason 3715336415786.62
Flag of England.svg Andy Hamilton 75954127763314595.61
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Vincent van der Voort 31011222039692.16
Flag of England.svg Terry Jenkins 5302670521014093.28
Flag of South Africa.svg Charles Losper 3615251416885.83
Flag of England.svg James Wade 4221649311017098.65
Flag of England.svg Phill Nixon 313103113411683.49
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Pat Orreal 420204028711585.98
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Niels de Ruiter 321520619879.15
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Jelle Klaasen 527288433912590.61
Flag of England.svg Kevin McDine 64531114452316197.68
Flag of England.svg Shaun Greatbatch 37112514316490.74
Flag of England.svg Peter Manley 3814341527687.40
Flag of England.svg Phil Taylor 76639128892915399.25
Flag of England.svg Wayne Mardle 381226736586.57
Flag of England.svg Colin Lloyd 418193933715094.60
Flag of England.svg Ronnie Baxter 37152513413486.48
Flag of the United States.svg Gary Mawson 416204625513687.87
Flag of England.svg Andy Jenkins 38112515214190.84
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg John Part 529266628912692.06
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Mark Webster 310112517211795.81
Flag of England.svg Kevin Painter 5312366331912092.82
Flag of Scotland.svg Gary Anderson 6423399672215897.50
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Barrie Bates 35112610012385.47
Flag of England.svg Wayne Jones 3714272128189.57
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Roland Scholten 42214562810144102.16
Flag of England.svg Mervyn King 42020573087896.14
Flag of the Netherlands.svg Michael van Gerwen 3814251967692.04
Flag of England.svg Scott Waites 3715251139687.77

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 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. [7]

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.

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References

  1. Sponsor confirmed Archived 2007-09-30 at the Wayback Machine Planet Darts
  2. BDO confirm new date for the World Masters Archived 2007-08-06 at the Wayback Machine BDO
  3. "Stuart Pyke website regarding Martin Adams withdrawal from event". Archived from the original on 31 December 2007. Retrieved 22 December 2007.
  4. Anderson & Webster accept invites Archived 2007-07-01 at the Wayback Machine Planet Darts
  5. Final two places to come from Order of Merit Archived 2007-12-17 at the Wayback Machine Planet Darts
  6. Tournament averages Darts Database
  7. ITV agree to cover Grand Slam This is London