In a column for Sky Sports, Beau Greaves states that she is excited to face Luke Littler on the opening day of the Mr Vegas Grand Slam in Wolverhampton.
The tournament runs from November 14-22 at WV Active Aldersley, bringing 48 players together in 16 round-robin groups. Greaves shares Group C with the world champion and Dutch player Niels Zonneveld. Only the top player from each group advances to the knockout stages.
Greaves and Littler meet on Saturday night for the first time since Greaves defeated him at the World Youth Championship 12 months ago. Sky Sports broadcasts the opening Saturday session, with the evening games showing on Sky Sports Main Event.
“I think he’s the best in my eyes, I think he’s fantastic to watch, he’s been amazing, so I always imagine he’s going to play really well,” Greaves told Sky Sports.
“I don’t want to go in there thinking, ‘oh he’s not on form’, or he’s struggling, because then I would just be terrible, so I’ve got to go in there thinking ‘he’s going to absolutely smash me’, and just play my game, and try and take any chance I can, and just enjoy it.”
Group format changes
The Grand Slam expanded this year from 32 to 48 players, shifting from four-player groups to 16 groups of three. The new structure increases pressure because any player losing their opening match faces elimination risk even if they win their second fixture.
“I didn’t know. I didn’t have a clue that there was only three in the group! I don’t know why they’ve done it really. It didn’t make much sense to me, but again, I don’t really know,” Greaves said.
Greaves reached the Grand Slam stage in each of the last three years but failed to progress past the group rounds. Last year, she lost narrowly to Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson despite maintaining a tournament average above 100.
“I played decent at the Grand Slam last year. I have good moments, but I just don’t do it consistently enough,” she said.
Ross Smith targets success
Ross Smith enters the Wolverhampton tournament two weeks after defeating Martin Schindler 11-8 to win the European Championship final in Dortmund. The victory makes Smith a multiple winner of the event, joining Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen, Rob Cross, and Peter Wright.
The win lifts Smith to a career-high sixth in the PDC Order of Merit. PDC chief executive Matt Porter recently told Sky Sports that Smith ranks among the best players globally and warrants consideration for the 2027 Premier League.
“I’ve already proved I have the game to beat the best,” Smith told Sky Sports.
“I have beaten Luke Littler, I have beaten Luke Humphries. Maybe not at a major event or anything, but I can only play the players I’m drawn against.”
“Of course I want to be in the Premier League. I should be in it, but again, that’s not my call. At the same time, I’m grateful to be where I am.”
Tournament questions
Where is the Grand Slam held?
WV Active Aldersley in Wolverhampton hosts the tournament, a venue that has staged the event since moving from the city’s civic centre in 2018. Around 24,000 spectators are expected across the week.
How many players compete in the groups?
The 48-player field divides into 16 groups of three players each, with only the group winner advancing to the knockout rounds. Group matches are decided over the best of nine legs.
Where can viewers watch the matches live?
Sky Sports broadcasts the tournament live in the UK, with streaming available through NOW. International viewers can access coverage via PDCTV depending on their regional subscription rights.
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