Wayne Jones thinking big for the Grand Slam

The hometown hero opens his challenge against Michael Smith in Group C tomorrow night after the unlikeliest of routes to qualify, writes Craig Birch.

Jones had to win four games in one day at a wild card tournament in Coventry to net one of eight places on offer to play in the Grand Slam.

And the Wednesfield thrower may need an unprecedented run to the final at Wolverhampton Civic Hall to save his spot in the World Championship.

He's so far behind on the Pro Tour Order of Merit that he would need to go one better than his 2010 semi-final to come into the worlds reckoning.

Failing that, he'll have to nab one of the two spots at the open PDPA qualifier, back at Coventry City Football Club's Ricoh Arena on November 30, or his 11-year worlds run will be over.

His journey Grand Slam journey in 2010 captured the imagination of the Civic punters, coming back from the brink to see off Gary Anderson in the quarters before bowing out to James Wade.

It's been a bumpy road for 'the Wanderer' since. A second round exit to Terry Jenkins followed, before failing to get out of the group stages twice. He didn't qualify in 2013 or last year.

But Jones is putting his dip in form behind him as he prepares to come 'home,' with the Civic crowd cheering him on as 'one of their own' returns.

The 50-year-old said: "I feel like I've got a bit of form going into the weekend and, sometimes, that can make all of the difference.

"I chucked lovely in the qualifier, they were four hard games to get through and any one out of Kevin Painter, Andrew Gilding, James Wilson and Devon Petersen were capable of beating me.

"Let's see what happens with the worlds, I'd never say never about and anything can happen in the Grand Slam. It's a tough ask, but that's the same with anything in darts now.

"The first game is very important, I beat Mark Webster in my 2010 opener and that gave me a bit of breathing space. It's always good to get up and running quickly.

"I wouldn't mind watching the Anderson game again, it might remind me where I got it right!"

The winner of Jones versus Smith will meet the victor out of Adrian Lewis and the BDO's Andy Fordham on Sunday night in the round robin format.

The final of each player's three section C games are on Tuesday night, with the top two to be merged into their D counterparts from 'the group of death.'

If he gets through, Jones could meet any of Peter Wright, Dave Chisnall, Mervyn King or Scott Mitchell, with Michael van Gerwen also in that half of the draw.

He said: "Michael is good enough to wallop me 5-0 in 50 darts, but he's a young lad and he's been struggling a bit lately. Hopefully, I'll make my experience count.

"Ditto with Adrian, if this was the worlds I'd be worried, but he can be hit and miss in the other tournaments. It's hard to suss out Andy, but he must be in some sort of form.

"I'm not looking past the group, but I'd be more comfortable over best of 19 in the knockout stages."

As he always has done, Jones will take the route 59 bus from Wednesfield to the Civic on Saturday and then hit the practice room, before he's called to play.

The widowed father-of-three, who works part-time as an insurance collector, is saving the £2,500 - at least - he'll pick up for Christmas.

He joked: "I can't rely on being in the worlds, so I need the money for presents. I normally spend a grand apiece on the kids. They could get a card and a selection box this year!

"I've always spent it while I've had it, that's the problem."

Tickets for the Grand Slam, sponsored by Singha Beer, are still available by calling 0870 320 7000 or by visiting www.wolvescivic.co.uk