Michael van Gerwen targets a Slam treble

The Dutchman will begin his defence at the Civic Hall tomorrow against Rob Cross, Joe Murnan and Ross Montgomery following the draw for the Group Stage of the cross-code tournament.

While Van Gerwen seeks a third successive triumph in the £450,000 tournament, many fans will be rooting for six-time champion and darts legend Phil Taylor, who will be competing for the last time at the Wolverhampton event. Taylor effectively goes into semi-retirement later this year and will only plays events such as the darts Premier League.

UK Open champion Peter Wright, the number two seed, heads arguably the toughest quartet, as he opens up against Lakeside champion Glen Durrant in a Group B which also features Alan Norris and 2016 world youth champion Corey Cadby. 2012 Grand Slam of Darts winner Raymond van Barneveld is joined in Group B by UK Open finalist Gerwyn Price, Irish debutant Steve Lennon and Tipton’s Jamie Hughes, who is competing in his home event for a second straight year.

World Grand Prix champion Daryl Gurney, the fourth seed, heads Group D alongside Darren Webster, Mark Webster and Danny Noppert, the Dutch ace who impressed on his Grand Slam debut 12 months ago before reaching the Lakeside Championship final. Two-time world champion Gary Anderson, seeded third, opens up against Scottish debutant Cameron Menzies and will also face Australia’s Simon Whitlock and Dutch youngster Berry van Peer in Group H.

September’s Champions League of Darts winner Mensur Suljovic heads Group G alongside former Wolverhampton semi-finalist Michael Smith, James Wilson and BDO number one Mark McGeeney.

2014 Grand Slam runner-up Dave Chisnall, seeded seventh, is joined in Group F by former Lakeside Champions Stephen Bunting and Scott Mitchell and Dutch youngster Jeffrey de Zwaan.

The opening group matches will be held tomorrow, with play across two sessions at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall. Sunday sees the second group games, with tomorrow’s winning players facing each other and the losing players also playing.

The final group games will then be held on Monday and Tuesday, with the top two players from each group then progressing to the knockout stage from the last 16 onwards.

Tickets for the bwin Grand Slam of Darts are available through www.wolvescivic.co.uk or by calling 0870 320 7000.