The 2017 bwin Grand Slam of Darts held at The Wolves Civic, Wolverhampton and shown live on Sky Sports once again involved eight of the very best players from the BDO Circuit.
This unique event where BDO players lock horns with their PDC counterparts is always a refreshing and memorable experience and this years event was no different. BDO number one Mark McGeeney was making his debut in this years competition alongside Scotland’s Cameron Menzies and Ross Montgomery and BDO World Trophy Champion Peter Machin. The debutants joined Glen Durrant, Scott Mitchell, Jamie Hughes, and Danny Noppert. All eight BDO players enjoyed the experience and the opportunity of playing a minimum of three matches with seven of them tasting a win in at least one of their group matches.
Scotland’s Montgomery had the unenviable task of facing PDC Number One Michael Van Gerwen in his opening game but refused to be ‘bossed’ by the Dutchman and gave a good account of himself despite going down to a 5-1 defeat. Lakeside World Champion Glen Durrant was the only BDO player to win his opening group match, defeating Peter Wright 5-2 in a high quality encounter. With the experience of having played on the big stage at The Wolves Civic in the first round of group games three more of the BDO lads followed Durrant and tasted a win in the Grand Slam of Darts. Montgomery bounced back from the defeat by Van Gerwen to show his true class with a deserving 5-3 win over Joe Murnan to keep his hopes of qualification alive. Also still very much in the event were Scott Mitchell, again a 5-3 winner over Jeffery de Zwaan and debutant Cameron Menzies, who showed what a bright prospect we all know he is with a brilliant 5-2 success over one of the form guys for the PDC in recent times Simon Whitlock.
Glen Durrant made it two wins from two after he dispatched Alan Norris 5-3 to guarantee he progressed to the knockout stages in round two. Final round of group matches, could we have a couple more BDO players join Glen Durrant in the knockout stages. Scotland’s Cameron Menzies and former Lakeside World Champion Scott Mitchell came agonizingly close, just coming up short, Menzies losing to Berry Van Peer and Mitchell just missing out to Stephen Bunting both by a 5-4 scoreline. Cameron can be proud of his first taste of the Grand Slam though and no doubt will be gracing the Wolves Civic stage again in the future. Although already eliminated both Jamie Hughes and Peter Machin enjoyed their first wins, Hughes defeating Welshman Gerwyn Price 5-1 and Machin enjoying a 5-3 win over Robbie Green.
Mark McGeeney failed to get a win in his three games but showed everyone the talent he has and he will bounce back much the stronger from this experience. Glen Durrant just failed to make it three wins from three after a 5-4 defeat to Cory Cadby but had the consolation of already being in the second round. All eyes were on Glen Durrant as the knockout stages of the Second Round of this years Grand Slam of Darts got underway and ‘Duzza’ didn’t disappoint, keeping his cool and composure to prove to strong and consistent for the PDC’s Dave Chisnall, 10-8 and Glen was through to the last 8, an incredible achievement in itself. Quarter Final time and Glen found himself in a rematch with Peter Wright. The pair met in their first group match with Glen triumphant 5-2, but this game was a marathon not a sprint, the first to 16 legs would progress to the semi finals. Glen didn’t start that well, whilst his scoring was good, he unusually missed double after double and despite trailing 3-2 at the first break, his woes on the doubles were to continue.
Glen showed everyone though just we he’s the BDO World Champion, he never gave up and in leg 23 hit six perfect darts to trail Wright 14-9. Leg 25 and ‘Duzza’ was at it again, this time trailing 15-9 he landed back to back maximums to the delight of the Wolverhampton crowd and followed it with a seventh treble twenty, then treble nineteen to leave the double twelve for the perfect nine dart leg, he showed no nerves and didn’t hesitate and threw his 9th dart well only to see it land agonizingly on the outside of the double 12 wire, magnificent effort from Glen and he finished the leg in ten darts to keep the match alive. However Wright clinched the next leg to win 16-10 and book his semi final place but the plaudits went to Glen who showed everyone the undoubted talent he has.
All eight BDO players can hold their heads up high, its been another highly enjoyable and memorable event for those players involved and they will all be striving to be a part of this tournament again next year.