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.
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.Sponsor confirmed Planet Darts
Position (num. of players) Prize money(Total: £300,000)Winner (1) £80,000Runner-up (1) £35,000Semi-finalists (2) £15,000Quarter-finalists (4) £10,000Last 16 (second round) (8) £6,000Last 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,BDO confirm new date for the World Masters BDO 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. 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.Anderson & Webster accept invites Planet Darts He participated in the 2007 Winmau World Masters instead, losing at the quarter-final stage.
PDC Tournament Year Position Player Qualifiers PDC World Darts Championship 2006 Winner Phil Taylor Phil Taylor Peter Manley Wayne Jones Wayne Mardle Raymond van Barneveld Andy Hamilton Andy Jenkins James Wade Terry Jenkins John Part Barrie Bates Vincent van der Voort Adrian Lewis Roland Scholten Runner-up Peter Manley Wayne Jones Wayne Mardle 2007 Winner Raymond van Barneveld Runner-up Phil Taylor Semi-finalists Andy Hamilton Andy Jenkins World Matchplay 2006 Winner Phil Taylor Runner-up James Wade 2007 Winner James Wade Runner-up Terry Jenkins World Grand Prix 2006 Winner Phil Taylor Runner-up Terry Jenkins 2007 Winner James Wade Runner-up Terry Jenkins Las Vegas Desert Classic 2006 Winner John Part Runner-up Raymond van Barneveld 2007 Winner Raymond van Barneveld Runner-up Terry Jenkins UK Open 2006 Winner Raymond van Barneveld Runner-up Barrie Bates 2007 Winner Raymond van Barneveld Runner-up Vincent van der Voort World Series of Darts 2006 Winner Phil Taylor Runner-up Adrian Lewis US Open 2007 Winner Phil Taylor Runner-up Raymond van Barneveld Premier League Darts 2006 Winner Phil Taylor Runner-up Roland Scholten 2007 Winner Phil Taylor Runner-up Terry Jenkins Note: Players in italics had already qualified for the tournament.
BDO Tournament Year Position Player Qualifiers BDO World Darts Championship 2006 Winner Jelle Klaasen Jelle Klaasen Shaun Greatbatch Phill Nixon Mervyn King Niels de Ruiter Michael van Gerwen Runner-up Raymond van Barneveld Martin Adams Shaun Greatbatch 2007 Winner Martin Adams Runner-up Phill Nixon Semi-finalists Mervyn King Niels de Ruiter World Masters 2006 Winner Michael van Gerwen Runner-up Martin Adams Note: Players in italics had already qualified for the tournament.
Defunct Tournaments Tournament Year Position Player Qualifiers International Darts League 2006 Winner Raymond van Barneveld Colin Lloyd Gary Anderson Mark Webster Runner-up Colin Lloyd 2007 Winner Gary Anderson Runner-up Mark Webster World Darts Trophy 2006 Winner Phil Taylor Runner-up Martin Adams 2007 Winner Gary Anderson Runner-up Phil Taylor Note: Players in italics had already qualified for the tournament.
Other qualifiers Final two places to come from Order of Merit Planet Darts Criteria Player Highest Ranked PDC Non-Qualifier Dennis Priestley Highest Ranked BDO Non-Qualifier Scott Waites Wildcard Qualifier Chris Mason Kevin McDine DPA Australia Open Winner Pat Orreal South African Open Winner Charles Losper North American Order Of Merit Leader Gary Mawson Late Entry Highest PDC Non-Qualifiers Ronnie Baxter 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
Group A POSPlayerPWLLFLA+/-PtsStatus1330158+76Qualified2 Adrian Lewis321139+443 Dennis Priestley (RQ)3121114−32Eliminated4 Chris Mason (Q)303715−80
17 November 105.26 Raymond van Barneveld 5 – 3 Chris Mason 95.94 94.08 Adrian Lewis 5 – 4 Dennis Priestley 95.93
18 November 100.94 Raymond van Barneveld 5 – 3 Adrian Lewis 94.03 81.44 Chris Mason 4 – 5 Dennis Priestley 87.81
19 November 82.48 Chris Mason 0 – 5 Adrian Lewis 101.55 104.08 Raymond van Barneveld 5 – 2 Dennis Priestley 103.53
Group B POSPlayerPWLLFLA+/-PtsStatus1 Andy Hamilton330158+76Qualified2 Terry Jenkins (8)321129+343 Vincent van der Voort3121011−12Eliminated4 Charles Losper (Q)303615−90
17 November 97.39 Vincent van der Voort 3 – 5 Andy Hamilton 100.94 94.34 Terry Jenkins 5 – 2 Charles Losper 85.75
18 November 93.24 Andy Hamilton 5 – 2 Terry Jenkins 86.28 96.85 Vincent van der Voort 5 – 1 Charles Losper 89.18
19 November 85.78 Andy Hamilton 5 – 3 Charles Losper 82.56 82.23 Vincent van der Voort 2 – 5 Terry Jenkins 90.06
Group C POSPlayerPWLLFLA+/-PtsStatus1 James Wade (4)330156+96Qualified2 Pat Orreal (Q) 3211110+143 Phill Nixon (BDO)3121310+32Eliminated4303215−130
17 November 91.82 James Wade 5 – 4 Phill Nixon 92.19 76.61 Niels de Ruiter 1 – 5 Pat Orreal 86.21
18 November 102.79 James Wade 5 – 1 Pat Orreal 90.35 81.68 Phill Nixon 5 – 0 Niels de Ruiter 75.69
19 November 97.42 James Wade 5 – 1 Niels de Ruiter 85.15 76.61 Phill Nixon 4 – 5 Pat Orreal 81.89
Group D POSPlayerPWLLFLA+/-PtsStatus1 Jelle Klaasen (5)321149+54Qualified2 Kevin McDine (Q)321138+543312711−42Eliminated4 Peter Manley312814−62
17 November 86.82 Jelle Klaasen 5 – 1 Shaun Greatbatch 86.07 87.83 Peter Manley 2 – 5 Kevin McDine 97.62
18 November 91.62 Jelle Klaasen 5 – 3 Kevin McDine 91.48 95.29 Shaun Greatbatch 5 – 1 Peter Manley 81.65
19 November 93.56 Jelle Klaasen 4 – 5 Peter Manley 92.71 97.47 Kevin McDine 5 – 1 Shaun Greatbatch 90.87
Group E POSPlayerPWLLFLA+/-PtsStatus1 Phil Taylor (2)330155+106Qualified2 Colin Lloyd 321119+243 Wayne Mardle312812−42Eliminated4 Ronnie Baxter (RQ)303715−80
17 November 91.64 Phil Taylor 5 – 2 Wayne Mardle 87.45 99.37 Colin Lloyd 5 – 3 Ronnie Baxter 91.76
18 November 104.82 Phil Taylor 5 – 1 Colin Lloyd 91.45 85.68 Wayne Mardle 5 – 2 Ronnie Baxter 81.59
20 November 86.09 Ronnie Baxter 2 – 5 Phil Taylor 97.24 93.91 Colin Lloyd 5 – 1 Wayne Mardle 80.75
Group F POSPlayerPWLLFLA+/-PtsStatus1 John Part (7)321129+34Qualified2 Gary Mawson (Q)3211110+143 Mark Webster (BDO)3121011−12Eliminated4 Andy Jenkins312811−32
17 November 93.54 Mark Webster 1 – 5 Andy Jenkins 96.45 81.50 John Part 2 – 5 Gary Mawson 87.03
18 November 97.70 Mark Webster 4 – 5 John Part 94.89 85.23 Andy Jenkins 3 – 5 Gary Mawson 87.57
20 November 95.13 Andy Jenkins 0 – 5 John Part 95.13 85.76 Gary Mawson 1 – 5 Mark Webster 96.20
Group G POSPlayerPWLLFLA+/-PtsStatus1 Kevin Painter (RQ)321146+84Qualified2321116+543 Barrie Bates312511−62Eliminated4 Wayne Jones312714−72 17 November 93.54 Gary Anderson 1 – 5 Kevin Painter 96.45 86.50 Barrie Bates 5 – 1 Wayne Jones 80.82
18 November 87.38 Kevin Painter 5 – 0 Barrie Bates 83.14 94.86 Gary Anderson 5 – 1 Wayne Jones 86.41
20 November 91.79 Kevin Painter 4 – 5 Wayne Jones 101.48 86.78 Barrie Bates 0 – 5 Gary Anderson 107.36
Group H POSPlayerPWLLFLA+/-PtsStatus1 Roland Scholten330154+116Qualified2 Mervyn King 3211310+343312814−62Eliminated4303715−80
17 November 88.07 Michael van Gerwen 5 – 4 Scott Waites 84.92 98.35 Roland Scholten 5 – 3 Mervyn King 102.05
18 November 87.83 Scott Waites 3 – 5 Mervyn King 95.31 97.62 Michael van Gerwen 1 – 5 Roland Scholten 110.21
20 November 104.38 Roland Scholten 5 – 0 Scott Waites 90.55 94.61 Mervyn King 5 – 2 Michael van Gerwen 90.42
Knockout stages
Statistics Player Played Legs Won Legs Lost 100+ 140+ 180s High checkout 3-dart average Tournament averages Darts Database 4 22 18 47 32 14 120 102.82 4 21 19 60 25 6 150 96.44 3 11 14 42 11 7 88 95.76 3 7 15 33 6 4 157 86.62 7 59 54 127 76 33 145 95.61 3 10 11 22 20 3 96 92.16 5 30 26 70 52 10 140 93.28 3 6 15 25 14 1 68 85.83 4 22 16 49 31 10 170 98.65 3 13 10 31 13 4 116 83.49 4 20 20 40 28 7 115 85.98 3 2 15 20 6 1 98 79.15 5 27 28 84 33 9 125 90.61 6 45 31 114 45 23 161 97.68 3 7 11 25 14 3 164 90.74 3 8 14 34 15 2 76 87.40 7 66 39 128 89 29 153 99.25 3 8 12 26 7 3 65 86.57 4 18 19 39 33 7 150 94.60 3 7 15 25 13 4 134 86.48 4 16 20 46 25 5 136 87.87 3 8 11 25 15 2 141 90.84 5 29 26 66 28 9 126 92.06 3 10 11 25 17 2 117 95.81 5 31 23 66 33 19 120 92.82 6 42 33 99 67 22 158 97.50 3 5 11 26 10 0 123 85.47 3 7 14 27 21 2 81 89.57 4 22 14 56 28 10 144 102.16 4 20 20 57 30 8 78 96.14 3 8 14 25 19 6 76 92.04 3 7 15 25 11 3 96 87.77
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.ITV agree to cover Grand Slam This is London