The 2008 PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts was the second staging of the darts tournament, the Grand Slam of Darts organised by the Professional Darts Corporation. The event took place from 15 to 23 November 2008 at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall, Wolverhampton, England. As with 2007, the tournament included players from both the PDC and BDO organisations.
Phil Taylor successfully defended the title after defeating Terry Jenkins 18–9 in the final.
James Wade also hit the first nine-dart finish in the history of this tournament, during his second round defeat by Gary Anderson.
Prize Fund The prize fund for the 2008 tournament was as follows: Position (num. of players) Prize money(Total: £356,000)Winner (1) £100,000Runner-up (1) £40,000Semi-finalists (2) £20,000Quarter-finalists (4) £12,500Last 16 (second round) (8) £7,500Last 32 (group stage) (16) £4,000Highest finish (1) £2,000
Qualifying There were 15 tournaments that provided qualifying opportunities to players. Most tournaments offered a qualifying position for the winner and runner-up of the tournament, however the World Championships and the 2007 Grand Slam also offered a place in the tournament to the losing semi-finalists. There were also various other ways of qualifying for overseas players, including those from Australia and the United States, as well as a wildcard qualifying event open to any darts player.
Qualifying tournaments
PDC Tournament Year Position Player Qualifiers Grand Slam of Darts 2007 Winner Phil Taylor Phil Taylor Andy Hamilton Kevin McDine Gary Anderson Raymond van Barneveld Andy Jenkins John Part Kirk Shepherd Kevin Painter Wayne Mardle James Wade Terry Jenkins Vincent van der Voort Gary Mawson Colin Lloyd Denis Ovens Adrian Lewis Runner-up Andy Hamilton Kevin McDine Gary Anderson PDC World Darts Championship 2007 Winner Raymond van Barneveld Runner-up Phil Taylor Semi-finalists Andy Jenkins Andy Hamilton 2008 Winner John Part Runner-up Kirk Shepherd Semi-finalists Kevin Painter Wayne Mardle World Matchplay 2007 Winner James Wade Runner-up Terry Jenkins 2008 Winner Phil Taylor Runner-up James Wade World Grand Prix 2007 Winner James Wade Runner-up Terry Jenkins 2008 Winner Phil Taylor Runner-up Raymond van Barneveld Las Vegas Desert Classic 2007 Winner Raymond van Barneveld Runner-up Terry Jenkins 2008 Winner Phil Taylor Runner-up James Wade UK Open 2007 Winner Raymond van Barneveld Runner-up Vincent van der Voort 2008 Winner James Wade Runner-up Gary Mawson US Open 2007 Winner Phil Taylor Runner-up Raymond van Barneveld 2008 Winner Phil Taylor Runner-up Colin Lloyd Premier League Darts 2007 Winner Phil Taylor Runner-up Terry Jenkins 2008 Winner Phil Taylor Runner-up James Wade German Darts Championship 2007 Winner Phil Taylor Runner-up Denis Ovens European Championship 2008 Winner Phil Taylor Runner-up Adrian Lewis Championship League Darts 2008 Winner Phil Taylor Note: Players in italics had already qualified for the tournament.
BDO For the second year running, Martin Adams declined his invitation to take part in the competition.
Tournament Year Position Player Qualifiers BDO World Darts Championship 2007 Winner Martin Adams Phill Nixon Niels de Ruiter Mervyn King Mark Webster Simon Whitlock Brian Woods Michael van Gerwen Robert Thornton Darryl Fitton Runner-up Phill Nixon Niels de Ruiter Mervyn King 2008 Winner Mark Webster Runner-up Simon Whitlock Semi-finalists Martin Adams Brian Woods World Masters 2006 Winner Michael van Gerwen Runner-up Martin Adams 2007 Winner Robert Thornton Runner-up Darryl Fitton Note: Players in italics had already qualified for the tournament.
Defunct Tournaments Tournament Year Position Player International Darts League 2007 Winner Gary Anderson Runner-up Mark Webster World Darts Trophy 2007 Winner Gary Anderson Runner-up Phil Taylor Note: Players in italics had already qualified for the tournament.
Other qualifiers PDC announce ITV Wildcard Qualifiers Planet Darts Criteria Player PDC North America Order of Merit Leader Darin Young William Cross Pro-Am Paul Nicholson 2008 BDO Women's World Darts Champion Anastasia Dobromyslova ITV Wildcards Wes Newton Colin McGarry Alan Tabern
Pro-Celebrity Challenge As a curtain-raiser for the main Grand Slam of Darts, a competition involving eight celebrities and eight of the professionals taking part in the Grand Slam took place on the Friday before the tournament. The winners of the tournament collected a first prize of £8,000. In a closely fought final, James Wade and Steve Backley won a final-leg decider over Phil Taylor and Neil Ruddock, with Backley's double two checkout sealing the victory. Those involved were:
John Part Raymond van Barneveld Anastasia Dobromyslova Wayne Mardle Phil Taylor James Wade Peter Manley Mark Webster Barry McGuigan – former world boxing champion Phil Tufnell – former cricketer Steve Davis – six-time world snooker champion Michael Le Vell – actor Neil Ruddock – former footballer Steve Backley – former athlete Dave Ulliott – poker player Mike Tindall – rugby player
Draw and results all matches first-to-3/best of 5.
Draw
Group stages All matches first-to-5/best of 9.
NB in Brackets: Number = Seeds; BDO = BDO Darts player; 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+/-PtsStatus1 Phil Taylor (1)321146+84Advance to the last 162 Andy Jenkins32113130433121011−12Eliminated4 Phill Nixon (BDO)312613−72
15 November 107.36 Phil Taylor 5 – 0 Phill Nixon 92.91 85.30 Vincent van der Voort 4 – 5 Andy Jenkins 85.39
16 November 99.98 Vincent van der Voort 5 – 1 Phill Nixon 85.33 102.94 Phil Taylor 4 – 5 Andy Jenkins 96.89
17 November 85.05 Andy Jenkins 3 – 5 Phill Nixon 87.79 92.21 Vincent van der Voort 1 – 5 Phil Taylor 104.51
Group B POSPlayerPWLLFLA+/-PtsStatus1321136+74Advance to the last 162 Andy Hamilton (8)321119+24Nine Dart Shootout2 Alan Tabern (Q)321119+244 Brian Woods (BDO)303415−110Eliminated
15 November 105.64 Andy Hamilton 5 – 3 Brian Woods 88.67 91.21 Alan Tabern 5 – 3 Simon Whitlock 89.73
16 November 82.83 Brian Woods 0 – 5 Simon Whitlock 84.44 95.94 Andy Hamilton 5 – 1 Alan Tabern 94.57
17 November 90.61 Alan Tabern 5 – 1 Brian Woods 73.63 98.86 Simon Whitlock 5 – 1 Andy Hamilton 103.04
Nine-dart shootout With Andy Hamilton and Alan Tabern finishing level on points and leg difference, a piece of history was made, with a nine-dart shootout between the two to see who would play Phil Taylor in the second round. The match took place after the conclusion of Tuesday's second round matches.
POSPlayer123456789PtsStatus2 Andy Hamilton60605602060–––265Advance to the last 163 Alan Tabern602052012032020169Eliminated
Group C POSPlayerPWLLFLA+/-PtsStatus1 Mervyn King330157+86Advance to the last 1623121210+223 Colin McGarry (Q)312914−52Eliminated4312611−52
15 November 85.80 Mark Webster 4 – 5 Colin McGarry 80.14 92.93 Mervyn King 5 – 1 Michael van Gerwen 86.74
16 November 93.93 Mark Webster 5 – 0 Michael van Gerwen 75.62 80.23 Colin McGarry 3 – 5 Mervyn King 89.81
17 November 84.51 Michael van Gerwen 5 – 1 Colin McGarry 76.55 97.14 Mervyn King 5 – 3 Mark Webster 92.21
Group D POSPlayerPWLLFLA+/-PtsStatus1 John Part (5)321137+642 Kevin McDine321117+443 Wayne Mardle3211012−24Eliminated4303715−80
15 November 78.22 John Part 5 – 1 Anastasia Dobromyslova 75.91 91.21 Wayne Mardle 0 – 5 Kevin McDine 89.73
16 November 79.28 Wayne Mardle 5 – 4 Anastasia Dobromyslova 86.07 92.11 John Part 5 – 1 Kevin McDine 80.10
17 November 95.44 Wayne Mardle 5 – 3 John Part 94.47 92.44 Kevin McDine 5 – 2 Anastasia Dobromyslova 80.30
Group E POSPlayerPWLLFLA+/-PtsStatus1330157+862 Robert Thornton3211312+143 Gary Mawson3121110+12Eliminated4 Kirk Shepherd303515−100
15 November 84.02 Robert Thornton 5 – 3 Gary Mawson 81.72 100.38 Raymond van Barneveld 5 – 1 Kirk Shepherd 82.73
16 November 81.68 Gary Mawson 5 – 0 Kirk Shepherd 74.90 101.38 Raymond van Barneveld 5 – 3 Robert Thornton 97.82
18 November 93.25 Raymond van Barneveld 5 – 3 Gary Mawson 94.63 89.66 Kirk Shepherd 4 – 5 Robert Thornton 93.49
Group F POSPlayerPWLLFLA+/-PtsStatus1 Terry Jenkins (7)321148+64Advance to the last 162 Darin Young (Q)3211311+243 Wes Newton (Q)3211012−24Eliminated4 Colin Lloyd303915−60
15 November 92.95 Terry Jenkins 4 – 5 Darin Young 92.43 83.38 Colin Lloyd 4 – 5 Wes Newton 79.51
16 November 85.61 Terry Jenkins 5 – 3 Colin Lloyd 84.38 85.30 Darin Young 3 – 5 Wes Newton 82.38
18 November 80.83 Wes Newton 0 – 5 Terry Jenkins 98.88 88.15 Darin Young 5 – 2 Colin Lloyd 82.25
Group G POSPlayerPWLLFLA+/-PtsStatus1 James Wade (3)330157+86Advance to the last 162 Denis Ovens321137+643 Adrian Lewis312101002Eliminated4303115−140
15 November 83.40 Adrian Lewis 2 – 5 Denis Ovens 89.48 86.10 James Wade 5 – 1 Niels de Ruiter 74.91
16 November 89.46 Adrian Lewis 5 – 0 Niels de Ruiter 84.36 95.83 Denis Ovens 3 – 5 James Wade 111.03
18 November 86.12 Niels de Ruiter 0 – 5 Denis Ovens 90.54 97.39 James Wade 5 – 3 Adrian Lewis 97.83
Group H POSPlayerPWLLFLA+/-PtsStatus1 Darryl Fitton (BDO)321149+54Advance to the last 1623211411+343 Paul Nicholson (Q)3121114−32Eliminated4 Kevin Painter312914−52
15 November 84.50 Kevin Painter 2 – 5 Darryl Fitton 86.08 92.32 Gary Anderson 4 – 5 Paul Nicholson 86.91
16 November 85.40 Kevin Painter 2 – 5 Gary Anderson 96.40 96.92 Darryl Fitton 5 – 2 Paul Nicholson 93.90
18 November 90.72 Gary Anderson 5 – 4 Darryl Fitton 84.08 87.11 Paul Nicholson 4 – 5 Kevin Painter 98.05
Knockout stages
Statistics
Player Played Legs Won Legs Lost 100+ 140+ 180s High checkout 3-dart average Phil Taylor768 401269932151 104.10 Andy Hamilton419 1953339136 100.22 Gary Anderson648 41101 7430170 98.65 Raymond van Barneveld5 34 2173 3319121 98.15 Terry Jenkins7 59 57 144 9936164 97.63 James Wade4 23 1754 3410141 95.09 Mervyn King645 40108 6124161 94.70 Simon Whitlock5 30 2472 3214109 92.84 Robert Thornton4 21 2256 3012126 92.71 Denis Ovens4 21 17 63 25312292.10 Alan Tabern3 11 926 19471 92.04 Vincent van der Voort3 10 1130 145146 91.47 Adrian Lewis3 10 1026 11512790.69 Darryl Fitton530 2756 4413117 90.58 Kevin Painter3 9 14 2519591 90.08 Mark Webster530 2270 269158 89.98 Paul Nicholson3111429 235140 88.93 Phill Nixon3 6 13 2415168 88.36 Kevin McDine420 1740 1510107 88.14 Andy Jenkins4 21 2356 247104 87.87 Darin Young417 2148 24886 87.25 John Part4 15 1733124135 86.93 Gary Mawson3 111027 94 152 86.63 Kirk Shepherd3 5 15 22 11170 83.89 Colin Lloyd3 9 15 33 132 90 83.38 Wayne Mardle3 10 1227 82 158 83.23 Michael van Gerwen3 6 11 2073 52 82.68 Brian Woods34 15 1696 120 82.19 Anastasia Dobromyslova3 7 15 42100 120 81.46 Niels de Ruiter3 1 15 2552 73 81.37 Wes Newton310 1227 101 100 80.85 Colin McGarry3 9 14 32 140 100 79.23
Television coverage ITV Sport again broadcast coverage throughout the championship, in the UK. Again, Matt Smith presented the coverage on ITV4, with analysis from Chris Mason and Alan Warriner-Little, commentary from Peter Drury, Stuart Pyke and John Rawling and reports from Ned Boulting and Janie Omorogbe.
Match fixing allegations Five days after the tournament concluded, the PDC revealed that the organisation had received complaints concerning the Group H match between Darryl Fitton and Gary Anderson, and forwarded those complaints to the Darts Regulation Authority. On 26 January 2009 it was announced that there was no evidence of player collusion in the arranging of match outcomes.
External links and references