Grand Slam of Darts predictions and darts betting tips: 50-1 shot can stun big guns

Where to watch the Grand Slam of Darts

Sky Sports Mix & Sky Sports+ from 1pm Saturday

Best bets

Dimitri van den Bergh to win the Grand Slam
1pt each-way 50-1 bet365, Hills, BoyleSports

Ritchie Edhouse to win Group D
1pt 4-1 Coral, Ladbrokes

Jermaine Wattimena to win Group E
1pt 6-1 general

Gary Anderson to win Group G
1pt 13-10 Hills

Grand Slam of Darts predictions

Two big-priced outsiders took the honours at October's two PDC majors, leaving bookmakers hoping they can complete a hat-trick at the Grand Slam.

After Mike De Decker's triumph at the Grand Prix and Ritchie Edhouse's at the European Championship, maybe punters should also expect the unexpected in Wolverhampton.

The tournament's recent roll of honour might suggest the cream rises to the top at the Slam, although the cream already has a different taste to it this year with four of the world's top nine – including three-time champion Gerwyn Price – not even in the 32-player field.

Luke Humphries, the defending champion, and Luke Littler head the betting with Michael van Gerwen in close pursuit.

Cool Hand should be the pick, although you might have said the same at the Grand Prix, where he lost in the final, and at the Euros, where he lost in the quarters.

You can probably rule out half of the field, which helps, and someone like Dimitri van den Bergh – who, as a major winner certainly arrives with a fair bit of pedigree – looks overpriced at 50-1.

The Belgian won the UK Open this year, reached the semis at last month's Grand Prix, has won a Pro Tour floor event this year and made the last four when he last played in the Slam in 2020.

If there's little in the outright market that appeals, be sure there will be plenty of interest in group betting.

The Grand Slam is unique for its format, with 32 players split into eight groups and a round-robin competition for the first four days, until the last 16 starts on Tuesday.

Best-of-nine legs affairs in the group stage mean just a couple of moments of doziness can be costly and a lot of the big guns haven't exactly been convincing recently.

Humphries looks exempt from criticism in that regard and should nail Group A with the minimum of fuss. James Wade is the only real danger but he was well beaten by the world number one in their two meetings this year.

Group D looks absolutely wide open , with Dave Chisnall – a six-time group-stage flop - up against Ross Smith, Edhouse and Connor Scutt. On current form, and at a nice price, it would surely be bonkers to snub Madhouse.

Similarly, Jermaine Wattimena could have the measure of Michael Smith, De Decker and Mensur Suljovic in Group E. Smith is inconsistent and De Decker's only memory of the Grand Slam is being whitewashed by Fallon Sherrock. He's better than that but can be a slow starter and in this brisk format that could be a hindrance.

Wattimena, runner-up to Edhouse at the Euros, can top what looks like a free-for-all at a tasty 6-1.

And finally, Gary Anderson to beat Michael van Gerwen in a matchbet for Group G (with all due respect to the dogged Ryan Joyce and women's Order of Merit highflyer Noa-Lynn van Leuven).

The Scot battered Van Gerwen 10-4 at last month's European Championship and is playing better than most of his peers.

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