Grand Slam of Darts 2026 Day One: Schedule & Order of Play
The Grand Slam of Darts 2026 begins today, Saturday 14 November, at WV Active Aldersley in Wolverhampton. The Grand Slam of Darts 2026 day one schedule features 16 group matches across two sessions, as 48 players, the largest field in the tournament’s history, begin the chase for the Eric Bristow Trophy. With only the group winner reaching the last 16, there is no room for a slow start.
On this page
Defending champion Luke Littler headlines the evening session against Beau Greaves, while Luke Humphries, Michael van Gerwen, Gerwyn Price and Ross Smith all open their campaigns. The first darts are thrown at 1pm UK time (6pm PKT), with the evening session at 7pm UK time (midnight PKT). Here is the full order of play, the matches to watch and how to follow every leg live.
Table of Contents
Grand Slam of Darts 2026 Day One Schedule
All 16 matches pit the seeded player against the third player in each group, over the best of nine legs. The afternoon session runs from 1pm UK time (6pm PKT), and the evening session from 7pm UK time (midnight PKT). Both are live on Sky Sports.
Afternoon session, 1pm UK time (6pm PKT)
- Luke Woodhouse v Tom Sykes (Group J)
- Jermaine Wattimena v Lisa Ashton (Group B)
- Stephen Bunting v Raymond Smith (Group D)
- Ryan Searle v Charlie Manby (Group F)
- Josh Rock v Tommy Morris (Group C)
- Wessel Nijman v Adam Sevada (Group H)
- Nathan Aspinall v Maik Kuivenhoven (Group P)
- Jonny Clayton v Anton Ostlund (Group G)
Evening session, 7pm UK time (midnight PKT)
- Gerwyn Price v Joe Hunt (Group E)
- James Wade v Cam Crabtree (Group K)
- Ross Smith v Rusty-Jake Rodriguez (Group O)
- Michael van Gerwen v Henry Coates (Group L)
- Luke Humphries v Paolo Nebrida (Group I)
- Luke Littler v Beau Greaves (Group A)
- Gian van Veen v Carl Sneyd (Group M)
- Chris Dobey v Jan Schmidt (Group N)
Littler vs Greaves Headlines Opening Night
The headline match of Grand Slam of Darts 2026 day one is Luke Littler against Beau Greaves in Group A. Littler is unbeaten in 14 Grand Slam matches and is chasing a third straight title, which would put him alongside Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen as only the third player to win three successive Grand Slams. Yet Greaves has already beaten him once, in last year’s World Youth Championship semi-finals, and she arrives as Women’s World Matchplay champion with nothing to lose.
Littler has warned the short group format leaves no margin for error: with just two group matches each and only the winner advancing, a dropped leg can change the whole shape of a group. Niels Zonneveld, the third player in Group A, beat Littler at the Belgian Darts Open in March, the world number one’s only defeat on the 2026 European Tour.
Matches to Watch on Day One
Luke Humphries opens against Paolo Nebrida in Group I, and the 2023 champion will want a fast start after a mixed build-up. Humphries was beaten 6-2 by Gian van Veen in an exhibition in Dundee just days before the tournament. He shares Group I with former Masters winner Joe Cullen, so a win over Nebrida tonight is close to a must.
Michael van Gerwen, a three-time Grand Slam champion, faces debutant Henry Coates in Group L, while James Wade makes his record-equalling 19th appearance against World Youth Championship finalist Cam Crabtree in Group K. Gerwyn Price, also a three-time winner here, takes on Challenge Tour champion Joe Hunt in Group E, and Ross Smith, the newly crowned European champion, plays Austria’s Rusty-Jake Rodriguez in Group O. In the afternoon, Stephen Bunting meets ANZ Premier League champion Raymond Smith in Group D.
How the New Grand Slam Format Works
The 2026 Grand Slam has been rebuilt for its 20th staging, with the field growing from 32 players to 48 — see our Grand Slam of Darts 2026 preview for the full field — drawn into 16 groups of three instead of eight groups of four. Each player faces the other two in their group once, with two points for a win, and only the group winner goes through. There is no second chance for the runner-up.
The group stage runs from Saturday to Tuesday, with the knockouts starting on Wednesday 18 November. Round two matches are best of 19 legs, and the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final are best of 31. The semi-finals and final take place on Sunday 22 November, with a record £1 million prize fund and £200,000 for the winner.
How to Watch the Grand Slam of Darts 2026 Day One
Every session is live on Sky Sports in the UK and through NOW. Fans outside the UK can watch through DAZN, Viaplay and PDCTV, which also carries an Italian commentary option. Sessions start at 1pm UK time (6pm PKT) and 7pm UK time (midnight PKT).
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Grand Slam of Darts 2026 start?
It starts on Saturday 14 November 2026 at WV Active Aldersley in Wolverhampton and runs until the final on Sunday 22 November. First matches begin at 1pm UK time (6pm PKT).
What time does Littler vs Greaves start?
Littler plays Greaves in the evening session on Saturday 14 November, which starts at 7pm UK time (midnight PKT). It is the sixth match of the session, so the exact start time depends on the earlier matches.
How many players are in the Grand Slam of Darts 2026?
There are 48 players, expanded from 32 for the first time, split into 16 groups of three. Only the group winner reaches the last 16.
What channel is the Grand Slam of Darts on?
In the UK it is live on Sky Sports and NOW. Outside the UK it is available through DAZN, Viaplay and PDCTV.
How long are the group matches?
Group matches are best of nine legs. The format gets longer in the knockouts: best of 19 in round two, and best of 31 from the quarter-finals onwards.
How much prize money is on offer?
The total prize fund is £1 million, up from £650,000 in 2025. The winner receives £200,000, the runner-up £100,000, and every player is guaranteed at least £5,000.
Conclusion
Day one sets the tone for the whole week, and the new format means no player can afford to ease into the tournament. With 16 matches across two sessions and only group winners going through, Saturday’s results will already shape who reaches the knockouts in Wolverhampton.
All eyes will be on Littler against Greaves tonight, but the real story is how many seeds survive their openers. If the favourites hold their nerve, the group stage will go to the wire on Monday and Tuesday; if one slips, the race for the Eric Bristow Trophy opens right up.
