Grand Slam of Darts 2026 Predictions: Littler Tipped
On this page
- Grand Slam of Darts 2026 Predictions: Both Legends Back Littler
- Webster: “He’s Not Untouchable”
- Webster Warns: Josh Rock Could Crash Out Early
- Van Gerwen Must “Get Out the Group” First
- Lewis Predicts “A Hell of a Lot of Upsets”
- The Group of Death and the Groups to Watch
- How to Watch the Grand Slam of Darts 2026
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
The grand slam of darts 2026 predictions from two of the sport’s most respected voices point firmly in one direction. On SunSport’s exclusive Grand Slam preview show, two-time PDC world champion Adrian Lewis and former BDO world champion Mark Webster were asked to name the outright winner of the tournament that begins on Saturday 14 November 2026 at WV Active Aldersley in Wolverhampton. Both men gave the same answer: “Luke Littler.” The 19-year-old world number one is chasing a third consecutive Grand Slam crown, and neither legend could look past him, even though both warned that the short group format could throw up plenty of surprises before the trophy is lifted on Sunday 22 November.
Grand Slam of Darts 2026 Predictions: Both Legends Back Littler
The preview show, hosted by Phil Barrs, brought Lewis and Webster together to look ahead to nine days of darts in Wolverhampton. Their task was to make sense of a 48-player field, a new group draw and a format that leaves no margin for error, and to name the player they expect to be holding the Eric Bristow Trophy at the end of it all.
When the outright-winner question came, there was no debate. Asked to name their winner, both men simply answered: “Luke Littler.” Littler is the defending champion, the world number one and the top seed, and he has never lost a match at the Grand Slam of Darts. He won the title in 2024 by beating Martin Lukeman 16-3 in the final, then defended it in 2025 by beating Luke Humphries 16-11. That perfect record now stands as a 14-match unbeaten run at the event, and our Luke Littler Grand Slam of Darts 2026 guide covers his campaign in full.
A third straight title would put Littler in rare company at an event where even the greats have rarely dominated for long. The winner also takes home £200,000 from a £1 million prize fund, as set out in our Grand Slam of Darts 2026 prize money guide.
Webster: “He’s Not Untouchable”
Webster’s backing for Littler came with an important caveat. The Welshman warned that the defending champion is no longer the untouchable force he once appeared to be, saying: “He’s not untouchable, it’s been proven, hasn’t it, because he’s not been winning events.” It was a reminder that even the world number one has had quieter spells, and that the field believes the crown can be won.
Yet Webster still expects Littler to come good when it matters most. “For me, Luke Littler, I think, will just find some form, find a way, and look, the big hitters really rising, I expect it to happen again,” he said. Webster pointed to the recent resurgence of rival Luke Humphries as a sign that the biggest names are rising to the occasion. Humphries, the second seed, heads Group I alongside Joe Cullen and Paolo Nebrida, and his campaign is covered in our Luke Humphries Grand Slam of Darts 2026 guide.
Webster Warns: Josh Rock Could Crash Out Early
The grand slam of darts 2026 predictions were not all good news for the leading seeds. Webster singled out Josh Rock as a player who could be heading for an early exit, despite the Northern Irishman’s obvious talent. Rock faces Kevin Doets and Tommy Morris in a difficult Group C, and Webster made no secret of his concern.
“I hope he proves me wrong because I really like Josh Rock, but his group’s tough and he’s been up and down at the minute,” Webster said. It was an honest assessment: Webster clearly rates Rock highly, but he believes a hard group and inconsistent recent form make the group stage a genuine danger for him.
The format makes that danger very real. In a three-player group where only the winner advances to the last 16, there is no safety net and no second chance to recover from a slow start. Our Josh Rock Grand Slam of Darts 2026 guide looks at his group in detail, and it is hard to disagree with Webster’s reading: Group C is one of the most evenly matched in the draw, and any of the three players could top it on their day.
Van Gerwen Must “Get Out the Group” First
Webster also sounded a note of caution about Michael van Gerwen, the three-time Grand Slam champion. The Dutchman has been struggling with confidence this year, according to Webster, and he faces a tricky group in Group L, where he meets Jeffrey de Graaf and Henry Coates. For a player of van Gerwen’s standing, the group stage should be a formality, but Webster suggested this year it will be anything but.
“For Michael, get out the group, and then I think he’ll relax in a race to 10, and he could have a good tournament,” Webster said. The “race to 10” is the last 16, played over the best of 19 legs, and Webster’s point was clear: once van Gerwen is through the short-format group stage and into the longer matches, the pressure lifts and his natural game can take over. Our Michael van Gerwen Grand Slam of Darts 2026 guide covers his route in full.
That reading will give hope to van Gerwen’s supporters: if he tops Group L, he will arrive in the knockout rounds with his confidence restored and the longer format in his favour. But Webster’s warning stands: first, he has to get out of the group, and in a best-of-nine-legs shootout, even the greats can be caught cold.
Lewis Predicts “A Hell of a Lot of Upsets”
Adrian Lewis went further, predicting the tournament could be full of surprises. His reasoning was the short format, which he admitted never suited his own game. “Honestly, it’s really, really difficult. I think with the short form, I’ve never really enjoyed it myself, because sometimes it can take me a few legs, just to get myself going. It’s the same for a lot of the other players as well, and I think there’s going to be a hell of a lot of upsets,” Lewis said.
It is a view shaped by experience. Group matches are played over the best of nine legs, so a player who needs a few legs to find his rhythm can be two or three legs down before he has thrown his best darts. With only the group winner advancing, a single slow start can end a campaign, and Lewis believes that will catch out some of the biggest names in the field.
Lewis also had advice for anyone drawn against Littler: whoever faces the defending champion must handle the crowd pressure and focus on themselves at the oche, rather than being drawn into Littler’s game. Against a player who has never lost at this event, that is easier said than done.
The format that Lewis and Webster were discussing is unforgiving at every stage:
| Stage | Format | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Group stage | Best of 9 legs | 14–17 November |
| Last 16 | Best of 19 legs | 18–19 November |
| Quarter-finals | Best of 31 legs | 20–21 November |
| Semi-finals | Best of 31 legs | 22 November, from 1pm GMT |
| Final | Best of 31 legs | 22 November, 7.30pm GMT |
The Group of Death and the Groups to Watch
Away from the outright winner, the grand slam of darts 2026 predictions also turned on the draw itself, and no group drew more attention than Group A. Littler has been grouped with Niels Zonneveld and Beau Greaves in the so-called “Group of Death”, and their opening-night meeting on Saturday 14 November is the headline tie of the whole group stage.
The full draw is in our Grand Slam of Darts 2026 groups guide, and several other groups look just as dangerous for the seeds:
- Group I: Luke Humphries, the second seed, faces Joe Cullen and Paolo Nebrida.
- Group M: Gian van Veen, the third seed, meets Bradley Brooks and Carl Sneyd.
- Group E: Gerwyn Price heads a group full of dangerous opponents.
- Group O: Ross Smith, the European champion, leads his section.
- Group D: Stephen Bunting heads a group that will test his consistency.
- Group H: Wessel Nijman is the man to beat in his group.
With only 16 group winners reaching the last 16, the draw has already shaped the tournament. Keep up with every session on our darts schedule page.
How to Watch the Grand Slam of Darts 2026
Every session of the tournament is shown live on Sky Sports in the UK, with DAZN, Viaplay and PDCTV among the options for viewers elsewhere. Our what channel is the Grand Slam of Darts on guide has the full TV and streaming details for every region, including session times from Saturday 14 November through to finals day on Sunday 22 November.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who did Adrian Lewis and Mark Webster tip to win the Grand Slam of Darts 2026?
Both men picked Luke Littler. Asked to name their outright winner on SunSport’s preview show, hosted by Phil Barrs, Lewis and Webster both simply answered: “Luke Littler.” The 19-year-old is chasing a third consecutive title after winning in 2024 and 2025, and he has never lost a match at the event.
What did Mark Webster warn about Josh Rock?
Webster warned that Rock could head for an early exit. He said: “I hope he proves me wrong because I really like Josh Rock, but his group’s tough and he’s been up and down at the minute.” Rock is in Group C with Kevin Doets and Tommy Morris, and only the group winner reaches the last 16.
What did Webster say about Michael van Gerwen?
Webster said van Gerwen has been struggling with confidence this year and must first get out of his group. “For Michael, get out the group, and then I think he’ll relax in a race to 10, and he could have a good tournament,” he said. Van Gerwen, a three-time Grand Slam champion, is in Group L with Jeffrey de Graaf and Henry Coates.
Why did Adrian Lewis predict upsets at the Grand Slam?
Lewis pointed to the short group format. He said the best-of-nine-legs matches can take a few legs to get going in, and that the same is true for many other players, adding: “I think there’s going to be a hell of a lot of upsets.” With only the group winner advancing, a slow start can end a campaign.
When is the Grand Slam of Darts 2026 final?
The final is on Sunday 22 November 2026, starting at 7.30pm GMT at WV Active Aldersley in Wolverhampton, with the semi-finals earlier the same day from 1pm GMT. The winner receives £200,000 from a £1 million prize fund and lifts the Eric Bristow Trophy.
How does the Grand Slam of Darts 2026 format work?
There are 48 players split into 16 groups of three. Each player plays the other two in their group once over the best of nine legs, and only the group winner advances to the last 16. The last 16 is played over the best of 19 legs, and the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final are all best of 31 legs.
Conclusion
The grand slam of darts 2026 predictions from Adrian Lewis and Mark Webster tell a clear story with an uncertain ending. Both legends expect Luke Littler to win a third straight title, and his unbeaten record at the event makes that the hardest pick to argue against. But Webster’s warnings about Josh Rock and Michael van Gerwen, and Lewis’s prediction of “a hell of a lot of upsets”, are reminders that the group stage owes nobody anything. The first darts are thrown on Saturday 14 November, and by the end of the opening weekend we will know whether the legends’ faith in Littler is already being repaid, or whether the upsets have started early.
