James Wade Grand Slam of Darts 2026: Group K
James Wade Grand Slam of Darts 2026 brings a three-time runner-up back to Wolverhampton in search of the one major title that has always escaped him. Wade, born 6 April 1983, is ranked world number seven as of October 2026, and he is seeded seventh in Group K, where he has been drawn with Ricky Evans and Cam Crabtree. Only the group winner reaches the last 16, so the first task is the same as it is for every player in the field: win the group.
On this page
The tournament runs from 14 to 22 November 2026 at WV Active Aldersley in Wolverhampton. It brings together 48 players in 16 groups of three, with group matches played best of nine legs. The prize fund is a record one million pounds, with two hundred thousand pounds for the winner. Wade is a ten-time major winner, and his record at the Grand Slam is a story of near misses: three finals, three defeats, and a nine-darter along the way.
James Wade Grand Slam of Darts 2026: Group K
Group K is one of the 16 three-player groups that open the tournament. Wade is the seeded player, seventh in the seedings, and he is joined by Evans and Crabtree. Each player plays the other two, and the player who finishes top is the only one who advances. The group winner goes through; the other two go out.
The James Wade Grand Slam of Darts 2026 campaign begins with two short, sharp group matches. Group matches are best of nine legs, so the first player to five legs wins. A best-of-nine match is short enough that a fast start counts for a great deal, and a player who falls behind early has little time to recover.
For the seeded player, the task is to control the group from the first match. For the two unseeded players, the task is to take the seeded player’s place. The Grand Slam of Darts 2026 groups page sets out the full group stage, and the Grand Slam of Darts 2026 draw shows how the 16 groups fit together. Groups A to H finish on Monday 16 November and Groups I to P finish on Tuesday 17 November, so Wade’s group will be decided on the Tuesday, with the last 16 starting on Wednesday.
Three finals, no title
Wade is a three-time Grand Slam runner-up, and each of the three finals tells a different story. The first came in 2010, when he lost 16-12 to Scott Waites in the final after leading 8-0. Waites became the only non-PDC player to win the title, and the comeback from 8-0 down is one of the most famous recoveries in the history of the event.
The second final came in 2016, when Wade lost 16-8 to Michael van Gerwen. Van Gerwen was the dominant player of that period, and the scoreline reflects a final in which Wade was beaten by a player at the height of his powers. The third final came in 2020, when Wade lost 16-12 to Jose de Sousa. Three finals against three different opponents, and three defeats: that is the record Wade carries into Wolverhampton in 2026.
There is one more piece of Grand Slam history attached to Wade’s name. He hit a nine-darter at the Grand Slam in 2008 against Gary Anderson. It came two years before his first final. The Grand Slam of Darts winners page lists every champion in the history of the event, and Wade’s name appears there as a runner-up three times over.
A ten-time major winner in 2026 form
Wade is a ten-time major winner, and that record is the foundation of his standing in the game. Ten major titles is a total that very few players have reached, and it marks him out as one of the most successful players of his generation. The Grand Slam is the notable gap in that record: a major he has reached the final of three times and never won.
His 2026 form includes a title on the floor. He won Players Championship 1 on 9 February in Hildesheim, the first Players Championship event of the year.
The Group K opponents
Ricky Evans is the first of Wade’s two group opponents. Evans is among the players who still need a qualifying event to reach the World Darts Championship 2027, which means his season is not yet settled and he has something clear to play for beyond the Grand Slam itself.
Cam Crabtree is the second opponent, and he is one of the most talked-about young players in the field. Crabtree is the World Youth Championship finalist who faces Jan Schmidt in the Youth final on 29 November at Minehead, and he beat both Luke Littler and Luke Humphries within about six weeks in 2026. The Cam Crabtree Grand Slam of Darts 2026 page covers his campaign, and the World Youth Championship final 2026 page covers the Youth final against Schmidt.
Prize money: a record one million pounds
The prize fund for the Grand Slam of Darts 2026 is a record one million pounds. The winner receives two hundred thousand pounds and the runner-up receives one hundred thousand pounds. The two losing semi-finalists each receive sixty thousand pounds, and the four losing quarter-finalists each receive thirty-five thousand pounds. The group stage also carries prize money: a player who finishes as group runner-up receives twelve thousand five hundred pounds, and a player who finishes third in the group receives five thousand pounds.
| Stage | Prize money |
|---|---|
| Winner | £200,000 |
| Runner-up | £100,000 |
| Semi-finalists | £60,000 |
| Quarter-finalists | £35,000 |
| Group runner-up | £12,500 |
| Third in group | £5,000 |
The Grand Slam of Darts 2026 prize money page gives the full breakdown.
Format and schedule
The format grows longer as the tournament goes on. Group matches are best of nine legs, so the first player to five legs wins. The last 16 matches are best of 19 legs, so the first player to ten legs wins. The quarter-finals, semi-finals and final are all best of 31 legs, so the first player to 16 legs wins.
| Date | Stage |
|---|---|
| Monday 16 November 2026 | Groups A to H finish |
| Tuesday 17 November 2026 | Groups I to P finish, including Group K |
| Wednesday 18 November 2026 | Last 16 starts |
| Friday 20 November 2026 | Quarter-finals |
| Saturday 21 November 2026 | Quarter-finals |
| Sunday 22 November 2026 (afternoon) | Semi-finals |
| Sunday 22 November 2026 (evening) | Final |
Groups A to H finish on Monday 16 November and Groups I to P finish on Tuesday 17 November. The last 16 starts on Wednesday 18 November, the quarter-finals are played on Friday 20 and Saturday 21 November, the semi-finals take place on Sunday 22 November in the afternoon, and the final takes place on Sunday 22 November in the evening. The Grand Slam of Darts 2026 schedule page has the full timetable, and the Grand Slam of Darts 2026 opening day page covers the start of the tournament.
How to watch
Coverage of James Wade Grand Slam of Darts 2026 is on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland. Around the world, the event is shown on DAZN and Viaplay. It is also available on PDCTV, with the exception of the UK, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, where the broadcast rights sit elsewhere. The what channel is the Grand Slam of Darts on page explains where the event can be watched. The venue is WV Active Aldersley in Wolverhampton.
What Wade needs to do to win Group K
For James Wade Grand Slam of Darts 2026 to reach the knockout stage, Wade must win Group K. That means winning his matches against Evans and Crabtree, or at least winning enough of them, and in the right combination, to finish top of the three-player group. Because only the group winner advances, there is no benefit in a good performance that ends in second place.
Wade’s record gives him reasons to be confident. He is a ten-time major winner, he has reached three Grand Slam finals, and he won Players Championship 1 in February. His experience in long matches will help him if he reaches the knockout stage, where the matches are best of 19 and best of 31 legs. The group stage is the first test, though, and it is a short one: two best-of-nine matches against opponents who will both see a win over Wade as a major result. Neither match will be straightforward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is in James Wade’s group at the Grand Slam?
Wade is seeded seventh in Group K, with Ricky Evans and Cam Crabtree. Only the group winner reaches the last 16, so Wade must finish top of the three-player group to advance.
How many Grand Slam finals has James Wade reached?
Three. He lost 16-12 to Scott Waites in 2010 after leading 8-0, lost 16-8 to Michael van Gerwen in 2016, and lost 16-12 to Jose de Sousa in 2020. He has never won the Grand Slam.
Did James Wade hit a nine-darter at the Grand Slam?
Yes. He hit a nine-darter at the Grand Slam in 2008 against Gary Anderson.
What is James Wade’s world ranking?
Wade is ranked world number seven as of October 2026. He was born on 6 April 1983, is a ten-time major winner, and is seeded seventh in Group K at the Grand Slam.
When does James Wade play at the Grand Slam?
The James Wade Grand Slam of Darts 2026 group matches are decided on Tuesday 17 November, when Groups I to P finish. The tournament runs from 14 to 22 November 2026 at WV Active Aldersley in Wolverhampton. The last 16 starts on Wednesday 18 November, and the semi-finals and final are on Sunday 22 November.
How much prize money is on offer?
The prize fund is a record one million pounds. The winner receives two hundred thousand pounds, the runner-up receives one hundred thousand pounds, semi-finalists receive sixty thousand pounds, quarter-finalists receive thirty-five thousand pounds, the group runner-up receives twelve thousand five hundred pounds, and the player who finishes third in the group receives five thousand pounds.
Conclusion
James Wade Grand Slam of Darts 2026 is a story of unfinished business. Wade, born 6 April 1983, is ranked world number seven, seeded seventh in Group K, and a ten-time major winner. He has reached the Grand Slam final three times, in 2010, 2016 and 2020, and lost all three. He hit a nine-darter at the event in 2008, and he won Players Championship 1 in Hildesheim on 9 February 2026. The Grand Slam remains the major he has never won.
The test now is Group K. Evans and Crabtree stand between Wade and the last 16, and only the group winner goes through. The group matches are best of nine legs, the prize for winning the group is a place in the knockout stage, and the tournament then grows longer and harder with every round. Wade has the record, the ranking and the experience to win the group, and the next step is to show that form again in Wolverhampton. If he does, the last 16 awaits on Wednesday 18 November, and the road to a fourth Grand Slam final will be open.
