Stephen Bunting Grand Slam of Darts 2026: Group D
Stephen Bunting grand slam of darts 2026 begins with a place earned the hard way. Bunting booked his spot at the 2026 Grand Slam of Darts through the Tour Card Holder Qualifier on Friday 6 November 2026 at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester, producing three successive ton-plus averages on his way through a 91-player field. It was a statement performance from a player who had failed to qualify through the automatic routes, and it sets up a Group D campaign in Wolverhampton where only the group winner reaches the last 16.
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Bunting entered the qualifier as its number one seed and as its highest-ranked player, and he played like it. He beat Arno Merk 5–0 with a 101.55 average, then beat Callan Rydz 5–3 with a 107.72 average, and then closed out his qualification by beating Jimmy van Schie 5–2 in the final round with a 101.23 average. All qualifier matches were played as best of nine legs, which meant there was little margin for error, and Bunting’s consistency across all three matches was the mark of a player in excellent form.
That form matters because the Grand Slam is unforgiving. The tournament runs from 14 to 22 November at WV Active Aldersley in Wolverhampton, with 48 players in 16 groups of three. Only the group winner advances to the last 16, so Bunting’s matches against Menzies and Smith will decide his tournament.
Stephen Bunting Grand Slam of Darts 2026: The Leicester Qualifier
The Tour Card Holder Qualifier is one of the toughest routes into a major tournament. Ninety-one players entered in Leicester on 6 November, all chasing just ten places at the Grand Slam. Every match was best of nine legs, and the final round was winner-takes-all. For Bunting, who had failed to qualify automatically despite two Premier League seasons, it was the only way in.
Bunting’s path through the qualifier was as impressive as it was efficient. He opened with a 5–0 whitewash of Arno Merk, averaging 101.55. He followed that with a 5–3 win over Callan Rydz, averaging 107.72, and then finished the job in the final round with a 5–2 win over Jimmy van Schie, averaging 101.23 to complete three successive ton-plus averages.
Who else came through the qualifier
Bunting was one of ten players to come through the qualifier in Leicester. The full list of qualifiers was Joe Cullen, Niko Springer, Ricky Evans, Maik Kuivenhoven, Tom Sykes, Rusty-Jake Rodriguez, Carl Sneyd, Bradley Brooks, Alan Soutar and Bunting himself. Each of them had to win three matches to earn a place at the Grand Slam, and the stories behind their qualification show how competitive the event was.
Joe Cullen’s qualification was one of the most dramatic of the day. He beat Michael Smith 5–3 in a winner-takes-all final-round match, recovering after Smith had led 3–0. It was a remarkable comeback, and it denied Smith a place at the Grand Slam in a match that could easily have gone the other way. Cullen’s win was a reminder of how fine the margins are in the qualifier, where one loose leg can end a player’s hopes.
Ricky Evans came through the qualifier for the second successive year, beating Thomas Lovely and Willie O’Connor before defeating Cristo Reyes in the decisive round. Evans is one of the fastest players on the circuit, and his return to the Grand Slam for a second year running underlines his consistency. Niko Springer produced one of the performances of the day, averaging 112 in the qualifier, a figure that marks him out as a player to watch in Wolverhampton. There were notable results elsewhere too. Bradley Brooks knocked out Dave Chisnall, a result that showed the depth of talent in the qualifier, while Rusty-Jake Rodriguez beat Tom Bissell 5–2 to qualify.
The Group D Draw
In the group draw made on Monday 9 November, Bunting was seeded ninth and placed in Group D with Cameron Menzies and Australian Raymond Smith. It is a group with a clear storyline. Bunting is the seeded player and the most experienced of the three at this level, Menzies is a former Grand Slam quarter-finalist with two Players Championship titles to his name in 2026, and Smith is a debutant who earned his place by winning the ANZ Premier League finals night in 2026.
Only the group winner reaches the last 16, so every leg matters. The group matches run from 14 to 17 November, and a single defeat can be fatal, because the short group stage leaves no time to recover. Bunting’s experience should help him: he has reached the semi-finals here, and he knows how to handle a group where only first place is good enough.
Cameron Menzies: the danger in the group
Cameron Menzies is the most obvious threat to Bunting’s progress from Group D. The Scot was a quarter-finalist at the 2024 Grand Slam, which means he has £25,000 in prize money to defend from that run, and he has backed up that performance by winning two Players Championship titles in 2026. Those titles show that Menzies can win on the floor, and his run to the quarter-finals two years ago shows that he can do it on the Grand Slam stage as well.
Raymond Smith: the debutant
Raymond Smith is making his Grand Slam debut in 2026, and he arrives in Wolverhampton after winning the ANZ Premier League finals night in 2026. The Australian has earned his place through the regional route, and he will be determined to make the most of it. Debutants at the Grand Slam have a history of causing upsets, because they arrive with nothing to lose and with a game that their opponents have rarely seen up close.
Smith’s qualification through the ANZ Premier League shows that he can handle pressure and win when it matters. For Bunting and Menzies, the match against Smith cannot be taken lightly. Readers who want the full story of Smith’s route to Wolverhampton can find it in the Raymond Smith wins the ANZ Premier League finals night article, while the Grand Slam of Darts 2026 groups page has the complete line-up for all 16 groups.
Bunting’s Grand Slam History
Bunting’s record at the Grand Slam of Darts is one of the strongest in the field. He reached the semi-finals in 2023, a run that confirmed his place among the elite of the sport, and he followed that by reaching the last 16 in 2024. Those results show that he knows how to perform in Wolverhampton, and they explain why his failure to qualify automatically this year was such a surprise.
The 2024 run has a direct bearing on this year’s tournament. Bunting earned £12,500 for reaching the last 16 in 2024, and that prize money comes off his ranking after the 2026 event. A last-16 place in 2026 is worth £20,000, which would more than replace the money coming off.
The 2026 Grand Slam: Format, Schedule and Prize Money
The 2026 Grand Slam of Darts runs from 14 to 22 November at WV Active Aldersley in Wolverhampton. The tournament features 48 players drawn into 16 groups of three, with only the winner of each group advancing to the last 16. It is a format that rewards consistency and punishes slow starts, and it has produced some of the most dramatic group stages in darts.
The prize fund for the 2026 Grand Slam is £1 million, with the winner receiving £200,000. It is one of the richest tournaments on the PDC calendar, and the prize money on offer at every stage reflects that. A place in the last 16 is worth £20,000, and the rewards grow with every round. For the full breakdown, the Grand Slam of Darts 2026 prize money page has the complete list.
- Group stage: 14–17 November, 48 players in 16 groups of three
- Last 16: 18–19 November, only group winners advance
- Quarter-finals: 20–21 November
- Semi-finals and final: Sunday 22 November
- Prize fund: £1 million, with £200,000 to the winner
- Bunting’s group: Group D with Cameron Menzies and Raymond Smith
For the full draw and the day-by-day schedule, see the Grand Slam of Darts 2026 draw and the Grand Slam of Darts 2026 schedule pages.
Why Bunting Had to Qualify
Bunting’s route to the Grand Slam through the qualifier tells its own story about his 2026 season. Despite two Premier League seasons behind him, he failed to qualify through the automatic routes, and he had no major title in 2026 to secure his place. The Grand Slam’s automatic qualification places go to the winners and finalists of the year’s major tournaments, and Bunting had not collected one of those results.
Bunting’s Form and the Road Ahead
Bunting’s form in the qualifier was the best news of his week. Three successive ton-plus averages showed his scoring and finishing are both in good shape. The 107.72 against Rydz was the standout, but the 101.55 against Merk and the 101.23 against van Schie showed the high standard was not a one-off.
Beyond the Grand Slam, Bunting also confirmed his place at the Players Championship Finals in Minehead, which run from 27 to 29 November, after reaching the semi-finals of Players Championship 33.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Stephen Bunting qualify for the Grand Slam of Darts 2026?
Bunting qualified through the Tour Card Holder Qualifier on Friday 6 November 2026 at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester. He entered as the number one seed and the highest-ranked player in the 91-player field, and he won three matches, beating Arno Merk 5–0, Callan Rydz 5–3 and Jimmy van Schie 5–2, with three successive ton-plus averages.
Who is in Stephen Bunting’s Grand Slam group?
Bunting was seeded ninth in the draw made on Monday 9 November and placed in Group D with Cameron Menzies and Australian Raymond Smith. Only the group winner reaches the last 16, so Bunting must finish top of the group to progress.
What are Bunting’s averages from the qualifier?
Bunting averaged 101.55 in his 5–0 win over Arno Merk, 107.72 in his 5–3 win over Callan Rydz, and 101.23 in his 5–2 final-round win over Jimmy van Schie. All qualifier matches were best of nine legs.
What is Bunting’s best Grand Slam result?
Bunting reached the semi-finals of the Grand Slam in 2023, and he reached the last 16 in 2024. His 2024 run earned him £12,500, which comes off his ranking after the 2026 event, while a last-16 place in 2026 is worth £20,000.
When does the Grand Slam of Darts 2026 take place?
The tournament runs from 14 to 22 November 2026 at WV Active Aldersley in Wolverhampton. The group matches are played from 14 to 17 November, the last 16 on 18 and 19 November, the quarter-finals on 20 and 21 November, and the semi-finals and final on Sunday 22 November.
Conclusion
Stephen Bunting grand slam of darts 2026 is a campaign built on a qualifier performance that deserves to be remembered. Bunting entered the Tour Card Holder Qualifier in Leicester as its number one seed and highest-ranked player, and he played like it, producing three successive ton-plus averages and beating Arno Merk, Callan Rydz and Jimmy van Schie to book his place among the 48 players at Wolverhampton.
Now he faces Group D, with Cameron Menzies and Raymond Smith standing between him and the last 16. Menzies is a former quarter-finalist with two Players Championship titles in 2026, and Smith is a debutant who won the ANZ Premier League finals night. Only the group winner advances, so Bunting will need his Leicester form from the very first leg. His record at the Grand Slam, including a semi-final in 2023 and a last-16 run in 2024, shows he knows what it takes, and the £12,500 coming off his ranking gives him every incentive to go deep. If he plays in Wolverhampton the way he played in Leicester, he will be very hard to stop.
