Grand Slam of Darts field is determined
The playing field has been determined for the PDC Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton next month after the final qualifier.
The 32-man annual competition will take place for the tenth time at Wolverhampton Civic Hall from November 12-20,
Half of the tournament, 16 places, were decided through the PDC title winners and losers in the final of the major televised events throughout the year.
Defending Grand Slam champion Michael van Gerwen, runner-up Phil Taylor, world titlist Gary Anderson, runner-up Adrian Lewis and world youth boss Max Hopp had already qualified.
Hopp's final victim Nathan Aspinall, Masters runner-up Dave Chisnall, UK Open runner-up Peter Wright and World Cup runner-up Raymond van Barneveld also made the cut.
Another six spots went to title winners in the non-televised 'floor' tournaments, to complete the list of those who didn't have to come through the qualifier.
They were awarded to European Matchplay winner James Wade, International Open winner Mensur Suljovic and German Championship winner Alan Norris.
Winners of the individual Players Championship competitions went to another three, decided by ranking on the Pro Tour Order of Merit. Simon Whitlock, Benito van de Pas and Ian White are all in.
Eight players have been invited from the BDO, with the PDC setting out the criteria to their rival organisation about who would be eligible.
Their world champion, Scott Waites, is one of four who qualify through winning one tournament and is the only BDO thrower to have ever won the Grand Slam, in 2010.
World Championship runner-up Jeff Smith, World Masters winner Glen Durrant and World Trophy titlist Darryl Fitton did likewise.
The remaining four places - one per eight four-man groups - for the BDO were assigned to their highest-ranked competitors who haven't already qualified.
As a result, Tipton's Jamie Hughes will make his Grand Slam debut with Scott Mitchell, Danny Noppert and Martin Adams also getting the call.
An open qualifier for the remaining eight places was held at the Barnsley Metrodome on Sunday, with the last 16 all in with a shout before their last game.
Robert Thornton, Dmitri van den Bergh, Ted Evetts, Brendan Dolan, Chris Dobey, James Wilson, Nathan Derry and Darren Webster won their ties.
The likes of Terry Jenkins, Jelle Klaasen and Kim Huybrechts, who landed a nine-dart finish on a run to the semi-finals at the 2014 Grand Slam, fell at the final hurdle.
The draw will be made the Monday night before the action gets underway, at the Civic with Saturday and Sunday afternoon and evening sessions from November 12.
Tickets for the eight-day event are on sale now, by calling the Civic Box Office on 0870 320 7000 or online via www.theticketfactory.com/pdc.
