🚨 BREAKING: Teen Prodigy Luke Littler Tipped for Mr Vegas Grand Slam TRIUMPH – But There’s a Big Twist Due To… 💎
Reigning champion Luke Littler heads the betting at the 2025 Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts, as the knockout stages get underway in Wolverhampton on Wednesday.
Following four days of compelling round-robin action, the £650,000 tournament continues at WV Active Aldersley, with five former champions amongst the stars vying to lift the coveted Eric Bristow Trophy.
Littler has won all ten of his matches on the Grand Slam of Darts stage, and the Warrington wonderkid is hoping to become only the fourth player to win back-to-back titles in Wolverhampton since the tournament’s inception in 2007.
World number one Luke Humphries – fresh from his nine-dart heroics against 2022 champion Michael Smith – is just behind his great rival Littler in the outright odds market, with three-time champion Gerwyn Price also highly-fancied for another big run at this event.
“The group stages have finished and we’ve seen some wonderful moments, with the highlight being 2023 champion Luke Humphries producing a nine-darter to win his match against Michael Smith,” said Russ Yershon from Mr Vegas.
“However, the current favourite for this year’s title is defending champion Luke Littler, who like Luke Humphries, boasted maximum points from his three group matches and heads the betting at 37/20, with Luke Humphries second favourite and perhaps a bit of value at 33/10.
“Gerwyn Price is currently the third favourite at 32/5, after recovering from defeat in his opening match against Ricky Evans with 5-0 and 5-1 wins in his final two group games to head into the knockout stages in top form.
“Josh Rock enters the knockout stages following victory over Gian van Veen and the Northern Irishman is 37/5 to land the Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts title, while Michael van Gerwen can be backed at 42/5 after beating Gary Anderson to finish top of Group G.
“Turning our attention to the round of 16 and we open proceedings on Wednesday night, where Luke Woodhouse, Gerwyn Price, Luke Humphries and Chris Dobey are fancied to book their spots in the quarter-finals.
“Niko Springer, Josh Rock, Luke Littler and Michael van Gerwen are also favourites in their respective matches on Thursday, and we cannot wait for the action to unfold.”
For all the outright, match and boosted odds, head to Mr Vegas,18+ begambleaware.org. Odds subject to change.
Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts
Outright Odds
Luke Littler 37/20
Luke Humphries 33/10
Gerwyn Price 32/5
Josh Rock 37/5
Michael van Gerwen 42/5
Chris Dobey 16/1
Wessel Nijman 20/1
Danny Noppert 22/1
Niko Springer 28/1
Luke Woodhouse 29/1
Martin Schindler 39/1
Michael Smith 39/1
69/1 bar
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Smith vows for ‘fresh beginning’ ahead of Dobey Grand Slam clash
Michael Smith is aiming to turn a corner after reaching the knockout stages of the Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts in his first televised Premier event for over eight months.
The 2022 champion has made it out the group stage for the first time since he won the event three years ago, thanks to wins against Nathan Aspinall and Alex Spellman.
Although Smith succumbed to defeat against nine-dart hero Luke Humphries, the world number one did him a favour by defeating Aspinall 5-3 on Monday evening to confirm that both of England’s 2024 World Cup winners would advance to Round Two.
“I’m over the moon,” said the 2022/23 World Champion after beating Spellman 5-2. “I’m through to the last 16 and I can finally relax now.
“I did my job getting the two points, but I would have liked it to be 5-0 or 5-1.
“I didn’t want to come here and lose all three games and say I’m happy to compete against because that’s not my mindset; I wanted to win all three games.
“I’m through to the last 16 and now I can concentrate on Wednesday.”
Smith will face Chris Dobey for a place in the quarter-finals, with Dobey losing just two of his last 14 games since the European Championship, including a run to his third Players Championship title of the year.
It will be the third player Smith has played at the Grand Slam that featured in this year’s Premier League and is above him in the rankings, but that only gives him further motivation.
“Another Premier League player!” remarked Smith. “I’ve just got to play and get on with it. I’ve got no pressure now – if I get beat, I go home and if I win, I’m into the quarters.
“I’ve already played two good friends in Luke [Humphries] and Nathan [Aspinall], and now it’s another one soon with Dobey. It’s all about concentrating now.
“If I get beat by Dobey, I’ve had a good tournament, especially being off for eight months.
Smith has experienced a tough period in his darting career, not featuring in a televised Premier event since reaching the quarter-finals of the UK Open in March.
The St Helens star revealed he was suffering from arthritis in his right hand in January, which has led to difficulties practicing and playing darts at his highest level – but vows to fight through it.
“I’ve just got to grit my teeth again and go through it,” asserted Smith. “I’m not just going to quit and roll over, I’ve got to keep fighting.
“Sitting out of everything just gave me the hunger back and I just want to fight and play again.
“I want to be on the big screen. I’m sick of watching Humphries and [Luke] Littler win everything, it’s annoying me now!
“This is the tournament I won my first major. Apart from the World Championship, this is my favourite tournament.”
Indeed, Smith’s late run in 2022 saw him secure his first televised title at the Grand Slam after falling short in eight Premier finals, and then win the 2022/23 World Championship to immortalise his darting credentials.
“Now I’m in the last 16, I’m four games away from winning two Grand Slams,” added Smith.
“In my mindset, I’m ready for it now. I’m ready to be back, I’m ready to be competing again.
“I could win this tournament, and I didn’t have that belief a couple of months ago.
“I’ve won this tournament before, why can’t I win it again?
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