Littler Begins Quest For Third Consecutive Title
Luke Littler’s formidable record at the Grand Slam of Darts continued on the opening night in Wolverhampton as he launched his title defence with a convincing 5-2 victory over Beau Greaves. The two-time reigning champion is seeking a third successive Eric Bristow Trophy and laid down an immediate marker, producing a superb average of nearly 110 to overcome the women’s world number one. The win extends Littler’s unbeaten run at the Aldersley Leisure Village, a venue where he first lifted the title in 2024 and has remained undefeated ever since.
The match against Greaves was billed as a blockbuster encounter to open the evening session, and while the scoreline was comfortable for the world number one, the standard of play from the defending champion signalled his clear intent for the week ahead. Starting his campaign with such a high-calibre performance under the Saturday night lights immediately solidifies his position as the man to beat in a tournament that has expanded to a 48-player field for 2026.
Aspinall Shines as Debutants Cause Major Upsets
The afternoon’s play was headlined by a blistering performance from Nathan Aspinall, who recorded the session’s best display with a 5-1 demolition of Maik Kuivenhoven. After losing the opening leg, ‘The Asp’ reeled off five in a row to seal the win with a stunning 111.68 average. Aspinall, who has endured a season of mixed fortunes, appeared in high spirits afterwards, noting he was in a “very, very good headspace” and had thoroughly enjoyed the experience. He credited the vocal Wolverhampton crowd and the support of his family for helping to inspire his performance, stating a desire to entertain the paying public.
Such a dominant opening statement will not have gone unnoticed by those tracking the outright markets. While Littler remains the favourite, Aspinall’s form suggests he could be a significant contender, a factor for consideration on the best darts betting sites.
While Aspinall cruised, other established names found the opening day far more challenging, with a series of major upsets rocking the group stage. Jonny Clayton was the most prominent casualty, losing a final-leg decider to Swedish debutant Anton Ostlund. In their Group G clash, Ostlund started brightly to establish a 2-0 lead before Clayton battled back, but it was the newcomer who held his nerve to clinch a memorable 5-4 victory. It was a day of shocks, with Josh Rock also reported to have suffered a huge upset defeat in his opening fixture.
The tournament, which began life as a unique cross-code event featuring players from both the PDC and BDO, has evolved significantly over the years. The memory of that era, born from the acrimonious split in the sport, has faded, but the short, sharp group format remains a key feature, albeit one that has been described as “cut-throat” under its new, more brutal structure for 2026.
Sykes Overcomes Nerves and a Cold Arena on Debut
Another debutant enjoying a successful start was Tom Sykes, who secured a surprise 5-3 win over his compatriot Luke Woodhouse. Sykes expressed his relief after the match, admitting it was not a classic encounter and that both players had struggled on their doubles. “Luke let me off quite a bit there, and I managed to get the win, so I’m buzzing with that,” he said in his post-match press conference. Despite the win, the main talking point for Sykes and his opponent was the temperature inside the venue.
The conditions were described as notably cold, with Sykes revealing he was using hand warmers in his pockets between throws to cope. Woodhouse was more direct in his criticism following the defeat, expressing his hope that it would not be “like playing in a freezer” for the remainder of the event. For Sykes, however, the victory gives him a major advantage in the group as he aims to progress to the knockout stage on his first appearance at the Grand Slam.
