GRAND SLAM OF DARTS UNVEILS NEW FORMAT AND EXPANDED FIELD
11/02/2026 By Aaron Nijjar
THE Grand Slam of Darts has been expanded into a 48-player field for the first time in November.
The major event previously featured 32 competitors, but the line-up has now been increased to include an additional 18 participants.
Following the tournament’s expansion, a new format will be introduced, featuring SIXTEEN groups of three players.
This new structure departs from the customary eight groups of four at the WV Active Aldersley.
Defending champion Luke Littler will headline as he attempts to lift the Eric Bristow Trophy for a third consecutive time and claim the £200,000 top prize.
World No.2 Luke Humphries is set to return, alongside Ally Pally finalist Gian van Veen.
Beau Greaves has secured her fourth consecutive appearance in Wolverhampton after reaching the final of the World Youth Championship.
Nathan Aspinall also competes after his impressive run in Minehead, where he finished runner-up at the Players Championship Finals.
The top 16 players on the PDC Order of Merit will be seeded, while the remaining 32 competitors will be separated based on their rankings, those placed 17-32 and those ranked 33-48, to be drawn into one of the 16 groups.
Finalists from PDC televised ranked events over a 12-month period are assured a place in the tournament, which will make up to 24 places, with five players having already secured their spot.
A further 12 spaces will be awarded to additional qualifiers as well as players who finish top of the Winmau Development Tour and Challenge Tour Rankings.
Winners of the Women’s World Matchplay and the Women’s Series Rankings will also feature.
Players who win at the PDC Asian Championship, North American Championship, PDC Nordic & Baltic Championship and the ANZ Premier League will also secure their places.
The remaining places to fill up to 40 players may then be awarded to winners from the 2026 European Tour and Players Championship events, in order of number of event wins and then PDC Ranking Order.
Finally, eight further players will also come through the PDC Tour Card Holder Qualifier on November 6 to complete the inaugural 48-player field at this year’s Grand Slam.
Image by Taylor Lanning.
