Stephen Bunting is set to make his Grand Slam of Darts debut in November after being confirmed amongst the competitors for this year’s event, alongside reigning champion Phil Taylor and World Champion Michael van Gerwen.
Bunting moved onto the PDC circuit in January after winning the Lakeside Championship title, and has already competed in the UK Open and World Matchplay this year and won a UK Open Qualifier.
The 29-year-old from St Helens is also assured of his debut in the Grand Slam of Darts at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall in November, after being confirmed amongst the invitations for the event alongside his fellow Lakeside Championship semi-finalists, Alan Norris, Robbie Green and Jan Dekker.
Norris and Green will also be making their first appearances in Wolverhampton, alongside PDC Unicorn World Youth Championship finalists Keegan Brown – the Isle of Wight youngster who went on to win that title – and Rowby-John Rodriguez, the young Austrian.
Terry Jenkins’ run to the UK Open final in March means that the 2008 runner-up will return to the Grand Slam of Darts stage in November.
The £400,000 tournament, featuring 32 players, will see five-time champion Phil Taylor – who defeated Robert Thornton in last year’s final – looking to extend his amazing run in the event.
Scott Waites and Raymond van Barneveld, the other two players to lift the trophy at the Wolves Civic, are also amongst the 25 players who have already qualified, alongside reigning PDC World Champion Michael van Gerwen and current UK Open champion Adrian Lewis.
Other qualifiers include previous Grand Slam of Darts finalists Andy Hamilton and James Wade, former World Championship finalists Peter Wright and Simon Whitlock 2013 World Grand Prix runner-up Dave Chisnall and Belgian brothers Kim and Ronny Huybrechts.
Dean Winstanley, a semi-finalist two years ago, and two-time quarter-finalist Tony O’Shea will also return to the Wolves Civic stage, with Christian Kist, Wesley Harms and Richie George qualifying by virtue of their Lakeside Championship performances in recent years.
Further qualifying places are available for the finalists in October’s World Grand Prix and European Championship and in The Masters at the start of November, with any remaining places to be filled at the Grand Slam of Darts Wildcard Qualifier on November 3 in Wigan.
Tickets for the Grand Slam of Darts will go on general sale on Monday August 4 at 9am from the Wolves Civic Box Office.
Tickets can be purchased in person at the Wolves Civic Box Office, by calling 0870 320 7000 or online at www.wolvescivic.co.uk.