"I've never played Luke Littler - I'm looking forward to it": Connor Scutt ready to test himself against the best at Grand Slam of Darts 2025

English darter Connor Scutt is entering one of the most promising phases of his career. After a season of ups and downs, he has earned his place both at the Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton and the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace.

Speaking to Tungsten Tales, Scutt reflected openly on his year — the setbacks, the lessons learned, and his ambitions for what lies ahead.

“It’s been a good week for me,” Scutt said with a smile. “I’ve qualified for Ally Pally through the last ProTour Order of Merit spot, and now for the Grand Slam. Having the highest average in the qualifiers — just under 101 — was nice. I wouldn’t say I’ve had a terrible year, but I’ve had a lot of tough opponents and a bit of bad luck. I’ve still been playing well — I think I’m inside the top 64 for averages — but I need a bit more consistency.”

That consistency, he explained, has been tested by fine margins. “I’ve had matches where I’ve averaged 104 and still lost 6–4, or averaged over 100 and my opponent hit 106. It’s been one of those seasons — plenty of high-quality games that just didn’t fall my way.”

During the qualifying tournament in Wigan, however, Scutt showed exactly what he can do, beating Peter Wright and Mike De Decker to book his place in Wolverhampton. “I’ve had a recent setup change, using some new Condor products, and they’re working really well,” he said. “I actually thought I had another match to play after Mike, so maybe that helped me stay relaxed! But yeah, it felt good.

”That confidence had been building. “I hit two nine-darters in the week leading up to the qualifier — one in practice before Wigan, and one while playing there. The game’s been in good shape; it’s just about producing it in matches.”

For the second year running, Scutt will take to the oche at the Grand Slam. Last year he qualified via the Challenge Tour, this time through the open qualifier. His group is a tricky one — Karel Sedlacek, Daryl Gurney, and Luke Littler — but he’s keeping his cool.

“The draw’s the draw — some players have tougher ones, that’s for sure. I’ve played everyone except Luke, so I’m looking forward to it. I enjoy playing on TV — it brings out a different side of me. I’m usually quiet, but I love the atmosphere.”

Facing crowd favourites doesn’t faze him. “Whatever the crowd’s like, it’s not personal — that’s what we play all year for: to get these chances on TV.”

Scutt refuses to target any one opponent. “I just focus on my own game. Daryl, Karel, Luke — they can all average 110. I can only control what I do, so there’s no point worrying about anyone else.”

His spot at Ally Pally was only confirmed at the final ProTour weekend. “It wasn’t nice, to be honest,” he admitted. “I knew I had to win a game or two. I beat Brad Brooks, who averaged over 100 while I hit 97, and then lost to Dimi, who played his best in a while. It was a nervy watch after that, but I’m really glad to be back at Ally Pally for the third year in a row.”

It’s been a hectic period off the board as well. “I changed manufacturer, moved house — there was a lot going on. It’s not an excuse, but I’ve been busy! Now I’m settled and playing better than ever. I’ve hit a couple of nine-darters recently and I’m missing on doubles for them two or three times a day at the moment. I feel really comfortable, so hopefully it all comes out towards the back end of the year.”

Scutt has also learned from the highs and lows of his first spell on tour. “The first time around, it all happened too fast. I made a semi-final in my third event and a board final in my second, so I hit the ground running but didn’t realise how much I still had to learn. I plateaued instead of improving. Back then I didn’t know enough about preparation or tournament routines — how to practise properly, how much to throw before games. I was a bit of a rabbit in the headlights, but now I’m much more experienced.”

He added that he feels at home again on the PDC circuit. “I enjoy being on tour — I feel comfortable there. Missing a bit of match play doesn’t bother me, but it would be nice to have more events during the quiet spells. Sometimes if you don’t qualify for the Euro Tours, you can go a month without competitive darts, so a few extra tournaments would help.”

Towards the end of the conversation, Scutt was full of admiration for the rising star of the women’s game. “Beau is one of the best players I’ve ever seen,” he said. “We practised together at the Denmark Open before the finals last year — she was unbelievable. There’s absolutely no reason she can’t get through her group at the Grand Slam. Once she’s comfortable on tour, she’ll do extremely well. Honestly, I think a lot of players will be hoping to avoid her — no one will want to draw her because she’s that good.”

With both the Grand Slam of Darts and the World Championship on the horizon, Scutt’s focus is on keeping things simple. “Last year I focused too much on the group situation — watching tables and permutations — and it distracted me,” he admitted. “The key is just to play darts and ignore everything else.”

It’s a grounded attitude from a player who has learned to trust the process. “I know I’m playing really good stuff,” Scutt concluded. “Sometimes the doubles go, sometimes they don’t. But I feel that something special is coming — it just needs to come out now.”