Luke Humphries knocked out of Grand Slam of Darts 2024 in group stage! Michael Smith stunned by Jermaine Wattimena

Defending champion Luke Humphries has been knocked out of the 2024 Grand Slam of Darts in the group stage. After a shocking 5-3 defeat against Rowby-John Rodriguez, 'Cool Hand Luke' also suffered a defeat against James Wade on Sunday night.

Humphries led 2-0 and 3-2, but also gave up the break twice. After Wade came back to 3-3, 'The Machine' took over the lead for the first time after a fine 76 finish in the seventh leg. Wade then broke Humphries with an 18-darter, deciding the final score at 5-3. This eliminates Humphries for good and sends Mickey Mansell through to the knockout phase after defeating Wade and Rodriguez. Wade and Rodriguez will meet in the last group match and the winner of that game will advance to the last sixteen.

Meanwhile, Jermaine Wattimena has secured a spot in the last sixteen of the Grand Slam of Darts. After his 5-2 victory over Mike de Decker, he also beat world number two Michael Smith. Wattimena is in the form of his life after surprisingly making the final at the European Darts Championship last month. That performance earned him a ticket to this tournament. Just like in 2022, 'The Machine Gun' knows he will also play the knockout stage.

The Dutchman was alert when Smith missed four chances in the first leg to keep his own leg. Wattimena hit the double and made it 2-0 with a 16-darter. Wattimena then hit 64 and 72 to double the lead to 4-0. In the fifth leg, Wattimena had two chances to give the former world champion a whitewash, but failed. Smith saved the whitewash by hitting tops, but a leg later Wattimena brought down the Englishman.

With this victory, Wattimena leads Group E after two matches. For Mensur Suljovic the curtain has fallen. The Austrian will play Wattimena in his final group match. Smith and De Decker will play each other to determine who will advance to the second round together with Wattimena.