"Michael and Gary are nowhere near the players they used to be" - Ryan Joyce admits fear factor has gone for Van Gerwen and Anderson

Ryan Joyce pulled off an upset at the 2024 Grand Slam of Darts on Tuesday night. The 39-year-old Englishman defeated Michael van Gerwen 5-4 in his final group match, qualifiying for the last sixteen of this major for the second time in his career at the expense of the three time world champion. In the last sixteen, Gian van Veen now awaits.

It has been a long time since Van Gerwen failed to make it through the group stage of the major tournament in Wolverhampton. In his first three appearances in 2007, 2008 and 2010 'Mighy Mike' failed in the group stage each time. Since then he always reached the last sixteen, but that streak has come to an end at the hands of Ryan Joyce.

"It felt like we were both struggling a little bit,” the 39-year-old admitted in his post-match comments. “I think we were both nervous at certain times, but I’m just delighted to get through.”

In a group that also included Gary Anderson and Noa-Lynn van Leuven, Joyce was not widely tipped in advance to qualify for the knockout stage. "I thought it was a really tough group on paper but if I am being honest, Michael and Gary are nowhere near the players they used to be," Joyce explains. "Although Gary played like that when he played against me. But they won't mind me saying, they know they're not playing at their highest level so they don't have that fear factor any more for me."

As mentioned, Joyce will now take on Gian van Veen in the last sixteen, who topped the group of death. "I've got to do better," Joyce previews. "He should go into the match favourite on form, but I'm a dangerous player and it'll be hard to count me out of that game."

UK fans can use Sky Sports during the Grand Slam of Darts. As usual, the tournament begins with a group stage with eight pools of four players each. The group stage takes place from Saturday through Tuesday, with all players playing three times.

The top two players from each group will advance to the knockout phase. Starting Wednesday, Nov. 13, the knockout phase will begin with the first matches of the final sixteen. This round will be completed on Thursday, Nov. 14. The quarterfinals will be played on Friday, Nov. 15 and Saturday, Nov. 16, before the semifinals and finals are finished on Sunday, Nov. 17.