Beau Greaves made no secret of her enthusiasm. With three days to go until the start of the 2026 Grand Slam of Darts, the WDF world champion said she was “excited” at the prospect of facing Luke Littler, according to Sky Sports. The draw has placed the two players in the same group, setting up a high-profile and unusual opening match for the Wolverhampton tournament: the defending champion against the top-ranked player on the women’s circuit, on Saturday 14 November, in the very first session.
A three-player group, so there’s no room for error
This year’s format is unlike any previous edition. Sixteen groups of three players, with only one player from each group qualifying for the last 16. In such a tightly contested format, the opening match is already crucial: a defeat means the player must win their next two matches and keep a close eye on the leg difference, which can decide the outcome between two players who have both won two matches. In other words, the winner of the Littler - Greaves match will be in a very favourable position as early as Saturday evening, whilst the loser will have no room for manoeuvre.
Two paths that cross
Luke Littler arrives in Wolverhampton as the defending champion, having won the tournament in 2024 and again in 2025. He remains the headline act of a tournament he has learnt to dominate, and his record in major knockout events explains why he is once again tipped as one of the favourites. Beau Greaves, meanwhile, has established herself as the leading light of women’s snooker, with a WDF World Championship title and an increasingly regular presence on the professional circuit. The Grand Slam is, in fact, one of the few tournaments where the two circuits meet, giving this match a special flavour that the other opening days lack.
What Greaves is expecting from this fixture
In comments reported by Sky Sports, the Doncaster-based player emphasised desire rather than pressure. Facing Littler on the main stage in Wolverhampton, in front of a packed house and the cameras, is exactly the sort of test she was looking for when she joined the PDC circuit. A clash with the reigning champion is, however, on a different level to her previous appearances in a major draw: she’ll need to keep up the pace over three legs, without letting her average drop in the slightest.
A tournament expanded to 48 players
The 2026 edition marks a significant expansion. The field has expanded from 32 to 48 players, divided into sixteen groups of three, with the prize fund increased to £1,000,000. The champion will pocket £200,000, the biggest cheque in the tournament’s history. The tournament takes place from 14 to 22 November at WV Active Aldersley in Wolverhampton, with the group stage taking place over the first few days before the round of 16.
A field missing several regulars
The draw has been marked by several high-profile absences. has withdrawn from the Tour Card Holder Qualifier and will miss Wolverhampton for the second time in twenty years. , and also failed in their attempts to qualify, whilst , and secured their places at the same event in Leicester.
What to watch out for on Saturday
Beyond the result, the first session will set the tone for the tournament. A win for Greaves would open up an unexpected path in the group and shift the pressure onto Littler, who would then be fighting for survival in his second match. A clear victory for the defending champion, on the other hand, would confirm the pecking order and shift the focus back to the other groups. In a format where every leg counts, the manner of the win will matter just as much as the score.
