2018 bwin Grand Slam of Darts | |||
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Tournament information | |||
Dates | 10–18 November 2018 | ||
Venue | Aldersley Leisure Village | ||
Location | Aldersley, Wolverhampton | ||
Country | England | ||
Organisation(s) | PDC | ||
Format | Legs | ||
Prize fund | £450,000 | ||
Winner's share | £110,000 | ||
Nine-dart finish | Dimitri Van den Bergh | ||
High checkout | 170 Simon Whitlock (x2) Stephen Bunting Gerwyn Price | ||
Champion(s) | |||
Gerwyn Price | |||
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The 2018 bwin Grand Slam of Darts was the twelfth staging of the tournament, organised by the Professional Darts Corporation. The event took place from 10–18 November 2018 in Wolverhampton, England, but for the first time in the event's history, it was not at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall, as it is undergoing a two-year renovation. The 2018 tournament was held at Aldersley Leisure Village.[1] Beginning with this tournament, the winner of the title would receive "The Eric Bristow Trophy", named after the legendary player who died in April 2018.
The tournament's defending champion was Michael van Gerwen, who won the tournament in 2017 by defeating Peter Wright 16–12 in the final to win it for a third straight year,[2] but lost in the semi-finals to Gary Anderson by the same scoreline 16–12.
Gerwyn Price won his first PDC major title by defeating Gary Anderson 16–13, in a highly controversial final.[3] Price also became the first Welsh player to win a PDC major title.
The DRA launched an investigation into the behaviour from both players in the final. Price was fined £21,500 for a combination of 'Bringing the sport into disrepute and gamesmanship' in the final and for his Quarter-final clash with Simon Whitlock. Price was also given a three month ban, which was suspended for 6 months. Anderson was given a formal warning for pushing Price on the oche.[4] Price's fine was subsequently reduced on appeal to a total of £11,500.[5]
Dimitri Van den Bergh hit the fourth nine dart leg in Grand Slam of Darts history, in his second round match against Stephen Bunting, and for the first time in the tournament history no Englishman progressed into the quarter-final stage.[6]