There’s not any place for Leighton Bennett although lisa Ashton and women’s world champion Mikuru Suzuki are among the eight BDO titles which will feature at the Grand Slam of all Darts.
Speculation was rife about who will feature for the BDO at the annual tournament which features the very finest of the organisation along with 24 PDC professionals.
The inclusion of Suzuki and Ashton would be the headline-setter following the BDO supported their representatives but the lack of teenage BDO world youth winner Bennett, who had been under serious consideration given his form, will be a disappointment to many.
Sixteen-time World Champion Phil Taylor was among the names but finally the player’s age and the issues encompassing him has meant this year he won’t attribute.
Ashton and Suzuki will probably be one of the names after the eight names were ratified by the PDC that chase one of two female eligibility places for this year’s PDC World Championship and both will be in the Grand Slam.
Japanese feeling Suzuki has enjoyed a stellar year with won her first world title at Lakeside with a triumph over Lorraine Winstanley while Ashton made her debut at Alexandra Palace this past year, taking a set off Jan Dekker before finally falling into a 3-1 defeat at the first round.
The criteria over these eight names are chosen was unclear in the BDO amid a year of uncertainty.
A chairman in Des Jacklin has been announced, the BDO world champion Glen Durrant won his PDC Tour card at along with also the venue because of its World Championships has been switched from the legendary Lakeside from Frimley Green.
Alongside four qualifiers from their ranks, the BDO is believed to be using wildcards that is Sky Sports knows Ashton and Suzuki have been chosen.
Three-time BDO world champion Durrant was verified alongside Jim Williams and Wesley Harms as a BDO representative. Richard Veenstra, Dave Parletti and Wayne Warren will produce their Grand Slam debuts.
‘Boom Boom’ Bennett maintained the BDO’s World Youth Championship in January and is the talk of world darts. He has been competing regularly securing a debut and his absence will be a disappointment to many who were hoping to see him compete.
Even the 24-player PDC line-up will be finalised next month if the 16 automatic qualifiers will secure their location , the European Championship and the World Series Finals offer players a chance, while a qualification tournament will give the last eight locations.
Eight of the world’s top 10 players have already secured their place, headlined by defending world champion Michael van Gerwen champion Gerwyn Price and World Matchplay winner Rob Cross.
Coverage of this Grand Slam of Darts in Aldersley Leisure Village in Wolverhampton gets underway on Saturday November 9 and continues through to the last on Sunday November 17.
