The great conspiracy?

The Grand Slam Of Darts (sponsored by Daily Mirror) kicks off today as 32 players from both the PDC and BDO compete for the title.

Last year the BDO players acquitted themselves very well with Scott Waites making the final, O'Shea only being beaten by Taylor and (if you remove the results of the matches against the women) the BDO winning the battle 10-7 (though it was 10-10 but it depends on which side of the divide you're on) This obviously drags up the usual PDC vs BDO debate but then it doesn't take much.

There are some debutants to this years tournament, most notably Dave Chisnall (BDO World Championship runner-up) but he has a very difficult start against the PDC World Championship runner-up Simon Whitlock. It will be interesting the reaction Chisnall will get from the crowd but as O'Shea showed last year, play it right and you can very quickly get them on your side (take note Mr Hankey - have you learned your lesson from last year?) I'm hoping Mark Hylton has a good tournament but again he has a very difficult start against Gary Anderson. Mark Webster and Wayne Jones also in the group makes it hard but Mark came through the qualifiers so he's shown he can cope. Can he do it on the stage though?

Now, there has been talk about the draw, the high profile games it has thrown up and whether its all been manipulated. Now these comments have mostly come from those who don't usually (if ever) talk about Barry Hearn or the PDC in a positive light in anyway, those who think the PDC can do no right. But lets look at the games it has thrown up for the BDO players and who's ended up in which group:

Hankey vs Taylor - would have been better if Hankey was the reigning BDO World Champion but given the comments of Hankey and everything that happened last year, probably the biggest game of the group stages. Hankey is in a group with the very impressive Wes Newton and the blows-hot-and-cold Michael Van Gerwen. Very difficult for him to get out this group.

Chisnall vs Whitlock - the 2 World Championship runners up. As good a game as any to pit the BDO against the PDC to see who is better. Chisnall has ended up in a group against Colin Osbourne (another player who blows-hot-and-cold) and Robert Thornton. Again, going to be difficult to get out the group but backing Chisnall to beat Thornton and whoever wins between him and Osbourne qualifies.

Tony O'Shea and Justin Pipe: In the same group. Pipe came through the qualifiers so has already played some of the PDC lot. O'Shea is a class act all round. Also in the group is James Wade and Vincent Van de Vort. Wade is in terrific form at the moment so expecting him to qualify top. But Vincent is more than beatable. He can also be a formidable player. Wade and O'Shea to qualify but think Pipe will pick up a win against VdV.

Henderson vs Jenkins: Henderson will fancy his chances here but Jenkins is a very solid player and very experienced. Merv King and Stacy Bromberg make up the group. Henderson stands a decent chance getting out this group as Jenkins can match King. Not expecting much from Stacy unfortunately.

Scott Waites and Martin Phillips: Again in the same group with Adrian Lewis and Co Stompe. This is a really open group. Waites made the semi last year, Phillips made the semi of the BDO World Championships last year, Lewis and Stompe are very solid players. Lewis is favourite to go through, Stompe is very solid but if Waites can beat Stompe then it's anyones.

Darryl Fitton vs Colin Lloyd. Fitton can win this one, no doubts at all. Lloyd is solid but hasn't really found the form when he was the World number 1 for a while. Also in the group is Barney and Tricia Wright. Barney is win the group, Wright to finish bottom so the final qualifier could well be whoever wins this first game.

Ok, those are just my thoughts. Now here's the thing. The only possible "evidence" to say the draw has been manipulated is that Hankey & Taylor got the same group. The other BDO players have got tough groups but so they should. They're now up against some of the best players in the world, you're not going to get that many easy games if any. Chisnall and Hankey could feel a little hard done by but someone had to get Taylor. It just an added kicker that Wes Newton is in the draw but Hankey is a crowd pleaser in terms of he gets them going. Think the longer he stays the better for the tournament. Its not beyond the realms of possibility Chisnall gets out his group as I've illustrated. Great chance for him to show his great performance in the BDO Worlds was no one-off.

The tournament is heavily favored to the PDC but it's a PDC run tournament, you'd expect that. Its not an ideal set up the GSoD in this respect however at least the PDC have done something. Don't see the BDO inviting PDC players to their official tournaments or even setting one up so they can.

Ultimately though, this is about Darts. These guys love the sport no matter where they play. They won't see it as BDO vs PDC. That is all for the fans and the hype. ITV4 have the coverage and they have been excellent the last couple of years. Just glad to see some more darts on the TV.

Best of order please. Game on!!