Wayne Mardle's Grand Slam predictions

We asked Wayne Mardle to look into his crystal ball and answer some key questions before the Grand Slam of Darts...

Which BDO player poses the biggest threat?

Glen Durrant will reach the final. The bottom half of the draw is doable for a lot of players. He is the BDO world champ and has promised so much. Maybe it's time to deliver away from the BDO.

Glenn Durrant will reach the final.

Their best player, in my opinion, is Durrant. He has a tough group with Peter Wright, Alan Norris and Corey Cadby but he will come through that. I see him and Peter going through. Durrant must not worry about Wright. Just beat Norris and Cadby and he'll be through.

There's no reason Durrant can't think: 'I'm in the other half of the draw to Michael van Gerwen and Phil Taylor, so why not?'

Which big-name will crash out early?

Dave Chisnall and Mensur Suljovic will struggle. Stephen Bunting, Jeffrey de Zwaan and Scott Mitchell will fancy their chances in Chizzy's group. Chizzy isn't playing his best.

Dave Chisnall and Mensur Suljovic will struggle.

Suljovic has Michael Smith, James Wilson and BDO No 1 Mark McGeeney. In a best-of-nine format it brings the players together which makes it a minefield to predict.

It's difficult for the seeded players at the Grand Slam. Adrian Lewis, who isn't playing this year, had a diabolical record here. It is tough.

Who are you particularly looking forward to watching?

I want to see James Wade start playing well again on a regular basis. He has never been a show-off but used to let everybody know when he was playing well, in a cool way.

I want to see James Wade start playing well again on a regular basis.

Now he's hoping it goes well, but is thinking it could go badly at any moment. Wade should come through his group. He played well last week but I want to see him play well again, so to lay down a marker for future tournaments.

Who will win?

The minute Michael van Gerwen gets out of his group, the tournament becomes a long format. I don't fancy him to get beaten in a long format unless it's against three people - Gary Anderson (who is in the other half of the draw), Raymond van Barneveld or Phil Taylor. I see Van Gerwen winning it.

I don't fancy MVG to get beaten in a long format unless it's against three people...

The Grand Slam of Darts gets underway live on Sky Sports on Saturday November 11 with a double session as the best of the PDC compete against the best of the BDO

Keep up to date with the news as the tungsten enters its busiest time of year with the PDC World Championships just around the corner get all the latest at www.skysports.com/darts and join in the conversation @SkySportsDarts.