MR Vegas Grand Slam of Darts 2024 progress to the knockout stages is on a knife edge for two St Helens throwers as they return to the action tonight.

Michael Smith and Stephen Bunting each need to win their respective third group game in order to march on, having both won one and lost one of their contests over the weekend.

But fifth-seed Dave Chisnall’s final group game will be about restoring some pride, as two heavy defeats mean he cannot go any further in the tournament despite still having one more ‘round-robin’ game to play.

Bunting produced one of the stand-out performances in Group H on Saturday, kicking off his campaign with a dramatic win against Wessel Nijman.

2023 semi-finalist Bunting won through a thrilling last-leg tie against Nijman, defying a 106.51 average from the Dutch debutant to triumph on his Wolverhampton return.

‘Bully Boy’ Smith, the tournament’s second seed, overcome some early frustration to see off Mensur Suljovic 5-2.

2022 champion Smith reeled off three straight legs to finally sink Suljovic.

Chizzy was whitewashed 5-0 by debutant Connor Scutt, who averaged 104.38.

Gian Van Veen produced the third-highest average in Grand Slam history to book his place in the knockout stages, averaging 114.71 to dispatch Bunting 5-1 on Sunday.

The Dutchman agonisingly missed double 18 for a nine-darter in leg two of the contest, before later producing a magnificent double-double 133 checkout on his way to victory.

Bunting’s solitary leg came courtesy of a spectacular 170 checkout, but the Masters champion now faces a straight shoot-out for qualification with Josh Rock tonight - and they are due on stage at 10.45pm.

Jermaine Wattimena produced a thumping 5-1 victory over Smith on Sunday, as the European Championship runner-up safely sealed his passage to the last 16.

This leaves Smith going head-to-head with Mike de Decker tonight at 10.15pm for a place in the last 16, with the World Grand Prix champion preserving his hopes with a 5-2 victory over Suljovic.

Chisnall’s hopes of progress were halted with a 5-2 defeat against Ross Smith on Sunday, before a third loss against Ritchie Edhouse 5-2 on Monday night.

Action continues nightly this week, broadcast live on Sky Sports.

If either or both Smith and Bunting progress, they would play their first knockout game on Thursday night.