World Grand Prix timetable set as Littler aims to retain his crown

The World Grand Prix will be staged at Leicester's Mattioli Arena, kicking off on September 28 with live coverage on Sky Sports. This tournament is distinctive because every leg must both start and finish on a double or the bullseye, adding a strategic twist that separates it from most other darts competitions. A total of thirty-two competitors will line up for the event.

The field is composed of the top sixteen players from the PDC Werner Rankings Ladder, plus the highest‑ranked sixteen players from the ProTour Rankings who have not already qualified. These twenty‑four elite darts professionals will join eight additional qualifiers, creating a packed roster that will vie for the coveted double‑start glory. Defending champion Luke Littler will headline the tournament in his home arena, looking to repeat his triumph after last year’s victory. Littler’s presence adds extra excitement for local fans, who will see their young star attempt to defend a prize fund that has been increased to a striking £150,000 for the winner, alongside the prestigious title.

Last year’s champion, Luke Humphries, will also be back in Leicester, hoping to add a second World Grand Prix crown to his résumé. The Englishman has already claimed the 2023 title and will be eager to prove his consistency on the double‑start format. Dutch number one Gian van Veen returns as well, aiming to improve on his previous performance where he set a record average but fell short in the final against Littler. The tournament will also feature six‑time champion Michael van Gerwen, a player whose reputation for high scoring and mental resilience makes him a perennial favorite.

Two‑time winner James Wade will be on the boards, bringing his experience and steady play to the mix. Wales will be well represented by Gerwyn Price, a former world champion known for his fiery demeanor, and Jonny Clayton, who lifted the trophy in 2020 and 2021 and remains a dangerous contender.

Northern Ireland’s top player Josh Rock will compete, as will Dutch veteran Danny Noppert, who has reached the semi‑finals on two previous occasions. Returning to Leicester are Stephen Bunting and Wessel Nijman, both of whom are eager to make a deep run after earlier appearances in the city.

The first round match‑ups have already been announced: - Luke Littler vs Luke Woodhouse (seed 16) - Nathan Aspinall vs Kevin Doets (seed 8) - Danny Noppert vs Niko Springer (seed 9) - Michael van Gerwen vs Ryan Joyce (seed 4) - Gerwyn Price vs Sebastian Bialecki (seed 13) - Ross Smith vs Cameron Menzies (seed 5) - Jonny Clayton vs Krzysztof Ratajski (seed 12) - Wessel Nijman vs Rob Cross (seed 2) - Luke Humphries vs Dave Chisnall (seed 15) - Chris Dobey vs Jermaine Wattimena (seed 7) - Josh Rock vs Niels Zonneveld (seed 10) - Gary Anderson vs Damon Heta (seed 3) - Gian van Veen vs Dirk van Duijvenbode (seed 14) - Ryan Searle vs William O'Connor (seed 6) - James Wade vs Joe Cullen (seed 11) - Stephen Bunting vs Andrew Gilding (unseeded) The schedule is as follows: Monday, 28 September – 6 pm start – Round One featuring matches such as Noppert vs Springer, Smith vs Menzies, Aspinall vs Doets, Clayton vs Ratajski, Price vs Bialecki, Van Gerwen vs Joyce, Littler vs Woodhouse and Nijman vs Cross. Tuesday, 29 September – 6 pm start – Round One continues with Dobey vs Wattimena, Searle vs O'Connor, Rock vs Zonneveld, Wade vs Cullen, Anderson vs Heta, Van Veen vs Van Duijvenbode, Humphries vs Chisnall and Bunting vs Gilding. Wednesday, 30 September – 7 pm start – Round Two (order of play to be confirmed).

Expected pairings include the winner of Littler/Woodhouse versus the winner of Aspinall/Doets, Noppert/Springer versus Van Gerwen/Joyce, Price/Bialecki versus Smith/Menzies, and Clayton/Ratajski versus Nijman/Cross. Thursday, 1 October – 7 pm start – Round Two continues with Humphries/Chisnall versus Dobey/Wattimena, Rock/Zonneveld versus Anderson/Heta, Van Veen/Van Duijvenbode versus Searle/O'Connor, and Wade/Cullen versus Bunting/Gilding.

Friday, 2 October – 7 pm start – Quarter‑finals. Saturday, 3 October – 8 pm start – Semi‑finals.

Sunday, 4 October – 8 pm start – The Grand Final, where the champion will be crowned and the £150,000 top prize awarded. Fans are encouraged to watch the action live on Sky Sports throughout the week-long event.

For the best viewing experience, the organizers recommend using the Chrome browser, which provides a more accessible video player and smoother streaming performance. The World Grand Prix promises high‑octane darts, dramatic double‑start finishes, and the chance for both established stars and rising talents to make their mark on one of the sport’s most unique stages.