The World Grand Prix will be staged at Leicester's Mattioli Arena, kicking off on 28 September with live coverage on Sky Sports. This tournament stands out on the darts calendar because every leg must both start and finish on a double or the bullseye, a rule that adds an extra layer of strategy and pressure for the competitors.
A total of 32 players will contest the title. The field is composed of the leading 16 men on the PDC Werner Rankings Ladder, together with the highest‑ranked 16 players from the ProTour Rankings who have not already qualified.
These 32 athletes will vie for the coveted double‑start glory and a newly increased top prize of £150,000, along with the prestige of adding the World Grand Prix trophy to their cabinet. Defending champion Luke Littler will headline the event in Leicester.
Littler, who captured the title last year, will be looking to prove that his triumph was no fluke and to defend his crown against a stacked lineup of the sport's elite. Also in the mix is 2023 champion Luke Humphries, who will be seeking his second World Grand Prix victory.
The Dutch number one Gian van Veen returns to the arena where he set a record‑breaking average in a match that ended in defeat to Littler, hoping to turn the tables this time around. Fans are reminded to use the Chrome browser for the most accessible video player experience when streaming the coverage.
The tournament will also feature six‑time champion Michael van Gerwen, a dominant force in darts, and two‑time winner James Wade, both of whom bring a wealth of experience and a reputation for delivering high‑quality darts under pressure. The Welsh pair Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton, who lifted the title in 2020 and 2021 respectively, will also be in the mix, adding further intrigue to the draw. Northern Irish world number one Josh Rock and two‑time semi‑finalist Danny Noppert will be present, while Stephen Bunting and Wessel Nijman make their return trips to Leicester after previous appearances.
The opening round match‑ups are as follows: Luke Littler vs Luke Woodhouse, Nathan Aspinall vs Kevin Doets, Danny Noppert vs Niko Springer, Michael van Gerwen vs Ryan Joyce, Gerwyn Price vs Sebastian Bialecki, Ross Smith vs Cameron Menzies, Jonny Clayton vs Krzysztof Ratajski, Wessel Nijman vs Rob Cross, Luke Humphries vs Dave Chisnall, Chris Dobey vs Jermaine Wattimena, Josh Rock vs Niels Zonneveld, Gary Anderson vs Damon Heta, Gian van Veen vs Dirk van Duijvenbode, Ryan Searle vs William O'Connor, James Wade vs Joe Cullen, and Stephen Bunting vs Andrew Gilding. The schedule is laid out over a week of intense competition. On Monday, 28 September, the first round will begin at 6 pm, featuring matches such as Noppert versus Springer, Smith versus Menzies, Aspinall versus Doets, Clayton versus Ratajski, Price versus Bialecki, Van Gerwen versus Joyce, Littler versus Woodhouse and Nijman versus Cross.
Tuesday, 29 September, also starts at 6 pm with the remaining first‑round fixtures, including Dobey versus Wattimena, Searle versus O'Connor, Rock versus Zonneveld, Wade versus Cullen, Anderson versus Heta, Van Veen versus Van Duijvenbode, Humphries versus Chisnall and Bunting versus Gilding. Wednesday, 30 September, will see the second round commence at 7 pm, though the exact order of play is yet to be confirmed. Expected pairings include the winners of Littler/Woodhouse facing the victors of Aspinall/Doets, Noppert/Springer taking on Van Gerwen/Joyce, Price/Bialecki meeting Smith/Menzies, and Clayton/Ratajski playing against Nijman/Cross.
Thursday, 1 October, also at 7 pm, will continue the second round with match‑ups such as Humphries/Chisnall versus Dobey/Wattimena, Rock/Zonneveld against Anderson/Heta, Van Veen/Van Duijvenbode against Searle/O'Connor, and Wade/Cullen versus Bunting/Gilding. The quarter‑finals are slated for Friday, 2 October, beginning at 7 pm, followed by the semi‑finals on Saturday, 3 October at 8 pm, and the championship match on Sunday, 4 October, also at 8 pm. Each stage will see the remaining competitors battling not only for the lucrative prize fund but also for the honor of being crowned the World Grand Prix champion.
Viewers can tune in to Sky Sports for live coverage throughout the tournament, from the opening round on 28 September through to the final on 4 October. The event promises a blend of high‑stakes drama, precision dart‑throwing, and the unique double‑start challenge that distinguishes the World Grand Prix from other major darts competitions.
Whether you are a seasoned fan or new to the sport, the week promises compelling storylines, potential upsets, and the chance to witness some of the finest darts players in the world compete under the bright lights of the Mattioli Arena.