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 stands out in 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 difficulty and strategy for the competitors. A total of thirty-two players will contest the event.

The field is composed of the top sixteen on the PDC Werner Rankings Ladder together with the highest‑ranked sixteen players from the ProTour Rankings who have not yet qualified. These sixteen qualifiers will join the elite in a quest for the coveted double‑start title and a significantly increased top prize of £150,000.

Defending champion Luke Littler will open the competition as the headline act in Leicester. Littler, who captured the trophy last year, will be looking to repeat his success and defend his title against a strong line‑up of the sport’s finest.

Also in the draw is 2023 champion Luke Humphries, who will be eager to add a second World Grand Prix crown to his résumé. Dutch number one Gian van Veen returns to the arena where he set a record average in a previous encounter, only to fall short against Littler in the final. Fans are reminded to use the Chrome browser for the most accessible video player experience when watching the live broadcast.

The tournament will also feature six‑time world champion Michael van Gerwen and two‑time Grand Prix winner James Wade, both of whom bring a wealth of experience and a history of deep runs in major events. Welsh stars Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton, the 2020 and 2021 champions respectively, will also be looking to add another trophy to their collections.

Northern Irish number one Josh Rock and two‑time semi‑finalist Danny Noppert are among the other notable participants, while Stephen Bunting and Wessel Nijman will be making return trips to Leicester after previous appearances. The complete first‑round draw is as follows: 1.

Luke Littler vs Luke Woodhouse 2. Nathan Aspinall vs Kevin Doets 3.

Danny Noppert vs Niko Springer 4. Michael van Gerwen vs Ryan Joyce 5.

Gerwyn Price vs Sebastian Bialecki 6. Ross Smith vs Cameron Menzies 7. Jonny Clayton vs Krzysztof Ratajski 8. Wessel Nijman vs Rob Cross 9.

Luke Humphries vs Dave Chisnall 10. Chris Dobey vs Jermaine Wattimena 11. Josh Rock vs Niels Zonneveld 12. Gary Anderson vs Damon Heta 13.

Gian van Veen vs Dirk van Duijvenbode 14. Ryan Searle vs William O'Connor 15.

James Wade vs Joe Cullen 16. Stephen Bunting vs Andrew Gilding The schedule is laid out over a week of intense competition. On Monday, September 28, the first round begins at 6 pm with 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, September 29, also starts at 6 pm and features the remaining first‑round clashes: 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, September 30, from 7 pm, the tournament moves into the second round. While the exact order of play is yet to be confirmed, the match‑ups will see winners of the earlier ties face each other, for example the Littler/Woodhouse winner against the Aspinall/Doets victor, and the Noppert/Springer pair taking on the Van Gerwen/Joyce side. The same pattern follows for the other sections of the draw.

Thursday, October 1, again from 7 pm, continues the second‑round action with the Humphries/Chisnall winner meeting the Dobey/Wattimena pair, Rock/Zonneveld taking on Anderson/Heta, Van Veen/Van Duijvenbode facing Searle/O'Connor, and Wade/Cullen playing Bunting/Gilding. The quarter‑finals are slated for Friday, October 2, starting at 7 pm, followed by the semi‑finals on Saturday, October 3, from 8 pm. The tournament will culminate with the final on Sunday, October 4, also at 8 pm.

Throughout the week, fans can follow every dart thrown on Sky Sports, with the live feed offering in‑depth analysis, player interviews and the electric atmosphere of the Mattioli Arena. Beyond the matches themselves, the World Grand Prix is a showcase of the double‑start format, a variation that demands precision right from the first dart of each leg. Players must hit a double or the bullseye to open their scoring, then proceed to accumulate points before finally checking out on another double. This requirement often leads to dramatic swings in momentum, as a missed opening double can hand an advantage to the opponent.

The increased prize fund of £150,000 for the champion reflects the growing prestige of the event and the PDC’s commitment to rewarding excellence in this distinctive discipline. For the participants, a deep run not only offers financial reward but also valuable ranking points that can influence future seedings and qualification for other major tournaments. In summary, the 2024 World Grand Prix promises a week of high‑stakes darts action, with the defending champion Luke Littler aiming to retain his title, former winners and seasoned veterans eager to reclaim glory, and a host of emerging talents looking to make their mark on one of the sport’s most challenging stages. Viewers are encouraged to tune in via Sky Sports, preferably using Chrome for optimal video playback, and enjoy the spectacle of world‑class darts in Leicester from September 28 through October 4.