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 tests players' precision under pressure. A total of 32 competitors will line up for the event.
The field is composed of the top sixteen players from the PDC Werner Rankings Ladder, joined by the highest‑ranked sixteen players on the ProTour list who have not yet qualified. These thirty‑two darts professionals will vie for the coveted double‑start title and a newly increased top prize of £150,000.
Defending champion Luke Littler will headline the competition in Leicester. Littler, who captured the trophy last year, will be looking to repeat his success on the very stage where he set a record average in a previous encounter. Alongside him, 2023 champion Luke Humphries will be in pursuit of his second World Grand Prix crown, hoping to add another major trophy to his résumé. The Dutch representative Gian van Veen, currently ranked number one in the Netherlands, returns to the arena where he once fell short of the title after a record‑breaking average performance against Littler.
Van Veen will be eager to overturn that result and claim his first Grand Prix trophy. Fans can also expect to see six‑time champion Michael van Gerwen, a dominant force in the sport, as well as two‑time winner James Wade, both of whom bring a wealth of experience and a history of deep runs in the tournament. The Welsh pair Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton, who lifted the title in 2020 and 2021 respectively, will be looking to add another victory to their impressive records. Northern Irish world number one Josh Rock and seasoned semi‑finalist Danny Noppert will also be present, adding further depth to an already star‑studded lineup.
Returning competitors Stephen Bunting and Wessel Nijman will be back in Leicester, hoping to improve on their previous performances. The first round will feature a series of match‑ups that set the tone for the week.
On Monday, September 28, from 6 pm, the opening fixtures include Danny Noppert versus Niko Springer, Ross Smith against Cameron Menzies, Nathan Aspinall versus Kevin Doets, Jonny Clayton versus Krzysztof Ratajski, Gerwyn Price versus Sebastian Bialecki, Michael van Gerwen versus Ryan Joyce, Luke Littler versus Luke Woodhouse, and Wessel Nijman versus Rob Cross. Tuesday, September 29, also from 6 pm, continues the opening round with Chris Dobey versus Jermaine Wattimena, Ryan Searle versus William O'Connor, Josh Rock versus Niels Zonneveld, James Wade versus Joe Cullen, Gary Anderson versus Damon Heta, Gian van Veen versus Dirk van Duijvenbode, Luke Humphries versus Dave Chisnall, and Stephen Bunting versus Andrew Gilding. The second round begins on Wednesday, September 30, from 7 pm. The exact order of play is yet to be confirmed, but the draw will see winners such as Littler/Woodhouse facing Aspinall/Doets, Noppert/Springer taking on Van Gerwen/Joyce, Price/Bialecki meeting Smith/Menzies, and Clayton/Ratajski against Nijman/Cross.
Thursday, October 1, from 7 pm, will host the remaining second‑round encounters. The match‑ups will include 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 scheduled for Friday, October 2, from 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, where the remaining two competitors will battle for the £150,000 prize and the prestigious World Grand Prix title. Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch every match live on Sky Sports throughout the week-long event. For the best viewing experience, the broadcaster recommends using the Chrome browser, which provides a more accessible video player and smoother streaming performance.
The World Grand Prix not only offers high‑stakes competition but also showcases the unique double‑start format that sets it apart from other major darts tournaments, making it a must‑watch for enthusiasts of the sport.