Luke Littler enters the World Grand Grand Prix with the ambition of defending the title he captured last year, but the road ahead is anything but straightforward. The 19‑year‑old prodigy will face a field that includes seasoned veterans such as Luke Humphries, Gerwyn Price, James Wade and the rising star Ross Smith, each of whom is eager to upset the world number one in the tournament's distinctive double‑in, double‑out format.
The atmosphere in Leicester's Mattioli Arena could prove crucial for Littler. Earlier this month, during his exit from the World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam, the two‑time world champion was met with boos and whistling from a hostile crowd. That experience left a mark, and Littler will be hoping that the home supporters are more welcoming this time around.
After all, the pressure of defending a major title is already immense; having to contend with an unfriendly audience can add a psychological burden that even the most talented players struggle to manage. Littler arrived at the tournament on the back of an unprecedented run. He had already secured the first six major titles of the season, positioning himself for a historic clean sweep.
However, his quest was halted in the quarter‑finals when Jonny Clayton delivered a decisive 10‑4 victory, shattering the dream of a perfect season. The loss was a sobering reminder that even the most dominant form can be undone in a single match. Veteran Stephen Bunting has publicly praised Littler, claiming that the young Englishman has "changed" the sport since his breakthrough a few years ago. Bunting noted, "It's really hard, isn’t it?
Obviously, Luke is the best player in the world. For whatever reason, the crowd got on his back, they didn't want him to do the clean sweep." He added that crowds can be a double‑edged sword, sometimes cheering and other times whistling, which can be "10 times worse" for a player's concentration. Bunting suggested that stricter penalties might be needed to curb disruptive behavior, but acknowledged that such measures are not yet in place. In the opening round, Littler is slated to meet Luke Woodhouse.
A victory there would set up a potential second‑round clash with either Nathan Aspinall or Kevin Doets, both of whom have demonstrated the ability to challenge top‑ranked opponents. Littler's path, while daunting, is not insurmountable if he can recapture the composure that propelled him to his earlier triumphs. Luke Humphries, often dubbed "Cool Hand Luke," is another contender with a point to prove.
Two years ago, he fell short in the World Grand Prix final, and he will be determined to avoid a repeat performance. A strong showing this week could also safeguard his position as world number two, preventing Gian van Veen from overtaking him in the rankings. Humphries opens his campaign against Dave Chisnall, with a possible second‑round encounter against Chris Dobey or Jermaine Wattimena.
After a disappointing loss to Mike De Decker in the 2024 final, Humphries returned to competition in late August, marking his first appearance since a shocking first‑round exit to Cameron Menzies at the World Matchplay in July. He quickly found form, winning Players Championship 28 before falling to Littler in the Czech Open final. Humphries said, "I'm going to get back on the practice board at home as much as I can now and I'm going to dedicate the rest of the year to trying to be my best and trying to push Luke – and not just Luke, but everyone else because I want to stay at No 2. Whether that happens or not, I'm going to fight for it because I'm going to try my best." James Wade also has a substantial prize fund at stake.
After ending a decade‑long drought by capturing a European Tour title at the Flanders Darts Trophy—where he defeated Ross Smith in the final—Wade arrives in Leicester in fine form. Podcast host Polly James praised Wade, stating, "Wadey this year, last year even, he's just someone that you just can't really bet against. His scoring power, his doubling, just everything.
And when it's on and he's in a good mood up for it, he could easily win this." Fellow commentator Paul Nicholson added, "What's he going to do next? Win the Worlds?
We've talked about how the fact he's never going to win that. Well, maybe he could now." Ross Smith, fresh from his victory at the World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam, is also a serious threat. He has already appeared in two major finals and won both, adding the 2022 European Championship to his résumé.
Smith told the Love The Darts podcast that he feels ready for a Premier League debut. Nicholson, nicknamed "The Asset," urged the former truck driver‑turned‑darts‑player to "stay energised, stay sharp, and keep believing" as he prepares to meet Cameron Menzies in the opening round.
"When he wins in Amsterdam, it's not an accident because he's one of the best players in the world right now," Nicholson affirmed. Gerwyn Price is looking to break a four‑year spell without a major title, hoping to lift the trophy at the same venue where he previously triumphed. Meanwhile, six‑time Grand Prix champion Michael van Gerwen appears to be struggling for form, having suffered a first‑round defeat at the recent World Series of Darts Finals.
Ahead of his upcoming match against Ryan Joyce, Nicholson questioned whether van Gerwen can ever regain his former dominance, noting, "As he slips down the rankings, we should say, 'you're not finished'. He has people in his corner but what are you going to do about it? Ultimately it's up to him. The definition of a comeback is what you do on the stage in moments and those moments are fewer than before." Other dark horses include Dutchman Wessel Nijman, who has already secured four Players Championship titles and two Euro Tour victories this season, and Kevin Doets, a name many competitors hope to avoid in the draw.
Doets could face Nathan Aspinall in the first round, a matchup that would test his mettle against a proven major‑winner. The World Grand Prix runs from September 28 to October 4, followed by the Grand Slam of Darts in November and the World Darts Championship from December into early January.
Sky Sports continues to be the primary broadcaster for these events, with live coverage available on the NOW streaming platform without a long‑term contract. Fans worldwide can watch the drama unfold, anticipating whether Littler can cement his status as the sport's new king or whether a seasoned veteran will reclaim the throne.