Luke Littler arrives at Leicester's Mattioli Arena with the weight of expectation on his shoulders, hoping to defend the World Grand Prix title he secured last year. The 19‑year‑old prodigy will be keen to feel the support of the home crowd after the hostile reception he endured in Amsterdam during the World Series of Darts Finals, where he was booed and whistled as he exited the tournament. The double‑in, double‑out format of the Grand Prix adds an extra layer of difficulty, and several other top‑ranked players are lining up to test the world number one. Littler entered the season on a historic run, having captured the first six major titles on the circuit.
A clean sweep was within his grasp until a crushing 10‑4 loss to Jonny Clayton in the quarter‑finals of the World Series of Darts Finals halted his momentum. Despite that setback, his confidence remains high, and he will open his Grand Prix campaign against Luke Woodhouse. A victory will set up a second‑round clash with either Nathan Aspinall or Kevin Doets, both of whom have shown the ability to produce high‑scoring fireworks in recent Players Championship events.
Former world champion Stephen Bunting has been vocal in his support of Littler, insisting that the young Englishman has "changed" the sport since bursting onto the scene a few years ago. Bunting noted that the crowd reaction in Amsterdam was unusual, saying, "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 he has experienced similar whistling in Germany and Belgium, and argued that the noise can be far more distracting than outright abuse.
"I’d rather have someone shouting abuse at me than whistling. It's a horrible noise to hear when you're trying to concentrate," Bunting explained, suggesting that stricter penalties for disruptive spectators might be necessary. Beyond Littler, the field includes a number of seasoned campaigners.
Luke Humphries, who fell short in the World Grand Prix final two years ago, will be desperate to improve on that performance. Humphries recently suffered a shock defeat to Mike De Decker in the 2024 final, but he rebounded by winning Players Championship 28 in late August.
He then lost to Littler in the Czech Open final, a result that only fuels his determination. Humphries told reporters, "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 sizeable purse to chase. After ending a decade‑long drought by winning the Flanders Darts Trophy – where he beat Ross Smith in the final – Wade entered Leicester in fine form. Podcast host Polly James praised his consistency, saying, "Wadey this year, last year even, he’s just someone you can’t really bet against.
His scoring power, his doubling, everything is top‑class. When he’s in a good mood, he could easily win this." Former professional Paul Nicholson echoed the sentiment, wondering aloud if Wade might finally clinch a World Championship title after years of near‑misses. Ross Smith, fresh from a victory at the World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam, is another dark horse. Smith, who has already claimed two major titles – the 2022 European Championship and the recent World Series – believes he is ready for the Premier League and beyond.
Nicholson, nicknamed "The Asset," urged him to "stay energised, stay sharp, and keep believing" as he prepares to face 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 said, highlighting Smith’s recent form.
Gerwyn Price, the former world champion, is also looking to end a four‑year wait for another major trophy at the very venue where he lifted his last Grand Prix crown. His powerful throwing style and mental resilience make him a perennial threat, even if he has yet to add another headline title to his résumé. Six‑time Grand Prix champion Michael van Gerwen, once the dominant force in darts, has struggled for consistency this season. After an early exit at the World Series of Darts Finals, van Gerwen faces questions about whether he can rediscover his best form.
Nicholson speculated, "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 names to watch include Dutch rising star Wessel Nijman, who has already captured four Players Championship titles and two Euro Tour victories this season, and fellow Dutchman Kevin Doets, a player many opponents hope to avoid in the draw.
Doets could meet Nathan Aspinall in the second round, setting up a clash of contrasting styles – Doets’ clinical precision against Aspinall’s heavy‑handed firepower. 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 in December‑January. Sky Sports continues to be the primary broadcaster for these events, and fans can stream live coverage through the NOW platform without a contract. As the tournament approaches, the darts community eagerly anticipates whether Littler can complete a historic clean sweep, or whether one of the seasoned veterans will derail his quest and claim the title for themselves.