Defending champion Luke Littler experienced a surprising first‑round loss at the World Grand Prix, falling 2‑1 to fellow Englishman Luke Woodhouse in Leicester. The upset came on the same evening that six‑time champion Michael van Gerwen was also knocked out of the tournament, adding to the night’s drama. Littler started the match strongly, capturing the opening set, but his performance was far from the fluid, high‑scoring darts he displayed during his title run.
Woodhouse, meanwhile, missed several opportunities to finish on a double, allowing Littler to clinch the first set and push the encounter into a deciding leg. In the subsequent sets, Woodhouse found his rhythm. He converted his chances without hesitation, winning both the second and third sets and securing one of the most significant upsets in the history of the double‑in, double‑out format.
With his victory, Woodhouse earned a place in the second round where he will meet former finalist Nathan Aspinall, who had already demonstrated his resilience by edging past Kevin Doets in a final‑leg decider on the opening night. Woodhouse’s triumph over the young champion sent a clear message: experience can still dominate in this unforgiving tournament. After the match, Littler posted a gracious note on Instagram: "Well played @lukewoodly180, it was a good game, good to be a part of as well.
Both hit, both missed but Luke took his chance and nice week off now, all the best to Luke for the rest of the tournament." He quickly followed up with a hint that his focus would shift to the Super League Grand Final on Saturday, a fixture featuring his beloved Warrington Wolves that would have conflicted with the Grand Prix semi‑finals. "May as well get myself to OT [Old Trafford] now I'm out.
Let's go the Wire @warringtonrlfc," he added, showing his continued enthusiasm for rugby league despite the darts disappointment. Woodhouse, still riding the high of his upset, praised Littler in the post‑match interview: "Luke's not a robot. He's going to have days and weeks where he's not right on it. But people have echoed it and I'm going to say it again, he's one of a kind, Luke.
I hope people will take the time to appreciate how good he is and not give him a hard time. You might not see another Luke Littler ever again." His comments underscored the respect the younger player commands among his peers, even when he is on the losing side. The night also saw van Gerwen’s campaign end abruptly.
The Dutch star, who was chasing a seventh Grand Prix crown, suffered a third consecutive first‑round exit when Ryan Joyce rallied from a set down to defeat him. Joyce’s comeback highlighted the depth of talent in the field and the increasing difficulty for even the most decorated players to dominate. Welsh representatives Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton, the 2020 and 2021 Grand Prix champions respectively, both advanced comfortably.
Price delivered a standout performance, averaging 101.61 and dropping only a single leg as he dispatched Sebastian Bialecki. Clayton, however, faced a stern test from Krzysztof Ratajski; their match was one of six on opening night that stretched to the full distance, illustrating the competitive balance of the event.
Other notable moments included Cameron Menzies and Kevin Doets each missing match darts in their defeats to Ross Smith and Nathan Aspinall. Menzies missed two darts at the treble 20 before Smith swept him 3‑0 in the deciding set, while Doets squandered three match darts—including a wild miss at the bullseye—allowing Aspinall to prevail in a final‑leg decider. Danny Noppert burst out of the gates, claiming five straight legs before Niko Springer rallied to take the second set 3‑2, after which the match settled into a more conventional rhythm.
Meanwhile, Wessel Nijman capped the evening with a straightforward 2‑0 win over former world champion Rob Cross. Nijman will now face Jonny Clayton, while Noppert is slated to meet Ryan Joyce, the player who eliminated van Gerwen.
Price’s next opponent will be Ross Smith, who revealed a harrowing backstory: he was hospitalized the week before the tournament with a virus and heart‑related issues. "I've had a week from hell," Smith said after his win. "I thought I was pulling out of this event on Saturday, so to be here is an achievement in itself.
Let alone play and win like that, I'm very happy." The tournament moves into its second round on Wednesday and Thursday, with quarter‑finals scheduled for Friday, semi‑finals on Saturday, and the final on Sunday. Fans can follow the action live on Sky Sports+ and Sky Sports Main Event starting at 6 p.m.
on Tuesday, with daily coverage continuing through the championship match. For those without a Sky subscription, the NOW streaming service offers a contract‑free option to watch every round of the World Grand Prix.