The 2026 World Grand Prix, staged in Leicester, delivered a dramatic opening night as defending champion Luke Littler saw his double‑in, double‑out campaign halted by an unexpected first‑round loss. The tournament, broadcast live in its entirety on Sky Sports, is the only major PDC event that obliges competitors to start and finish each leg on a double or the bullseye, adding an extra layer of strategy and pressure.
The competition field comprises 32 entrants: the top 16 players from the PDC Order of Merit alongside the highest‑ranked 16 players on the ProTour who have not already qualified. This mix guarantees a blend of seasoned veterans and hungry newcomers, and the 2026 edition lived up to that promise. Fans were treated to appearances from marquee names such as Gerwyn Price, Luke Humphries, James Wade and rising Dutch talent Gian van Veen, each eager to claim a share of the substantial prize fund. Speaking of finances, the winner of the Grand Prix will walk away with £150,000, while the runner‑up is set to collect £80,000.
The total purse for the event stands at £750,000, underscoring the tournament’s importance on the professional darts calendar. One of the most talked‑about upsets came when Michael van Gerwen, a five‑time Grand Prix champion, was eliminated in the opening round by Ryan Joyce.
Van Gerwen’s early exit was a shock in itself, but the surprise factor was amplified when Littler, who entered as the defending champion, was also dispatched on night one. Luke Woodhouse rallied from a deficit to defeat Littler 2‑1 in a best‑of‑three‑sets match, ending the English youngster’s title defence in spectacular fashion.
Below is a detailed breakdown of the first‑round results (best of three sets): - Danny Noppert defeated Niko Springer 2‑1 - Ross Smith edged Cameron Menzies 2‑1 - Nathan Aspinall overcame Kevin Doets 2‑1 - Jonny Clayton beat Krzysztof Ratajski 2‑1 - Gerwyn Price dispatched Sebastian Bialecki 2‑0 - Ryan Joyce upset Michael van Gerwen 2‑1 - Luke Woodhouse rallied to beat Luke Littler 2‑1 - Wessel Nijman shut out Rob Cross 2‑0 Additional first‑round match‑ups included: - Chris Dobey lost to Jermaine Wattimena 0‑2 - Ryan Searle beat William O'Connor 2‑1 - Josh Rock faced Niels Zonneveld (result pending at time of report) - James Wade versus Joe Cullen (result pending) - Gary Anderson against Damon Heta (result pending) - Gian van Veen versus Dirk van Duijvenbode (result pending) - Luke Humphries versus Dave Chisnall (result pending) - Stephen Bunting versus Andrew Gilding (result pending) The second round shifts to a best‑of‑five‑sets format, and the draw produced the following pairings: - Danny Noppert versus Ryan Joyce - Jonny Clayton versus Wessel Nijman - Gerwyn Price versus Ross Smith - Luke Woodhouse versus Nathan Aspinall Further second‑round match‑ups were set as: - Humphries/Chisnall versus Jermaine Wattimena - Rock/Zonneveld versus Anderson/Heta - Van Veen/Van Duijvenbode versus Ryan Searle - Wade/Cullen versus Bunting/Gilding The World Grand Prix’s unique double‑in, double‑out rule means that players must first hit an outer‑ring double before they can begin to accumulate points toward the 501 total, and they must also finish on a double or the bullseye. This requirement often leads to higher variance in early legs and can produce surprising turnarounds, as evidenced by the night’s upsets. Set requirements evolve as the tournament progresses: - First round: best of three sets - Second and third rounds: best of five sets - Semi‑finals: best of nine sets - Final: best of eleven sets These escalating formats test both stamina and concentration, rewarding players who can maintain high scoring while navigating the double‑in, double‑out constraints.
For viewers seeking the best possible streaming experience, the organizers recommend using the Chrome browser, which provides a more accessible video player on the Sky Sports platform. Sky Sports continues to be the primary broadcaster for darts throughout the season, covering the World Grand Prix (28 September–4 October), the Grand Slam of Darts (14–22 November) and the World Darts Championship (10 December–3 January). Subscribers can also stream live darts and additional sports content via the NOW service without a long‑term contract, ensuring fans have multiple avenues to follow their favourite players.
Overall, the opening night of the 2026 World Grand Prix set the tone for an unpredictable and fiercely contested tournament. With several top‑seeded players already knocked out, the remaining field is wide open, and fans can anticipate more thrilling matches as the competition moves deeper into its unique double‑in, double‑out format.