Luke Humphries avoided any penalty for a string of missed finishing doubles when he dispatched a sub‑par Dave Chisnall to secure a place in the second round of the World Grand Prix in Leicester. Humphries, who has reached the final of this tournament three times in a row – winning the 2023 edition and finishing runner‑up twice since – entered the event as the new favourite after defending champion Luke Littler suffered a stunning upset at the hands of Luke Woodhouse on opening night. The "Cool Hand" continued his strong form despite sporting a noticeable scab on his forehead, which he later attributed to an allergic reaction. He beat Chisnall 2‑0, posting an average of just 80.41 and converting only 26% of his doubles, but still managed to book a second‑round clash with Jermaine Wattimena, the player who had previously eliminated Chris Dobey.
Chisnall had a fleeting chance to break Humphries’ rhythm and force a deciding set, but he squandered his opportunity by busting his score. Humphries then sealed the match by hitting double four and, in a moment of concentration, appeared to quiet a vocal spectator in the arena.
Meanwhile, two seeded players fell on Tuesday evening. Chris Dobey was one of the two seeds to go out, alongside Josh Rock, who was beaten by Dutch newcomer Niels Zonneveld.
Zonneveld produced three finishes of 100 or more in the third set, earning a place in the last‑16 where he will meet Gary Anderson. Rock, who at one point tried an audacious 101 finish (bull‑eye, single 1, bull‑eye), had lit up the crowd earlier by following a 180 with a spectacular 151 to break Zonneveld’s momentum and force a deciding set.
Despite his flair, Rock could not hold on, and Zonneveld ultimately prevailed. Dobey, for his part, suffered a first‑round exit for the third consecutive year. "Hollywood"—the nickname for Rock—had burned four darts to break Wattimena in the opening leg, but his average slipped below 80 and he struggled to hit the required starting double in many legs.
His only flash of brilliance was a dazzling 128 checkout at the start of the second set, yet he still lost 2‑0. James Wade staged a comeback from a set down, shrugging off six missed match darts across two visits to defeat Joe Cullen 2‑1.
Wade’s victory kept his hopes alive for a third World Grand Prix title and his first in sixteen years. A pivotal moment arrived in the fourth leg of the second set when Wade hit the bull for an 81 checkout just as Cullen was threatening a break that could have put him in the driver’s seat. Wade then hesitated briefly, missing double top and double 10 in the third leg of the deciding set, but he recovered to hit double 10 in the following leg, clinching the match. His next opponent will be Stephen Bunting, who edged past Andrew Gilding 2‑1 in the final match of the round.
Damon Heta endured further Grand Prix disappointment, recording his sixth straight first‑round loss. The Australian has never won a match at this venue; he surrendered a one‑set lead and missed a match dart at double five in the second set against Anderson. Gary Anderson, the 2016 runner‑up to Michael van Gerwen, dominated the third set 3‑0, posting a lofty 110 average. His performance underscored his continued relevance on the circuit.
Gian van Veen finally broke his opening‑round hoodoo, defeating fellow Dutchman Dirk van Duijvenbode in straight sets for his first win on this stage after early exits in 2024 and 2025 to Ross Smith and Littler respectively. Van Duijvenbode, after a dismal start that saw him lose the first five legs, managed to find his scoring touch late enough to force a decider, missing two chances at double 16 in the process. Van Veen will now face Ryan Searle after "Heavy Metal" punished William O'Connor’s four missed match darts, clinching the final three legs of their encounter after losing the first five.
O'Connor’s run had been electric; after dropping the opening set he hit a 95 checkout with back‑to‑back double 19s. The Irishman, making his first appearance at this event in over a decade, eventually lost his way. The tournament continues with matches played first to three sets, beginning at 7 pm each evening. Day three of the World Grand Prix will be broadcast live on Sky Sports+ and Sky Sports Main Event from 7 pm on Wednesday, with daily coverage through to the final on Sunday.
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