Luke Humphries escaped any penalty for a series of missed finishing doubles by defeating a sub‑par Dave Chisnall to move into the second round of the World Grand Prix in Leicester. Humphries, who has reached the final of this tournament three times in a row – lifting the trophy in 2023 and finishing runner‑up on the two subsequent occasions – now stands as the leading contender for the title after defending champion Luke Littler suffered a surprise loss to Luke Woodhouse on opening night.
The "Cool Hand" displayed a noticeable scar on his forehead, which he attributed to an allergic reaction, yet it did not hinder his performance. He dispatched Chisnall 2‑0 while posting a modest average of 80.41 and converting just 26 percent of his doubles. This victory sets up a second‑round clash with Jermaine Wattimena, the player who eliminated Chris Dobey earlier in the day.
Chisnall briefly threatened to extend the match by forcing a potential deciding set, but he squandered his chance by busting his score. Humphries then clinched the win by hitting double four and, in a moment of quiet confidence, appeared to hush a spectator in the crowd.
The evening also saw two seeded players stumble. Chris Dobey, who had been among the favourites, fell to Jermaine Wattimena, while Josh Rock was ousted by Dutch newcomer Niels Zonneveld.
Zonneveld produced three separate ton‑plus finishes in the third set, securing a place in the last‑16 where he will meet Gary Anderson. Rock, who at one stage tried an audacious 101 finish (bull‑eye, single 1, bull‑eye), had lit up the arena by following a perfect 180 with a spectacular 151, breaking Zonneveld’s rhythm and forcing a deciding set. Despite the drama, Rock ultimately could not hold on. In other news, Dobey suffered a first‑round exit for the third consecutive year, a disappointing repeat for the Englishman.
His opponent, nicknamed "Hollywood," broke Wattimena’s opening leg with four perfect darts but struggled throughout, averaging under 80 and missing the required starting double on numerous occasions. His only flash of brilliance was a blazing 128 checkout at the start of the second set, yet he fell 2‑0. James Wade, meanwhile, demonstrated resilience by overturning a set deficit and ignoring six missed match darts across two visits to defeat Joe Cullen 2‑1. Wade’s comeback kept his hopes alive for a third Grand Prix title and his first triumph in 16 years.
A pivotal moment arrived in the fourth leg of the second set when Wade hit the bull for an 81 finish, just as Cullen was poised to break and potentially clinch the match. Wade hesitated briefly before sealing the leg, later missing double top and double 10 in the third leg of the deciding set, but ultimately secured victory with a double 10 on his next attempt. Wade’s next opponent will be Stephen Bunting, who earned his place by beating Andrew Gilding 2‑1 in the final match of the round.
Bunting’s win adds another layer of intrigue to the unfolding bracket. Australian Damon Heta endured further Grand Prix misery, recording his sixth straight first‑round loss – he has never won a match at this venue. Heta surrendered a one‑set lead and missed a match dart at double five in the second set against Gary Anderson.
Anderson, who was runner‑up in 2016 to Michael van Gerwen, dominated the third set 3‑0 and posted a staggering average of 110, underscoring his formidable form. Gian van Veen finally broke his own streak of early exits, defeating fellow Dutchman Dirk van Duijvenbode in straight sets for his inaugural victory on this stage. Van Veen had been knocked out in the first round in both 2024 and 2025, losing to Ross Smith and Luke Littler respectively. Van Duijvenbode, after a shaky start that saw him lose the first five legs, managed to find his scoring rhythm later, missing two attempts at double 16 that forced a deciding leg.
Van Veen will now face Ryan Searle after "Heavy Metal" punished William O'Connor’s four missed match darts, rallying to win the final three legs after dropping the first five. O'Connor’s electrifying run began with a 95 checkout using back‑to‑back double 19s, but the Irishman, appearing at this tournament for the first time in over a decade, eventually lost his momentum. The day’s schedule runs from 7 p.m., with matches played to the best of three sets. Fans can watch the third day of the World Grand Prix live on Sky Sports+ and Sky Sports Main Event starting at 7 p.m.
on Wednesday, with daily coverage continuing through to the final on Sunday. For those without a Sky subscription, the latest Sky Sports deals or the contract‑free streaming option on NOW are available.