Luke Humphries avoided any penalty for a series of missed doubles and secured a straight‑sets victory over an off‑form 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 – winning the title in 2023 and finishing runner‑up on the two subsequent occasions – now looks the clear favourite after defending champion Luke Littler suffered a stunning first‑night loss to Luke Woodhouse.
The "Cool Hand" entered the match with a noticeable scab on his forehead, which he blamed on an allergic reaction, yet he showed little sign of distraction. He dispatched Chisnall 2‑0, posting an average of just 80.41 and converting only 26 % of his double attempts. The win sets up a second‑round clash with Jermaine Wattimena, the player who eliminated Chris Dobey earlier in the evening. Chisnall briefly threatened to push the encounter into a deciding set, but a mis‑thrown finish saw him bust his score, allowing the world No.
2 to seal the match on double four. At one point Humphries even seemed to hush a spectator who was cheering a bit too loudly.
The evening also saw two seeded players bow out. Chris Dobey, a top‑seed, fell to Jermaine Wattimena, while Josh Rock was beaten by Dutch newcomer Niels Zonneveld.
Zonneveld produced three finishes over 100 in the third set, earning a place in the last‑16 where he will meet Gary Anderson. Rock had provided some of the night’s most thrilling moments, notably when he attempted a daring 101 finish (bull‑eye, 1, bull‑eye) and later followed a perfect 180 with a spectacular 151 checkout to level the match and force a deciding set against Zonneveld. In another upset, "Hollywood"—the nickname for James Wade—started his match against Jermaine Wattimena with a four‑dart finish to take the first leg, but he struggled to hit the required starting double throughout the game.
His average slipped below 80, and his only highlight was a dazzling 128 checkout at the beginning of the second set. Wade ultimately lost 2‑0. James Wade, however, demonstrated resilience in a separate bout.
After dropping the first set, he survived six missed match darts across two visits and turned the tide to beat Joe Cullen 2‑1, keeping his hopes alive for a third World Grand Prix title and his first major win in 16 years. A pivotal moment arrived in the fourth leg of the second set when Wade hit the bull for an 81 finish, denying Cullen a chance to break and potentially clinch the match. Wade then hesitated briefly before finally sealing the win with a double‑10 in the deciding set, after earlier squandering chances at double‑top and double‑10. Wade’s next opponent will be Stephen Bunting, who edged past Andrew Gilding 2‑1 in the final match of the round.
Australian Damon Heta endured further Grand Prix misery, suffering his sixth consecutive first‑round defeat – he has yet to win a match at this venue. Heta surrendered a one‑set lead against Gary Anderson and missed a match dart at double‑5 in the second set. Anderson, who was runner‑up in 2016 to Michael van Gerwen, dominated the third set 3‑0 while posting an impressive 110 average.
Gian van Veen finally broke his own streak of early exits, beating fellow Dutchman Dirk van Duijvenbode in straight sets for his first win on this stage after being knocked out in the opening round in both 2024 and 2025 (by Ross Smith and Luke Littler respectively). Van Duijvenbode, after a disastrous start that saw him lose the first five legs, managed to find his scoring rhythm late enough to force a decider, missing two attempts at double‑16 in the process. Van Veen will now face Ryan Searle, while "Heavy Metal" (Ryan Searle) punished William O'Connor’s four missed match darts to clinch the match, winning the final three legs after having lost the preceding five. O'Connor’s run had been electrifying after dropping the first set; he hit a 95 checkout with consecutive double‑19s, but the Irishman – appearing at the World Grand Prix for the first time in over a decade – eventually lost his momentum.
The tournament continues with matches played first to three sets, beginning at 7 p.m. each evening. Viewers can watch day three live on Sky Sports+ and Sky Sports Main Event from 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.