Littler Stunned by Early Exit at World Grand Prix as Van Gerwen Also Falls

Defending champion Luke Littler experienced a surprising first‑round defeat at this year’s World Grand Prix, bowing out 2‑1 to fellow Englishman Luke Woodhouse in the Leicester venue. The upset came on the same evening that six‑time champion Michael van Gerwyn also saw his campaign end prematurely, adding further drama to an already eventful opening night. Littler started the match brightly, capturing the opening set after a series of high‑scoring visits. However, his performance was far from the fluid, clinical display that has become his hallmark.

Woodhouse, who had been afforded several opportunities to close out the first set with a double, missed each chance, allowing Littler to edge ahead. The tension was palpable as the two young talents traded blows, ultimately forcing the encounter into a deciding leg. In the final set, Woodhouse found his rhythm and showed no mercy.

He seized both remaining sets without giving Littler a foothold, turning the match into one of the most significant upsets in the history of the double‑in, double‑out format. Woodhouse’s composure under pressure was evident as he capitalized on every opening, while Littler appeared unsettled, missing crucial doubles that would have kept him in contention.

Following his victory, Woodhouse will meet former finalist Nathan Aspinall in the second round. Aspinall earned his place by defeating Kevin Doets in a nail‑biting final‑leg decider on the same opening night, demonstrating his own resilience and form.

Littler, visibly disappointed but gracious, turned to Instagram to share his thoughts. He wrote, "Well played @lukewoodly180 was a good game, good one to be apart of aswell. Both hit, both missed but Luke took his chance and nice week off now, all the best to Luke for rest of tournament." The young champion also hinted at his plans for the weekend, expressing a desire to attend the Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford to support his beloved Warrington Wolves, an event that would have conflicted with the Grand Prix semi‑finals. "May aswell get myself to OT [Old Trafford] now I'm out.

Let's go the Wire @warringtonrlfc," he added. Woodhouse, after his seismic win, praised Littler’s talent, saying, "Luke's not a robot. He's going to have days and weeks and whatever 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 highlighted the respect the darts community holds for the 19‑year‑old prodigy, despite the shock result. The night also saw Michael van Gerwyn’s hopes of a seventh Grand Prix crown shattered. The Dutch star suffered his third consecutive first‑round loss in the tournament, falling 2‑1 to Ryan Joyce after Joyce rallied from a set down. Van Gerwyn’s early exit underscores the increasingly competitive nature of the field, where even the most decorated players can be vulnerable.

Welsh duo Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton, the 2020 and 2021 Grand Prix champions respectively, both advanced comfortably. Price delivered what many called the performance of the evening, averaging 101.61 and conceding just a single leg in his 2‑0 victory over Sebastian Bialecki.

Clayton, meanwhile, endured a grueling battle against Krzysztof Ratajski; the match stretched to a full three sets, making it one of six opening‑night encounters that went the distance. Other notable matches included Cameron Menzies and Kevin Doets missing match darts in their defeats to Ross Smith and Nathan Aspinall. Menzies had two chances to hit the treble 20 before Smith swept him aside 3‑0 in the deciding set, while Doets missed three match darts, including a wild miss at the bullseye, before Aspinall clinched the win in a final‑leg showdown.

Danny Noppert launched the tournament with a dominant display, taking five consecutive legs before Niko Springer rallied to claim the next three and secure the second set. The third set returned to a more typical rhythm, allowing Noppert to close out the match.

Wessel Nijman rounded off the evening with a straightforward 2‑0 win over former world champion Rob Cross, setting up a clash with Jonny Clayton in the next round. In the other half of the draw, Noppert will face Ryan Joyce, the man who eliminated van Gerwyn, while Price is slated to meet Ross Smith.

Smith, who overcame personal health challenges just days before the event, revealed that he had been hospitalized with a virus and heart‑related issues. "I've had a week from hell," he said after his first‑round triumph. "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 second round is scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, followed by quarter‑finals on Friday, semi‑finals on Saturday, and the final on Sunday.

Fans can follow the action live on Sky Sports+ and Sky Sports Main Event from 6 pm on Tuesday, with daily coverage continuing through to the championship match. For those without a contract, streaming options are available via NOW, offering flexible access to every stage of the World Grand Prix.