Luke Humphries moved forward in the World Grand Prix in Leicester, overcoming a sub‑par Dave Chisnall despite a series of missed doubles that would have cost many players the match. Humphries, who has reached the final of this tournament three times in a row – winning in 2023 and finishing runner‑up on the two subsequent occasions – now looks the strongest contender after defending champion Luke Littler suffered an unexpected defeat to Luke Woodhouse on opening night. The Englishman, nicknamed "Cool Hand" and sporting a small scab on his forehead that he blamed on an allergic reaction, dispatched Chisnall in straight sets, 2‑0, with an average of just 80.41 and a modest 26% success rate on his finishing doubles. The win sets up a second‑round clash with Jermaine Wattimena, who had previously eliminated Chris Dobey.
Chisnall briefly threatened to force a deciding set, but his attempt to break Humphries fell short when he busted his score. Humphries then sealed the match by hitting double four, and a brief gesture to the crowd suggested he was silencing any dissent.
The evening also saw two seeded players exit early. Chris Dobey was among the casualties, as was Josh Rock, who fell to Dutch newcomer Niels Zonneveld.
Zonneveld produced three separate 100+ checkout finishes in the third set, securing a place in the last‑16 where he will meet Gary Anderson. Rock, who at one point tried a daring 101 finish (bull‑eye, single 1, bull‑eye), had earlier dazzled the audience with a 180 followed by a spectacular 151, which forced a deciding set against Zonneveld. In a separate match, James Wade recovered from a set down and survived six missed match darts over two visits to defeat Joe Cullen 2‑1, keeping his hopes alive for a third Grand Prix title – his first in 16 years.
A pivotal moment arrived in the fourth leg of the second set when Wade hit the bull to complete an 81 finish, just as Cullen was poised to break and potentially take the match. Wade hesitated briefly, then missed double top and double ten in the third leg of the decider before finally clinching the win on double ten. His next opponent will be Stephen Bunting, who edged past Andrew Gilding 2‑1 in the final match of the round. Damon Heta endured his sixth consecutive first‑round defeat at the Grand Prix, a tournament where he has yet to record a win.
After taking an early one‑set lead against Anderson, Heta missed a crucial match dart at double five in the second set, allowing Anderson – the 2016 runner‑up to Michael van Gerwen – to dominate 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 victory on this stage after losing in the first round in both 2024 and 2025.
Van Duijvenbode, however, managed to force a decider after finding his scoring rhythm late, missing two attempts at double 16 that gave van Veen the chance to close the match. Van Veen’s next challenge will be against Ryan Searle, while "Heavy Metal" Ryan Searle himself survived a tense encounter with William O'Connor, who missed four match darts before Searle captured the final three legs to win. O'Connor’s resurgence had included a 95 checkout using consecutive double 19s, but the Irishman, appearing at the event for the first time in over a decade, could not maintain the momentum. Overall, day three of the World Grand Prix delivered a mix of surprise eliminations, strong performances from seasoned veterans, and the emergence of new Dutch talent.
The tournament continues to be broadcast live on Sky Sports+ and Sky Sports Main Event from 7 p.m., with daily coverage extending through to the final on Sunday. Viewers can also stream via NOW with the latest Sky Sports deals, offering a contract‑free option for those who prefer online access.