Luke Humphries escaped any penalty for a series of missed doubles and secured a victory over 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 – winning the 2023 edition and finishing runner‑up twice since – now looks the favorite to claim 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 blamed on an allergic reaction, yet he still managed to defeat Chisnall 2‑0.
His average was a modest 80.41 and he hit just 26% of his doubles, but the win set up a second‑round clash with Jermaine Wattimena, the player who had earlier dispatched Chris Dobey. Chisnall briefly threatened to level the match and force a deciding set, but he busted his score at a crucial moment.
Humphries then wrapped up the match by hitting double four and even seemed to hush a spectator in the audience with a quiet gesture. One of the tournament’s seeded players, Chris Dobey, fell on Tuesday evening, as did 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 against Gary Anderson. Rock, who at one stage attempted a daring 101 finish (bull‑eye, 1, bull‑eye), had lit up the arena earlier by following a perfect 180 with a spectacular 151, breaking Zonneveld’s rhythm and forcing a deciding set.
Despite the excitement, Rock’s run ended when Zonneveld rallied to claim the match. Dobey also suffered a first‑round exit for the third consecutive year. Known as "Hollywood," he burned four darts to break Wattimena in the opening leg but struggled to find the required starting double throughout the match, averaging below 80. His only flash of brilliance was a 128 checkout at the start of the second set, but he ultimately lost 2‑0.
James Wade, meanwhile, recovered from an early set deficit and shrugged off six missed match darts over two visits to defeat Joe Cullen 2‑1, keeping his hopes alive for a third Grand Prix crown and his first title in 16 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 poised to break and potentially seal the match. Wade hesitated briefly, missing double top and double ten in the third leg of the deciding set, but he eventually clinched the win with a double ten in the following leg.
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. The day also brought further disappointment for Damon Heta, who recorded his sixth straight first‑round loss – he has never won a match at this event – after surrendering a one‑set lead and missing a match dart at double five against Anderson. Gary Anderson, the 2016 runner‑up to Michael van Gerwen, dominated the third set 3‑0, posting an impressive 110 average. Gian van Veen secured his first win on this stage by defeating fellow Dutchman Dirk van Duijvenbode in straight sets, after earlier exits in 2024 and 2025 to Ross Smith and Littler respectively.
Van Duijvenbode, after a disastrous start that saw him lose the first five legs, finally found his scoring rhythm but missed two attempts at double 16, forcing a decider. Van Veen will now meet Ryan Searle after "Heavy Metal" punished William O'Connor’s four missed match darts to advance, winning the final three legs after having lost the preceding five. O'Connor’s electrifying comeback after dropping the first set included a 95 checkout with back‑to‑back double 19s, but the Irishman, making his first appearance at this tournament in over a decade, eventually lost his momentum.
The competition continues with matches played from 7 pm, first to three sets. Viewers can follow day three of the World Grand Prix live on Sky Sports+ and Sky Sports Main Event from 7 pm on Wednesday, with daily coverage extending through to the final on Sunday. For those without a Sky subscription, the latest Sky Sports packages or a contract‑free stream on NOW are available.