Defending champion Luke Littler suffered an unexpected first‑round loss at the World Grand Prix, bowing out 2‑1 to fellow Englishman Luke Woodhouse in Leicester. The upset came on the same evening that six‑time champion Michael van Gerwen was also sent packing. Littler started strongly, taking the opening set, but he was nowhere near his usual clinical form. Woodhouse, who had several opportunities to close out the first set, missed a few crucial doubles, allowing Littler to edge it and force a deciding leg.

In the subsequent sets, Woodhouse found his rhythm and did not look back, securing both the second and third sets to complete what many are calling one of the biggest surprises in the history of the double‑in, double‑out format. With the win, Woodhouse will meet former finalist Nathan Aspinall in the second round after he survived a tight match against Kevin Doets, winning in a final‑leg decider on the opening night.

Littler, visibly disappointed, posted a conciliatory note on Instagram: "Well played @lukewoodly180, it was a good game, glad to be part of it as well. Both hit, both missed, but Luke took his chance. Nice week off now, all the best to Luke for the rest of the tournament." He quickly followed up by confirming his plans to attend the Super League Grand Final on Saturday, an event featuring his beloved Warrington Wolves that would have clashed with the Grand Prix semi‑finals.

"May as well get myself to OT [Old Trafford] now I'm out. Let's go the Wire @warringtonrlfc," he wrote. Woodhouse, after his seismic victory, praised Littler, saying: "Luke's not a robot.

He’ll have days, weeks, whatever, where he isn’t on point. But people keep saying it and I’ll say it again – he’s one of a kind, Luke. I hope people take the time to appreciate how good he is and not give him a hard time.

You might never see another Luke Littler again." Elsewhere in the tournament, van Gerwen’s hopes of a seventh Grand Prix crown were extinguished as he suffered a third consecutive first‑round defeat, this time at the hands of Ryan Joyce, who rallied from a set down to prevail. Welsh stars Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton, winners of the 2020 and 2021 editions respectively, both advanced. Price delivered a night‑of‑the‑match performance, averaging 101.61 and dropping only a single leg in a dominant win over Sebastian Bialecki. Clayton endured a grueling battle against Krzysztof Ratajski, one of six matches that stretched to the full distance on opening night.

Cameron Menzies and Kevin Doets each missed match darts in their defeats to Ross Smith and Aspinall. Menzies missed two darts at double top before Smith swept him 3‑0 in the deciding set, while Doets squandered three match darts – including a wild miss at the bull – before Aspinall clinched the win in a final‑leg showdown. Danny Noppert exploded out of the gate, taking five straight legs before Niko Springer fought back to claim the next three and level the match. The third set returned to normal service, and Noppert ultimately secured the win.

Meanwhile, Wessel Nijman wrapped up the evening with a straightforward 2‑0 victory over Rob Cross and will now face Jonny Clayton in the next round. Noppert is set to meet Ryan Joyce, the player who knocked out van Gerwen, while Price will take on Ross Smith. Smith revealed he almost withdrew from the World Grand Prix after a harrowing week that saw him hospitalised with a virus and heart‑related complications.

"I've had a week from hell," he said after his opening‑round triumph. "I was in hospital on Friday. I thought I was pulling out of this event on Saturday, so just being here is an achievement. To play and win like that, I’m very happy." The second round will be contested on Wednesday and Thursday, followed by quarter‑finals on Friday, semi‑finals on Saturday, and the final on Sunday.

Fans can watch day two of the World Grand Prix live on Sky Sports+ and Sky Sports Main Event from 6 p.m. on Tuesday, with daily coverage continuing through to the championship match.

For those without a contract, streaming options are available through NOW, offering flexible access to every stage of the tournament.