Defending champion Luke Littler experienced a surprising first‑round loss at the World Grand Prix, falling 2‑1 to Luke Woodhouse in Leicester. The upset came on the same evening that six‑time champion Michael van Gerwen was also knocked out of the tournament. Littler managed to capture the opening set, but his performance was far from his usual high standard. Woodhouse, capitalising on several missed doubles, forced the match into a deciding leg after taking the first set.
In the subsequent sets, Woodhouse displayed composure and precision, winning both without allowing Littler a foothold. His victory over the young English star is now being hailed as one of the most significant surprises in the history of the double‑in, double‑out format. Following his win, Woodhouse will meet former finalist Nathan Aspinall in the second round.
Aspinall earned his place after a dramatic final‑leg decider against Kevin Doets on the opening night, demonstrating his own resilience under pressure. After the match, Littler took to Instagram to acknowledge Woodhouse’s performance. He wrote, “Well played @lukewoodly180 – it was a good game, and I’m glad to have been part of it. Both of us hit and missed, but Luke took his chance.
Enjoy a nice week off now, and best of luck for the rest of the tournament.” Littler then hinted that his focus would shift to the Super League Grand Final on Saturday, an event featuring his favourite rugby league side, the Warrington Wolves. He noted that the Grand Final would have conflicted with the Grand Prix semi‑finals, adding, “Maybe I’ll make it to OT [Old Trafford] now that I’m out. Let’s go, the Wire @warringtonrlfc.” Woodhouse, reflecting on his triumph, praised Littler’s talent while reminding fans that the young player is still human.
“Luke isn’t a robot. He’ll have days when he isn’t at his best,” he said. “People keep saying it, and I’ll say it again – he’s a one‑of‑a‑kind talent.
I hope people take the time to appreciate how good he is and stop giving him a hard time. You might never see another Luke Littler again.” The night also saw Michael van Gerwen’s hopes of a seventh Grand Prix title evaporate. The Dutch legend suffered a third consecutive first‑round exit, losing to Ryan Joyce, who rallied from a set down to clinch the victory. Van Gerwen’s early departure has sparked discussion about the shifting dynamics at the top of the darts world.
Welsh representatives Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton, the 2020 and 2021 Grand Prix champions respectively, both progressed comfortably. Price delivered what many called the performance of the evening, posting a 101.61 average and dropping only a single leg in his win over Sebastian Bialecki. Clayton, meanwhile, faced a stern test from Krzysztof Ratajski; their match was one of six that stretched to the full distance on opening night. Other notable moments included Cameron Menzies and Kevin Doets missing match darts in their defeats to Ross Smith and Nathan Aspinall.
Both players had opportunities to seal two‑set victories but fell short—Menzies missed two darts at treble 20 before Smith swept him 3‑0 in the final set, while Doets squandered three match darts, including a wild miss at the bullseye, before Aspinall prevailed in a last‑leg decider. Danny Noppert started the evening with a blistering run of five consecutive legs, only to see Niko Springer rally and claim the second set by taking three straight legs. The third set returned to a more typical rhythm, with Noppert eventually prevailing. In another match, Wessel Nijman secured a straightforward 2‑0 win over Rob Cross, setting up a clash with Jonny Clayton in the next round.
The tournament’s second round is scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, with quarter‑finals on Friday, semi‑finals on Saturday, and the final on Sunday. Notably, Ross Smith revealed he almost withdrew from the World Grand Prix after a recent hospitalisation. “I’ve had a week from hell,” Smith said after his first‑round win. “I came home, picked up a virus, and had heart issues.
I was in hospital on Friday and thought I’d have to pull out on Saturday. Being here, let alone winning, feels like an achievement.” Fans can continue to follow the action live on Sky Sports+ and Sky Sports Main Event from 6 p.m. on Tuesday, with daily coverage leading up to the championship match on Sunday.
For those without a Sky subscription, the tournament is also available to stream without a contract on NOW, offering flexible viewing options for darts enthusiasts worldwide.