Luke Humphries escaped the sting of several missed doubles to dispatch a sub‑par Dave Chisnall and secure a place in 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 on the two subsequent occasions – now stands as the leading contender after defending champion Luke Littler suffered a surprise loss to Luke Woodhouse on opening night. The "Cool Hand" entered the match sporting a small scab on his forehead, which he blamed on an allergic reaction.
He edged out Chisnall 2‑0 despite posting a modest average of 80.41 and converting only 26% of his doubles. The victory sets up a second‑round clash with Jermaine Wattimena, who earlier eliminated Chris Dobey. Chisnall flirted with a comeback, earning a chance to force a deciding set, but he busted his score.
Humphries then sealed the win by hitting double four and, in a moment of quiet confidence, appeared to hush a vocal spectator. The evening also saw two seeded players bow out. Chris Dobey was one of the two seeds to fall, alongside Josh Rock, who was dispatched by Dutch newcomer Niels Zonneveld. Zonneveld produced three scores of 100 or more in the third set, earning a place in the last‑16 against Gary Anderson.
Rock, who at one stage tried a daring 101 finish (bullseye, 1, bullseye), had lit up the arena earlier by following a perfect 180 with a towering 151, breaking Zonneveld’s rhythm and forcing a deciding set. Despite the fireworks, Rock could not sustain the momentum.
In a separate match, "Hollywood"—the nickname for James Wade—burned four darts to break Wattimena in the opening leg, but his average slipped below 80 and he struggled to hit the required starting double in many legs. His only flash of brilliance was a sizzling 128 checkout at the start of the second set; ultimately he fell 2‑0. Wade, however, rebounded later in the day. After dropping the first set, he weathered six missed match darts across two visits and edged out Joe Cullen 2‑1, keeping alive his quest 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 finish, just as Cullen was poised to break and take the match. Wade hesitated briefly, missed double top and double 10 in the third leg of the decider, but recovered to hit double 10 in the following leg and clinch the win.
Wade’s reward is a showdown with Stephen Bunting, who beat Andrew Gilding 2‑1 in the final match of the round. The day also brought further disappointment for Damon Heta, who recorded his sixth consecutive first‑round defeat – he has never won a match at this event. Heta surrendered a one‑set lead and missed a match dart at double five in the second set against Gary Anderson.
Anderson, the 2016 runner‑up to Michael van Gerwen, dominated the third set 3‑0, posting an impressive 110 average. Meanwhile, Dutch hopeful Gian van Veen finally broke his opening‑round hoodoo by beating fellow countryman Dirk van Duijvenbode in straight sets, securing his first win on this stage after exits in 2024 and 2025. Van Duijvenbode, after a dreadful start that saw him lose the first five legs, found his scoring rhythm late and missed two chances at double 16, forcing a decider.
Van Veen will now face Ryan Searle after "Heavy Metal" (Searle) punished William O'Connor’s four missed match darts, winning the final three legs after trailing five. O'Connor’s resurgence 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 ten years—could not maintain the momentum. The tournament continues with matches played first to three sets from 7 p.m.
each night. Day three will be broadcast live on Sky Sports+ and Sky Sports Main Event, with coverage running daily through to the final on Sunday. Viewers can also stream via NOW with the latest Sky Sports deals, no‑contract options available.