Luke Humphries escaped the sting of several missed doubles to secure a straight-sets victory over an off‑day Dave Chisnall, moving into the second round of the World Grand Prix in Leicester. Humphries, who has been a constant presence in the latter stages of this tournament—winning the title in 2023 and finishing runner‑up twice since—now finds himself the leading contender after defending champion Luke Littler suffered a surprising defeat to Luke Woodhouse on opening night. The "Cool Hand" displayed a calm demeanor despite a scab on his forehead, which he attributed to an allergic reaction.
He dispatched Chisnall 2‑0, posting an average of just 80.41 and converting only 26% of his doubles. The win sets up a second‑round clash with Jermaine Wattimena, the player who eliminated Chris Dobey in the previous round.
Chisnall briefly threatened to force a deciding set, but his momentum stalled when he busted his score. Humphries then sealed the match by hitting double four, and a brief gesture toward a spectator suggested he was quieting any dissent.
The evening also saw two seeded players exit early. Chris Dobey fell to an upset loss, and Josh Rock was ousted by Dutch newcomer Niels Zonneveld, who rattled off three finishes of 100 or more in the third set to earn a place in the last 16 against Gary Anderson.
Rock, at one point, attempted a daring 101 checkout using bull‑seye, 1, bull‑seye, and even produced a spectacular 151 after a 180, but Zonneveld ultimately forced a deciding set and prevailed. In a separate match, James Wade recovered from a set down, surviving six missed match darts across two visits to defeat Joe Cullen 2‑1. Wade, seeking his third Grand Prix crown and his first title in 16 years, turned the tide in the fourth leg of the second set by hitting the bull for an 81 finish, just as Cullen was poised to break and potentially take the match. Wade then missed double top and double 10 in the third leg of the deciding set before finally clinching victory with double 10.
His next opponent will be Stephen Bunting, who edged past Andrew Gilding 2‑1 in the final first‑round match. 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 a one‑set lead against Anderson, Heta squandered a match dart at double five in the second set, allowing Anderson—runner‑up in 2016—to dominate the third set 3‑0 while averaging an impressive 110. Gian van Veen finally broke his own streak of early exits, overcoming fellow Dutchman Dirk van Duijvenbode in straight sets for his inaugural victory on this stage after previous first‑round losses in 2024 and 2025 to Ross Smith and Luke Littler respectively.
Van Duijvenbode, after a sluggish start that saw him lose the first five legs, finally found his scoring rhythm but missed two attempts at double 16, forcing a decider which he ultimately lost. Van Veen’s next challenge will be against Ryan Searle, while "Heavy Metal" Searle punished William O'Connor for four missed match darts, clinching the final three legs after losing the opening five. O'Connor’s resurgence included a 95 checkout with consecutive double 19s, but the Irishman—returning to the Grand Prix after more than a decade—could not sustain the momentum.
Overall, the day highlighted the unpredictable nature of the World Grand Prix, with top seeds falling and underdogs rising. The tournament continues with matches played to the best of three sets, beginning at 7 p.m.
each evening. Viewers can follow the action live on Sky Sports+ and Sky Sports Main Event, with additional streaming options available through NOW for those seeking a contract‑free experience. The competition will run daily through the final on Sunday, promising more drama and potential upsets as the field narrows.