Defending champion Luke Littler suffered a surprising first‑round loss at the World Grand Prix, falling 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 knocked out, adding further drama to the opening day of the tournament. Littler started the match strongly, taking the first set after a series of high‑scoring visits.
However, he was not at his usual razor‑sharp best; Woodhouse capitalised on several missed doubles, edging the opening set into a deciding leg. In the subsequent sets, Woodhouse raised his game, converting his chances without faltering and securing both the second and third sets. The victory marked one of the most remarkable upsets in the history of the double‑in, double‑out format, a tournament renowned for its unforgiving nature. With the win, Woodhouse will meet former finalist Nathan Aspinall in the second round.
Aspinall earned his place after a tense final‑leg decider against Kevin Doets on the opening night, demonstrating the depth of competition in the field. After his unexpected exit, Littler took to Instagram to share his thoughts. He wrote, "Well played @lukewoodly180 – it was a good game, and I’m glad to have been a part of it.
Both of us hit and missed, but Luke took his chance. Have a nice week off now, and best of luck for the rest of the tournament." He then hinted at his plans to attend the Super League Grand Final on Saturday, which features his beloved Warrington Wolves and would have overlapped with the Grand Prix semi‑finals.
"May I also get myself to OT [Old Trafford] now that I’m out. Let’s go the Wire @warringtonrlfc," he added. Woodhouse, speaking after his victory, praised Littler’s talent while acknowledging the young player’s humanity.
"Luke’s not a robot. He’ll have days, weeks, whatever, where he isn’t on point," Woodhouse said. "People keep saying it, and I’ll say it again – he’s one of a kind, Luke. I hope people appreciate how good he is and don’t give him a hard time.
You might never see another Luke Littler again." Elsewhere on the opening night, Michael van Gerwen’s hopes of a seventh Grand Prix crown were extinguished. The Dutch star suffered his third consecutive first‑round defeat in the event, falling to Ryan Joyce after Joyce rallied from a set down to clinch the match. The loss underscored the increasingly competitive nature of the tournament, where even the most decorated players can be dispatched early.
Welsh representatives Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton, winners of the 2020 and 2021 Grand Prix respectively, both advanced. Price delivered a standout performance, averaging 101.61 and dropping only a single leg in his victory over Sebastian Bialecki. Clayton, meanwhile, endured a hard‑fought battle against Krzysztof Ratajski; their match was one of six that stretched to the full distance on the first night, highlighting the tight margins separating victory from defeat.
Other notable matches included Cameron Menzies and Kevin Doets, both of whom missed match darts and were subsequently eliminated by Ross Smith and Nathan Aspinall. Menzies missed two darts at double tops before Smith swept him 3‑0 in a decisive third set.
Doets, after three missed match darts – including a wild miss at the bullseye – saw Aspinall prevail in a final‑leg decider. Danny Noppert launched the evening with a blistering start, stringing together five consecutive legs.
Niko Springer then surged back, taking three legs to claim the second set before the rhythm returned to normal in the third. In a separate encounter, Wessel Nijman wrapped up the night with a routine 2‑0 win over Rob Cross, setting up a second‑round clash with Jonny Clayton. The second round is scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, followed by quarter‑finals on Friday, semi‑finals on Saturday, and the final on Sunday.
Notably, Ross Smith revealed he almost withdrew from the tournament after a week of health setbacks, including a hospital stay and a lingering virus that affected his heart. "I’ve had a week from hell," Smith said after his first‑round win. "I thought I was pulling out of this event on Saturday, so just being here is an achievement. To play and win like that makes me very happy." Fans can follow the action live on Sky Sports+ and Sky Sports Main Event from 6 p.m.
on Tuesday, with daily coverage continuing through the final on Sunday. For those without a contract, streaming options are available on NOW, offering flexible access to every match of the World Grand Prix.