Defending champion Luke Littler experienced 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 of the tournament, adding to the drama of the opening night. Littler started the match brightly, taking the first set after a series of high‑scoring visits. However, his performance was far from the fluid, confident play that had carried him to the title the previous year.
Woodhouse, who had been given several opportunities to finish the opening set on a double, missed those chances, allowing Littler to edge ahead. The first set therefore went to the defending champion, but the momentum had already begun to shift. In the second set, Woodhouse found his rhythm.
He capitalised on his chances, hitting his doubles with precision and putting pressure on Littler at every turn. The third set followed a similar pattern, with Woodhouse maintaining composure and closing out the match without giving Littler a chance to recover. The result was one of the biggest surprises in the history of the double‑in, double‑out format of the World Grand Prix, where a lower‑ranked player toppled the reigning champion.
Woodhouse’s victory earned him a place in the second round, where he will meet former finalist Nathan Aspinall. Aspinall had earned his spot by defeating Kevin Doets in a nail‑biting final‑leg decider on the same opening night, showcasing the depth of talent on display at the event. After the loss, Littler turned to Instagram to share his thoughts. He wrote, "Well played @lukewoodly180 was a good game, good one to be apart of aswell.
Both hit, both missed but Luke took his chance and nice week off now, all the best to Luke for rest of tournament." The young star also hinted at his plans for the weekend, noting that he intended to attend the Super League Grand Final on Saturday, a match featuring his beloved Warrington Wolves. He added, "May aswell get myself to OT [Old Trafford] now I'm out. Let's go the Wire @warringtonrlfc," indicating his willingness to shift focus from darts to rugby league once his Grand Prix campaign ended. Woodhouse, reflecting on his triumph, praised Littler’s talent while acknowledging the inevitable ups and downs of sport.
"Luke's not a robot. He's going to have days and weeks and whatever where he's not right on it," he said. "But people have echoed it and I'm going to say it again, he's one of a kind, Luke. I hope people will take the time to appreciate how good he is and not give him a hard time.
You might not see another Luke Littler ever again." The night also saw Michael van Gerwen’s hopes of a seventh Grand Prix crown extinguished. The Dutch star suffered his third consecutive first‑round defeat in this tournament, losing to Ryan Joyce after Joyce rallied from a set down to clinch the match. Van Gerwen’s early exit underscored the increasingly competitive nature of the field, where even the most decorated players can be vulnerable. Welsh duo Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton, winners of the 2020 and 2021 Grand Prix respectively, both advanced comfortably.
Price delivered a standout performance, averaging 101.61 and dropping only a single leg in his victory over Sebastian Bialecki. Clayton, however, faced a stern test against Poland’s Krzysztof Ratajski; the match stretched to a deciding set, becoming one of six matches on the opening night that went the distance.
Other notable moments included Cameron Menzies and Kevin Doets both missing match darts in their respective losses to Ross Smith and Nathan Aspinall. Menzies had two chances to finish the third set but missed both, allowing Smith to sweep the match 3‑0.
Doets, on the other hand, missed three match darts—including a wild miss at the bullseye—before Aspinall secured a last‑leg victory in the third set. Danny Noppert burst out of the gates, claiming five straight legs before Niko Springer rallied to take the second set 3‑2. The match eventually settled in the third set, with Noppert prevailing. Meanwhile, Wessel Nijman wrapped up the evening with a straightforward 2‑0 win over former world champion 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. In a human‑interest note, Ross Smith revealed that he almost withdrew from the tournament after a recent hospital stay.
"I've had a week from hell," Smith said after his first‑round win. "I came home and picked up some sort of virus and I've had a few issues with my heart as well.
I was in hospital on Friday. I thought I was pulling out of this event on Saturday, so to be here is an achievement in itself.
Let alone play and win like that, I'm very happy." Fans can continue to follow the action live on Sky Sports+ and Sky Sports Main Event, with coverage running daily until the final on Sunday. The tournament promises more surprises, as the remaining field of seasoned veterans and rising talents battle for the coveted double‑in, double‑out title.