Luke Humphries escaped the sting of several missed finishing doubles to overcome 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 title in 2023 and finishing runner‑up on the two subsequent occasions – entered the event as the new favourite after defending champion Luke Littler suffered a surprising defeat to Luke Woodhouse on opening night. The man dubbed "Cool Hand" entered the match sporting a small scab on his forehead, which he later attributed to an allergic reaction. Despite an average of only 80.41 and a modest 26 % success rate on his doubles, Humphries dispatched Chisnall 2‑0, earning a second‑round clash with Jermaine Wattimena, the player who had just eliminated Chris Dobey.
Chisnall briefly threatened to force a deciding set but blew his chance by busting his score, after which the world number two wrapped up the victory on double four and even seemed to hush a spectator in the crowd. The evening also saw one of the seeded players, Josh Rock, tumble out of the competition. Rock fell to Dutch newcomer Niels Zonneveld, who produced three separate 100+ finishes in the third set to book a last‑16 encounter with Gary Anderson.
Rock had produced a spectacular moment earlier in the match, following a perfect 180 with a towering 151 that forced a deciding set. At one point he even attempted a daring 101 checkout involving a bullseye, a single 1, and another bullseye, highlighting his willingness to take risks. Meanwhile, Chris Dobey suffered his third consecutive first‑round exit. After a strong start in which he burned four darts to break Wattimena in the opening leg, Dobey’s 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, but he ultimately lost 2‑0. James Wade, however, displayed resilience. After dropping the first set, Wade recovered from six missed match darts spread over two visits to defeat Joe Cullen 2‑1, keeping alive his quest for a third World 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, snatching the leg just as Cullen was poised to break and move into a winning position. Wade then hesitated briefly before finally sealing the leg, missing double top and double 10 in the third leg of the deciding set, but ultimately clinched victory with a double 10 on the following leg. Wade’s win sets up a showdown with Stephen Bunting, who had edged past Andrew Gilding 2‑1 in the final match of the round. The tournament also delivered further disappointment for Damon Heta, who endured his sixth straight first‑round loss – he has yet to record a win at this venue.
Heta surrendered a one‑set lead against Anderson and missed a match dart at double five in the second set. Gary Anderson, the 2016 runner‑up to Michael van Gerwen, dominated the third set 3‑0, posting a striking average of 110.
Gian van Veen earned his first victory on the Grand Prix stage by beating fellow Dutchman Dirk van Duijvenbode in straight sets, after earlier exits in 2024 and 2025 to Ross Smith and Luke Littler respectively. Van Duijvenbode, after a dismal start that saw him lose the first five legs, finally found his scoring rhythm but missed two attempts at double 16, forcing a deciding leg. Van Veen will next meet Ryan "Heavy Metal" Searle, who survived four missed match darts from William O'Connor and rallied to win the final three legs after trailing by five.
O'Connor’s electrifying run began with a 95 checkout using back‑to‑back double 19s, but the Irishman – making his first appearance at this event in more than a decade – eventually lost his momentum. The action continues from 7 pm, with matches played best of three sets. Viewers can follow day three of the World Grand Prix live on Sky Sports+ and Sky Sports Main Event from 7 pm on Wednesday, with daily coverage running through to the final on Sunday. For those without a Sky subscription, the latest Sky Sports deals or the contract‑free NOW streaming option are available.
Overall, the tournament is shaping up to be a mix of surprise upsets and steady performances. Humphries’ steady progression, Wade’s gritty comeback, and the early exit of several seeds underscore the unpredictable nature of the Grand Prix format, where a single missed double can change the course of a match. As the field narrows, fans can anticipate more high‑stakes showdowns, dramatic checkouts, and the possibility of a new champion emerging from the remaining pool of seasoned veterans and hungry newcomers.