Luke Humphries escaped the consequences of several missed finishing doubles by defeating a sub‑par Dave Chisnall to move into 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 other two occasions – now looks the clear favourite after defending champion Luke Littler suffered a stunning upset at the hands of Luke Woodhouse on opening night. The "Cool Hand" entered the match with a noticeable scab on his forehead, which he blamed on an allergic reaction. Despite a modest average of 80.41 and a double‑success rate of just 26 per cent, Humphries dispatched Chisnall 2‑0 and will meet Jermaine Wattimena, the player who knocked out Chris Dobey, in the next round.
Chisnall briefly threatened to force a deciding set, but he busted his score and Humphries sealed the win by hitting double four, then appeared to hush a heckler in the crowd. Meanwhile, two seeded players fell on Tuesday evening.
In addition to Littler’s early exit, Josh Rock was beaten by Dutch debutant Niels Zonneveld, who produced three ton‑plus finishes in the third set to secure a last‑16 clash with Gary Anderson. Rock had produced a flash of brilliance earlier, following a 180 with a spectacular 151 to level the match and force a deciding set. At one point he even attempted a daring 101 checkout involving a bullseye, a single 1 and another bullseye, but it was not enough to survive Zonneveld’s surge. Chris Dobey also suffered a first‑round defeat for the third consecutive year.
His opponent, "Hollywood" Wade, who had burned four darts to break Wattimena in the opening leg, averaged below 80 and struggled to hit the required starting double in many legs. Wade’s only moment of brilliance came with a blistering 128 finish at the start of the second set, but he still lost 2‑0.
James Wade, however, turned the tide in his own match. After dropping the first set, he survived six missed match darts across two visits and eventually overcame Joe Cullen 2‑1, keeping alive his quest for a third Grand Prix crown – his first in 16 years. A pivotal moment arrived in the fourth leg of the second set when Wade hit the bull for an 81 checkout just as Cullen was poised to break and potentially clinch the match. Wade hesitated briefly, missed double top and double 10 in the third leg of the decider, but recovered to hit double 10 and seal the win.
Wade’s next opponent will be Stephen Bunting, who edged past Andrew Gilding 2‑1 in the final match of the round. The day also brought further disappointment for Damon Heta, who recorded his sixth straight first‑round loss – the Australian has yet to win a match at this event.
Heta surrendered a one‑set lead against Anderson and missed a match dart at double five in the second set. Gary Anderson, runner‑up in 2016 to Michael van Gerwen, dominated the third set 3‑0, posting an impressive 110 average. In another surprise, Gian van Veen beat compatriot Dirk van Duijvenbode in straight sets, earning his first win on this stage after early exits in 2024 and 2025 to Ross Smith and 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 now face Ryan Searle after "Heavy Metal" Searle punished William O'Connor’s four missed match darts to progress, winning the final three legs after dropping the first five. O'Connor’s run had been electrifying – he took out 95 with back‑to‑back double 19s after losing the opening set – but the Irishman, making his first appearance at this tournament in over a decade, eventually lost his way. The tournament format continues: matches are best of three sets, with the first player to win three sets advancing.
Day three of the World Grand Prix will be broadcast live on Sky Sports+ and Sky Sports Main Event from 7 p.m. on Wednesday, with daily coverage continuing through to the final on Sunday. Viewers can also stream the event via NOW with no‑contract options, or explore the latest Sky Sports deals for additional access. Overall, the early stages of the Grand Prix have delivered a mix of expected victories and shocking upsets.
Humphries’ steady progression, Wade’s resilient comeback, and the elimination of high‑profile seeds like Rock and Dobey set the stage for an exciting second half of the competition, where the remaining contenders will battle for the coveted title.