Luke Humphries escaped the consequences of a string of missed finishing doubles by overcoming 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 two subsequent occasions – now looks the odds‑on favourite after defending champion Luke Littler suffered a startling first‑night loss to Luke Woodhouse.
The "Cool Hand" displayed a calm demeanor despite a scab on his forehead, which he blamed on an allergic reaction. He dispatched Chisnall 2‑0, posting a modest average of 80.41 and converting just 26% of his doubles.
The victory sets up a second‑round clash with Jermaine Wattimena, the player who eliminated Chris Dobey earlier in the evening. Chisnall had a fleeting chance to break Humphries’ rhythm and force a deciding set, but a mis‑thrown dart ruined his comeback hopes.
Humphries then sealed the win by hitting double four and, in a moment of quiet confidence, appeared to hush a spectator in the stands. The evening also saw two seeded players bow out.
Chris Dobey, a top‑seed, fell alongside Josh Rock, who was defeated by Dutch newcomer Niels Zonneveld. Zonneveld impressed by stringing together three consecutive ton‑plus finishes in the third set, securing a place in the last‑16 against Gary Anderson. Rock’s exit was dramatic. At one point he attempted a bold 101 finish – bullseye, single 1, bullseye – and had earlier followed a perfect 180 with a spectacular 151 to break Zonneveld’s momentum, forcing a deciding set.
Despite these flashes of brilliance, Rock could not hold on. In other news, Dobey suffered a first‑round loss for the third consecutive year, a disappointing repeat for the Englishman. "Hollywood" Wade, who had burned four darts to break Wattimena in the opening leg, struggled to find his rhythm, averaging under 80 and missing the mandatory starting double on several legs. His only highlight was a dazzling 128 checkout at the start of the second set, but he ultimately lost 2‑0.
James Wade, however, mounted a comeback from a set down, shrugging off six missed match darts across two visits to defeat Joe Cullen 2‑1. Wade’s win keeps his quest for a third World Grand Prix title – and his first in 16 years – alive. A pivotal moment arrived in the fourth leg of the second set when Wade hit the bull for an 81 finish, snatching the break from Cullen, who had been threatening to clinch the match.
Wade hesitated briefly before sealing the leg, squandering chances at double top and double ten in the third leg of the deciding set, but eventually hit double ten to clinch the victory. His next opponent will be Stephen Bunting, who edged past Andrew Gilding 2‑1 in the final match of the round. Australian Damon Heta endured further Grand Prix misery, recording his sixth straight first‑round defeat – he has yet to win a match at this venue. Heta surrendered a one‑set lead and missed a match dart at double five in the second set against Gary Anderson.
Anderson, runner‑up in 2016 to Michael van Gerwen, dominated the third set 3‑0, posting a lofty 110 average. Gian van Veen earned his first win on this stage by beating fellow Dutchman Dirk van Duijvenbode in straight sets, after earlier first‑round exits in 2024 and 2025 to Ross Smith and Luke Littler respectively. Van Duijvenbode, after a poor start that saw him lose the first five legs, finally found his scoring touch but missed two attempts at double 16, forcing a decider. Van Veen will meet Ryan Searle next, while "Heavy Metal" Searle punished William O'Connor’s four missed match darts to progress, clinching 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 – soon lost his way. The tournament continues with matches played first to three sets from 7 p.m. each night. Day three will be broadcast live on Sky Sports+ and Sky Sports Main Event, with coverage running daily through to the final on Sunday.
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