Littler Stunned by Early Exit at World Grand Prix as Van Gerwen Also Falls

Defending champion Luke Littler suffered an unexpected first‑round defeat at the World Grand Prix, bowing out 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 eliminated, making for a night of surprising results in the double‑in, double‑out format. Littler began the match brightly, taking the opening set after a series of solid throws. However, he was not at his usual level; Woodhouse capitalised on several missed doubles, edging the first set into a deciding leg that ultimately went Littler's way.

The momentum shifted dramatically in the second set. Woodhouse, playing with confidence, held his nerve on the doubles and secured the set without giving Littler a chance to recover.

The third set followed a similar pattern, with Woodhouse delivering a flawless performance that left Littler unable to mount a comeback. The result marked one of the biggest upsets in the tournament’s history, as the young prodigy was knocked out before the midway point.

Following his victory, Woodhouse will meet former finalist Nathan Aspinall in the second round. Aspinall earned his place by defeating Kevin Doets in a nail‑biting final‑leg decider on the opening night, demonstrating the depth of competition in this year's field. Littler took to Instagram after his surprising loss, posting: "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." He then hinted at his plans for the upcoming Super League Grand Final on Saturday, which features his beloved Warrington Wolves and would have conflicted with the Grand Prix semi‑finals. "May aswell get myself to OT [Old Trafford] now I'm out.

Let's go the Wire @warringtonrlfc," he wrote, showing his enthusiasm for the rugby league event despite the darts disappointment. Woodhouse, reflecting on his win, praised Littler’s talent while acknowledging the young player’s humanity: "Luke's not a robot. He's going to have days and weeks and whatever where he's not right on it. 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." His comments highlighted the respect Littler commands among his peers, even in defeat. The night also saw Michael van Gerwen’s hopes of a seventh Grand Prix title extinguished. The Dutch star suffered a third consecutive first‑round loss, falling to Ryan Joyce after Joyce rallied from a set down to claim victory.

Van Gerwen’s early exit added to the tournament’s narrative of unexpected outcomes. Welsh representatives Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton, the 2020 and 2021 Grand Prix champions respectively, both progressed comfortably. Price delivered what many called the performance of the evening, averaging 101.61 and dropping only a single leg in his win over Sebastian Bialecki.

Clayton, meanwhile, endured a hard‑fought battle against Krzysztof Ratajski; their match was one of six on the opening night that stretched to the full distance, showcasing the competitive parity among the field. Other notable moments included Cameron Menzies and Kevin Doets missing match darts in their defeats to Ross Smith and Nathan Aspinall. Both players had opportunities to close out two‑set victories but faltered at critical junctures. Menzies missed two darts at the double top before Smith swept him 3‑0 in a deciding set, while Doets squandered three match darts—including a wild miss at the bullseye—allowing Aspinall to clinch a last‑leg decider in the third set.

Danny Noppert started the evening with a dominant display, stringing together five consecutive legs before Niko Springer surged back to claim the next three, taking the second set. The match settled into a more typical rhythm in the third set, with Noppert ultimately prevailing. In another fixture, Wessel Nijman secured a routine 2‑0 win over former world champion Rob Cross, setting up a second‑round clash with Jonny Clayton. The tournament’s second round will unfold over Wednesday and Thursday, leading to quarter‑finals on Friday, semi‑finals on Saturday, and the final on Sunday.

Notably, Ross Smith revealed a personal health scare after his first‑round triumph, explaining that a week of illness and a brief hospital stay had almost forced him to withdraw. "I've had a week from hell," Smith said. "I picked up some sort of virus and had heart issues.

I was in hospital on Friday and 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 follow the action live on Sky Sports+ and Sky Sports Main Event from 6 p.m. on Tuesday, with daily coverage continuing through to the final on Sunday. For those without a Sky subscription, the tournament is also available to stream on NOW with no long‑term contract required.

The World Grand Prix continues to deliver drama, surprise, and high‑quality darts, cementing its reputation as one of the sport’s most thrilling events.