Luke Humphries escaped the repercussions of a series of missed finishing doubles by edging out a sub‑par Dave Chisnall to secure his place in the second round of the World Grand Prix in Leicester. Humphries, who has reached the final of this tournament three consecutive times – lifting the trophy in 2023 and finishing runner‑up twice since – now looks the odds‑on favourite after defending champion Luke Littler suffered a surprise defeat to Luke Woodhouse on opening night. The man known as "Cool Hand" entered the match with a scab on his forehead, which he blamed on an allergic reaction, and he dispatched Chisnall 2‑0 despite 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, who earlier eliminated Chris Dobey. Chisnall flirted with a possible comeback, earning a chance to force a deciding set, but he busted his score and Humphries wrapped up the win on double four, even pausing to hush a voice from the crowd as the match concluded.
The evening also saw two seeded players tumble. Chris Dobey, one of the tournament’s top seeds, fell alongside Josh Rock, who was beaten by Dutch newcomer Niels Zonneveld. Zonneveld produced three ton‑plus finishes in the third set, earning a place in the last‑16 where he will meet Gary Anderson. Rock’s performance was a roller‑coaster.
At one point he attempted a daring 101 checkout – bullseye, single 1, bullseye – and had earlier followed a perfect 180 with a spectacular 151 to break Zonneveld’s rhythm and force a deciding set. Despite those highlights, he could not hold on. "Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player" appeared twice in the original feed, a reminder for viewers. Dobey, meanwhile, suffered a first‑round exit for the third consecutive year.
His opponent, nicknamed "Hollywood," broke Wattimena’s opening leg with four darts, but his overall average stayed below 80 and he struggled to hit the required starting double in many legs. His only flash of brilliance was a dazzling 128 checkout at the start of the second set; ultimately he lost 2‑0.
James Wade mounted a comeback after dropping the first set, shrugging off six missed match darts across two visits to defeat Joe Cullen 2‑1. Wade’s win keeps his quest for a third Grand Prix title alive and marks his first triumph in the event in 16 years. A pivotal moment arrived in the fourth leg of the second set when Wade hit the bull for an 81 finish, thwarting Cullen’s attempt to break his own throw and move into a winning position. Wade hesitated briefly before sealing the leg, missing double top and double 10 in the third leg of the decider, but he finally clinched the match with a double 10 in the following leg.
Wade’s next opponent will be Stephen Bunting, who earned his spot by beating Andrew Gilding 2‑1 in the final match of the round. Damon Heta endured further Grand Prix misery, recording his sixth straight first‑round loss – 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 Anderson. Gary Anderson, runner‑up in 2016 to Michael van Gerwen, swept the third set 3‑0 while posting an impressive 110 average.
In another storyline, Dutch player Gian van Veen finally broke his opening‑round hoodoo by defeating fellow countryman Dirk van Duijvenbode in straight sets, securing his first win on this stage after early exits in 2024 and 2025 to Ross Smith and Littler respectively. Van Duijvenbode, after a sluggish 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. "Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player" again reminded viewers of the platform requirement. Van Veen will now face Ryan Searle after "Heavy Metal" punished William O'Connor’s four missed match darts, rallying to win the final three legs after having dropped the first five.
O'Connor’s electric run began with a 95 checkout using back‑to‑back double 19s, but the Irishman – making his first appearance at this event in over a decade – eventually lost his momentum. The schedule continues with matches from 7 p.m., first to three sets.
Fans can watch day three of the World Grand Prix live on Sky Sports+ and Sky Sports Main Event from 7 p.m. on Wednesday, with daily coverage through to the final on Sunday.
Those interested in streaming options can explore the latest Sky Sports deals or opt for a contract‑free stream on NOW.