Defending champion Luke Littler suffered a surprising early exit at the World Grand Prix, bowing out in the opening round after a 2-1 loss to fellow Englishman Luke Woodhouse in Leicester. The upset came on the same evening that six‑time champion Michael van Gerwen was also knocked out, adding further drama to a night that saw several top‑seeded players stumble. Littler began the match brightly, capturing the first set with a solid display of scoring and finishing. However, his performance quickly slipped from the high standards he set earlier in the season.
Woodhouse, who had been given several opportunities to close out the opener, missed a few crucial doubles, allowing Littler to edge the set. The young champion’s confidence seemed to waver as the match progressed, and he was unable to maintain the precision that had carried him to the title the previous year. In the second set, Woodhouse found his rhythm.
He capitalised on Littler’s missed doubles and stringed together a series of high scores, taking the set without giving his opponent a chance to respond. The momentum shift was evident, and Littler appeared increasingly frustrated. The third set followed a similar pattern; Woodhouse continued to hit his doubles cleanly while Littler struggled to find his usual touch.
By the time the deciding leg arrived, Woodhouse had secured a 2‑0 lead in sets and only needed to finish the match, which he did with composure, delivering a stunning upset that will be remembered as one of the biggest surprises in the double‑in, double‑out format’s history. Woodhouse’s victory earned him a place in the second round where he will meet former finalist Nathan Aspinall, who had survived a tight encounter against Kevin Doets that went to a final‑leg decider on the opening night. Aspinall’s win demonstrated his resilience under pressure, and the upcoming clash promises to be a test of Woodhouse’s newfound confidence against a seasoned competitor.
Following the defeat, Littler took to Instagram to express his thoughts. He wrote, "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." The message reflected his sportsmanship and hinted at his desire to move past the disappointment quickly. Littler also hinted at his plans for the weekend, indicating that he intended to attend the Super League Grand Final on Saturday to support his beloved Warrington Wolves.
He joked, "May aswell get myself to OT [Old Trafford] now I'm out. Let's go the Wire @warringtonrlfc," showing that he was already looking ahead to other passions beyond darts. Woodhouse, after securing his upset, praised Littler’s talent, saying, "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 many in the darts community have for the young prodigy, even in defeat.
Elsewhere on the same night, Michael van Gerwen’s hopes of a seventh World Grand Prix crown were extinguished when he suffered a third consecutive first‑round loss in the tournament. Dutch veteran Ryan Joyce rallied from a set down to defeat the former champion, marking a significant shift in the competitive landscape and underscoring the depth of talent present in the field.
Welsh pair Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton, winners of the 2020 and 2021 editions respectively, both advanced comfortably. Price delivered the performance of the evening, averaging an impressive 101.61 and dropping only a single leg in his victory over Sebastian Bialecki. Clayton, meanwhile, endured a grueling battle against Krzysztof Ratajski, one of six matches on opening night that stretched to the full distance of three sets.
Other notable moments included Cameron Menzies and Kevin Doets each missing match darts in their defeats. Menzies had two chances to hit a top, but Ross Smith swept him aside 3‑0 in the deciding set. Doets, after missing three match darts – including a wild miss at the bullseye – fell to Aspinall in a last‑leg decider in the third set. Danny Noppert started his campaign with a dominant display, taking five consecutive legs before Niko Springer rallied to claim the next three and secure the second set.
The match eventually settled into a more typical rhythm in the third set, with Noppert ultimately prevailing. Wessel Nijman rounded off the evening with a routine 2‑0 win over Rob Cross, setting up a second‑round encounter with Jonny Clayton. Noppert will meet Ryan Joyce, the player who eliminated van Gerwen, while Price is slated to face Ross Smith.
Smith, who revealed he almost withdrew from the tournament after a recent hospitalisation, shared his ordeal: "I've had a week from hell. I came home and picked up some sort of virus and I've had a few issues with my heart as well.
I was in hospital on Friday. I 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." The tournament’s second round is scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, with quarter‑finals on Friday, semi‑finals on Saturday, and the final on Sunday. Fans can watch the action live on Sky Sports+ and Sky Sports Main Event from 6 pm on Tuesday, with daily coverage continuing through to the championship match. For those without a contract, NOW offers a streaming option, ensuring that the excitement of the World Grand Prix remains accessible to a broad audience.