Defending champion Luke Littler suffered a surprising first‑round loss at the World Grand Prix, falling 2‑1 to fellow Englishman Luke Woodhouse in the Leicester venue. The upset came on the same evening that six‑time champion Michael van Gerwen was also knocked out, adding further drama to an already eventful opening night. Littler managed to claim the opening set, but he was nowhere near his usual razor‑sharp form.
Woodhouse, who had several opportunities to close the set on a double, missed them, allowing Littler to edge ahead. The young champion’s early momentum, however, proved fleeting. In the second set Woodhouse raised his game, converting his chances with clinical precision.
He then carried that confidence into the third set, sealing the match and delivering one of the most significant upsets in the history of the double‑in, double‑out format of the tournament. Following his victory, Woodhouse will meet former finalist Nathan Aspinall in the second round. Aspinall earned his place by beating Kevin Doets in a nail‑biting final‑leg decider earlier on the opening night, setting up a compelling clash between the two. After the match, Littler took to Instagram to express his respect for Woodhouse and his disappointment at the result.
He wrote: "Well played @lukewoodly180 – it was a good game, a good one to be a part of as well. Both hit, both missed but Luke took his chance and nice week off now, all the best to Luke for the rest of the tournament." He then hinted at his plans for the weekend, noting that he would be heading to the Super League Grand Final on Saturday to support his beloved Warrington Wolves, an event that would have conflicted with the Grand Prix semi‑finals.
"May as well get myself to OT [Old Trafford] now I’m out. Let’s go the Wire @warringtonrlfc," he added. Woodhouse, still buzzing from his triumph, praised Littler in the post‑match interview: "Luke's not a robot.
He's going to have days and weeks 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 underscored the high regard in which the young English star is held, despite the early exit.
The night also saw Michael van Gerwen’s hopes of a seventh Grand Prix title evaporate. The Dutch legend suffered a third consecutive first‑round defeat in this event, losing to Ryan Joyce after Joyce rallied from a set down to clinch the match.
Van Gerwen’s early departure was a major talking point, given his dominance in previous editions. Welsh duo Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton, the 2020 and 2021 Grand Prix champions respectively, both advanced comfortably. Price delivered a standout performance, averaging 101.61 and dropping only a single leg in his 3‑0 demolition of Sebastian Bialecki. Clayton, meanwhile, faced a stern test against Poland’s Krzysztof Ratajski; the match stretched to a full three sets, one of six opening‑night encounters that went the distance.
Other notable results included Cameron Menzies and Kevin Doets missing match darts in their defeats to Ross Smith and Nathan Aspinall respectively. Menzies missed two darts at the double‑top before Smith swept him 3‑0 in the deciding set, while Doets squandered three match darts – including a wild miss at the bullseye – before Aspinall prevailed in a final‑leg showdown.
In the first match of the evening, Danny Noppert burst out of the blocks, taking five consecutive legs before Niko Springer rallied to claim the next three, securing the second set. Normal service resumed in the third set, with Noppert eventually prevailing. Wessel Nijman capped the night with a straightforward 2‑0 win over former world champion Rob Cross, setting up a second‑round clash with Jonny Clayton. The second round will be contested on Wednesday and Thursday, followed by quarter‑finals on Friday, semi‑finals on Saturday, and the final on Sunday.
Fans can catch 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. One of the human‑interest stories of the night involved Ross Smith, who revealed he almost withdrew from the tournament after a recent hospital stay.
"I've had a week from hell," Smith said after his first‑round win. "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." His resilience added an extra layer of inspiration to the opening round. Overall, the first day of the World Grand Prix delivered a mix of shocking upsets, solid performances from established stars, and compelling personal narratives, setting the stage for an exciting remainder of the tournament.