World Grand Prix Opens with Major Upsets
The defence of the World Grand Prix title has ended at the first hurdle for Luke Littler, who suffered a shock 2–1 defeat to Luke Woodhouse on a dramatic opening night in Leicester. The world number one joined Michael van Gerwen in making a premature exit from the double-start tournament, blowing the draw wide open on a remarkable Monday evening at the Mattioli Arena.
Littler appeared to be in control after taking the first set, but could not build on his advantage. Woodhouse fought back to level the match and force a deciding set, where he sealed the biggest win of his career with a two-dart 75 checkout on double 12. Neither player was at their fluent best in the unique format, with Littler posting an average of 82.41 to Woodhouse’s 82.51. The defeat marks a second successive tournament disappointment for the 19-year-old, whose quest to win every major title in a single year was ended by Jonny Clayton at the World Series of Darts Finals.
The defending champion took the loss in his stride, however, congratulating his opponent and welcoming a “nice week off”. Woodhouse, who now faces Nathan Aspinall, was quick to temper the scale of the upset, remarking that “Luke’s not a robot”.
Earlier in the evening, Michael van Gerwen also crashed out of the competition. The Dutchman seized the early initiative against Ryan Joyce but could not sustain his momentum, with Joyce producing a clinical display to send another of the tournament’s high-profile names packing.
Price Shines as Top Seeds Navigate Tricky Openers
While two of the sport’s biggest stars fell, Gerwyn Price laid down an impressive marker with what was described as the performance of the night. The Welshman was in blistering form, recording an average in excess of 100 on his way to the second round.
Nathan Aspinall also booked his place in the last 16, but had to show considerable resilience to overcome Kevin Doets. Aspinall found himself a set down against a player he admitted “beats me all the time”, but refused to fold under pressure. He battled back to win 2–1 in a tight encounter, expressing his relief afterwards. “Oh, I’m absolutely buzzing,” Aspinall said. “When I went 1–0 down, I was gutted because I thought I was playing okay. I showed so much battle, so much character, so much balls.”
Danny Noppert is also through after a 2–1 victory over German opponent Niko Springer. ‘The Freeze’ started superbly, firing in finishes of 112, 90 and 100 to establish a commanding lead. He confessed to finding it “a little bit troubling to take it over the line” in the end, but was ultimately satisfied with his performance. “Finishing in the beginning was great,” Noppert commented. “Maybe scoring can be a little bit better. But yeah, so far I’m happy with my performance.”
Taylor Announces Return as Littler’s Rise is Assessed
Away from the Leicester stage, it was revealed that Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor will make a return to competitive action. The 16-time World Champion is set to appear at the MODUS Super Series, stating that the opportunity to play alongside his long-time friend Adrian Lewis was the key factor in his decision to come out of retirement. Taylor’s record remains the benchmark in the sport, having won two titles at the Lakeside before the 1993 split on his way to becoming the most decorated player in history.
The scale of Taylor’s achievements continues to provide the context for any discussion about Luke Littler’s potential. Despite Littler’s opening-round loss at the Grand Prix, Stephen Bunting has joined the debate over his ceiling, suggesting he could end his career as the greatest of all time. Bunting does not expect Littler to match Taylor’s incredible title haul, but acknowledged the teenager’s immense impact on the sport. The upsets in Leicester demonstrate how difficult it is to dominate consistently, making any darts betting guide an interesting read for followers of the game.
Littler’s phenomenal run in 2026 has already seen him capture the World Championship, World Masters, UK Open, Premier League, World Cup of Darts and the World Matchplay, an unprecedented sequence of success for a player still only 19 years of age.
In brief
- Gerwyn Price has voiced his frustration at the lack of preparation time afforded to players ahead of the recent World Series of Darts Finals.
- Former BDO world champion Glen Durrant has put forward the idea of fining players who decide to skip tournaments.
- The first-round action at the World Grand Prix concludes on Tuesday, with a notable tie between Luke Humphries and Dave Chisnall.
