World Grand Prix

The 28th edition of the World Grand Prix was held at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester from October 6th to 12th. Thirty-two players competed for the title. It was Luke Littler who ultimately won the title for the first time, after a final against Luke Humphries.

Littler faces a tough match in the first round: he plays against Gian van Veen. Van Veen has the highest average ever at the Grand Prix (106.47), but to his own surprise, he loses the match 2-0 to the world champion. A real test for Littler, who averages 105.58.

The Dutch players have a disappointing first round. Besides Van Veen, Wessel Nijman, Jermaine Wattimena, Raymond van Barneveld, and Michael van Gerwen also lost their first matches. Two Dutchmen did manage to reach the second round: Dirk van Duijvenbode (who beat Van Gerwen 2-0) and Danny Noppert (who beat Wattimena 2-1).

In the second round, Littler plays defending champion Mike de Decker. The Belgian is having a difficult year and therefore has no chance against Littler: The Nuke easily wins 3-0. Van Duijvenbode beats Daryl Gurney by the same score, and Noppert eliminates Stephen Bunting (the number 4 seed) 3-1.

Littler faces a tough task in the quarterfinals as well: Gerwyn Price plays a fantastic match and takes a 2-0 lead against the Englishman. But somehow, Littler manages to turn the match around to a 3-2 victory, after which the two men embrace after another fantastic battle in Leicester. Danny Noppert continues to perform well and defeats Gary Anderson 3-1. Unfortunately, the tournament ended for Van Duijvenbode after a 3-0 defeat to Jonny Clayton. The last semifinalist is Luke Humphries, who beat Cameron Menzies 3-1.

Littler proved unbeatable in this tournament, and Clayton discovered this in the semifinals. "The Nuke" once again delivered a strong match, defeating "The Ferret" 5-1. This earned him his first World Grand Prix final. His opponent will be Luke Humphries, who had also reached the final two years prior. Humphries struggled against Noppert but managed to defeat the Dutchman 5-3.

A final between the world's number 1 and 2. Normally, it would be a beautiful, exciting match. But this time, Littler was clearly too strong for Humphries. Littler once again lost only one set and, after a 6-1 victory, could call himself the World Grand Prix winner for the first time. Humphries is left empty-handed for the second year in a row.