Littler Stunned as World Grand Prix Darts Reaches Second Round in Leicester

The World Grand Prix, darts’ unique double-start, double-finish tournament, continued into its third day in Leicester with the draw wide open following one of the shocks of the season so far.

Defending champion Luke Littler, who has dominated much of the sport’s landscape since bursting onto the scene, was eliminated on the tournament’s opening night by Luke Woodhouse. The result immediately reshaped expectations for the rest of the week, stripping the event of its reigning champion before the second round had even begun and opening the door for a fresh name to lift the trophy.

Woodhouse’s reward for that victory is a last-16 meeting with Nathan Aspinall, one of several second-round ties that made up Wednesday’s card. The format, which requires players to open their leg with a double before they can start scoring, tends to produce unpredictable contests, and Littler’s exit served as a reminder that even the game’s biggest names are not immune to its quirks.

Elsewhere on the schedule, Gerwyn Price took on Ross Smith in a repeat of their recent World Series final, giving fans a chance to see whether that earlier result would be replicated on darts’ televised stage in Leicester. Price, a former world number one and one of the sport’s most combative competitors, has a habit of raising his game in tournament conditions, though Smith has shown he is capable of matching him on the biggest occasions.

Jonny Clayton, the Welsh number two and a regular fixture in the latter stages of major events, was also in second-round action as the tournament worked through its congested schedule. Clayton’s consistency over the past few seasons has made him one of the most dangerous floor players in the sport, and his experience in double-start formats gives him a strong platform heading into the business end of the competition.

The World Grand Prix has long carved out its own identity on the darts calendar because of its insistence on doubles to both start and finish legs, a format that punishes players who rely purely on volume scoring and rewards those with composure on the outer ring of the board. It’s a stern test even for players used to lifting silverware elsewhere, and this year’s early exits suggest the format is once again proving a leveller.

With Littler out of the picture, the chasing pack will sense an opportunity. Price, Smith, Clayton, Aspinall and Woodhouse are among those left to fight it out as the tournament heads toward the weekend, with fans able to follow the action live on Sky Sports through to the final in Leicester.

Further details of Wednesday’s other results were not available at the time of writing, but the shape of the draw already points to an unpredictable finish to a tournament that has specialised in producing them.