Overview
- Defending champion Luke Littler was beaten 2-1 by Luke Woodhouse on Monday, which came on the same night that six-time winner Michael van Gerwen lost to Ryan Joyce.
- Woodhouse recovered after dropping the first set and closed the deciding set with a 75 checkout to reach the second round against Nathan Aspinall.
- The World Grand Prix is being held at Mattioli Arena in Leicester from 28 September to 4 October and carries a raised £750,000 prize fund with £150,000 for the winner.
- The event’s requirement that players must start and finish each leg on a double makes early matches volatile and helps explain why several seeded names fell on opening night.
- Littler averaged well below his season form in the loss and will now need to regroup before the Grand Slam and World Championship, while bookmakers and fans reassess title chances as the tournament moves to the last 16.