Overview

• Luke Littler beat Gian van Veen 2-0 in straight sets in Leicester, sealing victory in roughly 10–11 minutes with standout finishes of 151 and 144 and a 105.58 average.
• Gian van Veen posted a 106.47 three-dart average, the highest in World Grand Prix history, yet lost the match.
• Checkout chances proved pivotal, with Littler converting 6 of 10 attempts compared with Van Veen’s 2 of 3 in the double-in, double-out format.
• The win marks Littler’s first-ever match victory at the World Grand Prix after a first-round exit last year.
• The opening round delivered shocks elsewhere as six-time winner Michael van Gerwen lost 2-0 to Dirk van Duijvenbode, Mike De Decker beat Peter Wright 2-1, Gerwyn Price edged Ryan Searle 2-1, and Jonny Clayton and Daryl Gurney advanced.