All you need to know as the World Grand Prix continues into day two after pre-tournament favourite Luke Littler made an immediate exit on a dramatic first night in Leicester.
Littler has already headed home after losing on his debut in the double-start tournament to an impressive Rob Cross, with world champion and 2023 winner Luke Humphries just avoiding a similar fate to narrowly progress.
Tuesday’s action is headlined by Michael van Gerwen as the first round draws to a close. The six-time champion continues his bid for a seventh double-start success against 2017 winner Daryl Gurney.
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Luke Humphries turned his opening-round match around against Stephen Bunting after hitting this 118 checkout at the World Grand Prix
Michael Smith and Gary Anderson renew their rivalry in a repeat of their first-round showdown at the World Matchplay, while 2020 champion Gerwyn Price enters the fray against Dutch No 2 Danny Noppert.
Two-time World Grand Prix winner James Wade plays 2018 runner-up Peter Wright in another blockbuster battle, as Chris Dobey and Joe Cullen collide on the World Grand Prix stage for a second straight year.
UK Open champion Dimitri Van den Bergh kicks off his campaign against Luke Woodhouse, with Van den Bergh’s fellow Belgian Mike De Decker pitted against Australian No 1 Damon Heta.
Two-time runner-up Dave Chisnall will open the show in Leicester on Tuesday, and the sixth seed faces a tough test against an in-form Cameron Menzies – one of five debutants in the 32-player field.
Schedule of Play and results
2024 BoyleSports World Grand Prix
Monday October 7
8x First Round matches
Josh Rock 0-2 Ryan Joyce
Brendan Dolan 0-2 Martin Schindler
Jonny Clayton 2-0 Ritchie Edhouse
Nathan Aspinall 2-1 Ryan Searle
Raymond van Barneveld 1-2 Ricardo Pietreczko
Luke Humphries 2-1 Stephen Bunting
Rob Cross 2-1 Luke Littler
Gian van Veen 0-2 Ross Smith
Tuesday October 8 (6pm)
8x First Round matches
Dave Chisnall vs Cameron Menzies
Luke Woodhouse vs Dimitri Van den Bergh
Mike De Decker vs Damon Heta
Peter Wright vs James Wade
Gerwyn Price vs Danny Noppert
Michael Smith vs Gary Anderson
Michael van Gerwen vs Daryl Gurney
Chris Dobey vs Joe Cullen
Wednesday October 9 (7pm)
4x Second Round matches – order of games TBC
Luke Humphries vs Ricardo Pietreczko
Jonny Clayton vs Ross Smith
Rob Cross vs Martin Schindler
Nathan Aspinall vs Ryan Joyce
Thursday October 10 (7pm)
4x Second Round matches – order of games TBC
M Smith/Anderson vs De Decker/Heta
Price/Noppert vs Wright/Wade
Van Gerwen/Gurney vs Dobey/Cullen
Chisnall/Menzies vs Woodhouse/Van den Bergh
Friday October 11 (7pm)
Quarter-Finals
Saturday October 12 (8.30pm)
Semi-Finals
Sunday October 13 (8pm)
Final
What is the format?
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Watch every nine-darter that has been hit at the World Grand Prix
The World Grand Prix is an annual PDC tournament that was founded in 1998. It is the fourth of seven ranked majors during the year and the third-longest running televised event in the calendar.
It is the only double-start tournament in the PDC calendar, whereby players must both start and finish on a double (or bullseye). A player will only start scoring points in a leg once they hit a double, with the points value of the double counting as the first scoring dart.
It is a straight knockout tournament with a set-play format, where each set is contested over the best of five legs.
Has there been a nine-darter?
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Enjoy the best moments from the World Grand Prix, from the first nine-darter, Andy Callaby beating Phil Taylor and MVG’s first TV title win
Brendan Dolan was the first player to throw a nine-dart leg at the World Grand Prix in 2011 in the double-start format.
The Northern Irishman, who adopted the nickname ‘The History Maker’ after the tournament, hit double 20, followed by six treble 20s, treble 17 and bullseye to complete the perfect leg.
More history was made in 2014 when James Wade and Robert Thornton both threw nine-dart legs in their second-round clash.
Who are the previous winners?
Phil Taylor won the World Grand Prix a record 11 times before retiring from the game in 2017
Phil Taylor is the most-successful player in the tournament’s history, having won 11 titles before retiring in 2017.
Michael van Gerwen won his sixth title in 2022, while Luke Humphries is the reigning champion.
Other previous winners are Daryl Gurney (2017), Robert Thornton (2015), James Wade (2010 and 2007), Colin Lloyd (2004) and Alan Warriner (2001).
Last 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and final
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A look back at the best of the action from a thrilling 2023 World Grand Prix in Leicester
Following the conclusion of the first round, the last 16 will take place across Wednesday October 9 and Thursday October 10, before the quarter-finals are staged on Friday October 11.
However, in a change to last year’s format, Saturday’s semi-finals on October 12 will be contested over the best of nine sets, with the final set to be played over the best of 11 sets on Sunday October 13.
What live darts is on Sky Sports?
Humphries is the defending World Grand Prix champion
Live darts returns to Sky Sports with the BoyleSports World Grand Prix in Leicester from October 7-13, featuring some of the sport’s very biggest stars.
The annual £600,000 tournament will take place at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester from October 7-13, as 32 of the world’s top stars compete for the coveted title which was won by Humphries.
Then in November, the Grand Slam of Darts will be hosted in Wolverhampton as Humphries looks to defend another title.
Attention then turns to the turn of the year and the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship, beginning on December 15, as the darts calendar continues to provide excitement throughout the year – and you can enjoy the very best here live on Sky Sports.
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