Luke Woodhouse beats Luke Littler (Photo PDC)
Luke Woodhouse dumped out reigning champion Luke Littler on a remarkable opening night at the World Grand Prix, as six-time champion Michael van Gerwen also crashed out in Leicester.
Woodhouse fought back from a set behind to stun Littler at the Mattioli Arena on Monday, recording one of the biggest wins of his career to set up a tantalising tussle against Nathan Aspinall.
Despite claiming a scrappy opening stanza, Littler was unable to conjure his brilliant best, as Woodhouse produced a tenacious response in set two to restore parity.
The 37-year-old then punished uncharacteristic errors from the world number one to lead 2-0 in the third and decisive set, before sealing a landmark win with a nerveless two-dart 75 outshot.
“I’m a bit all over the shop at the moment,” reflected Woodhouse, who has won two ranking titles in a breakthrough 2026 campaign.
“It’s the first time I’ve played him on a main stage, and safe to say I was shaking a little bit!
“I think it was a scrappy game. Of course, I’ll take the win. To beat someone of the stature of Luke Littler, it’s nice.
“It’s a very short format. When the games get longer, Luke gets better, so I just tried my best to put him under as much pressure as I could.”
Littler’s hopes of completing an unprecedented clean sweep of Premier titles were curtailed in Amsterdam last weekend, and Woodhouse added further gloom by ending the World Champion’s 36-match winning run in PDC televised ranking events.
Van Gerwen was another high-profile casualty on Day One of the unique double-start event, succumbing to a clinical display from 2024 semi-finalist Ryan Joyce.
The Dutch superstar seized the early initiative, but Joyce’s trademark combination finishing proved decisive, as he converted 92, 110 and 118 checkouts en route to a deciding-set victory.
Joyce’s reward will be a showdown against two-time semi-finalist Danny Noppert, who fended off a mid-game fightback from Niko Springer to maintain his impressive record in the East Midlands.
Gerwyn Price and Ross Smith will also renew their rivalry in round two, in a repeat of their clash in the showpiece at last weekend’s World Series of Darts Finals.
Price produced the performance of Monday’s opening night, averaging 101.61 in his straight-sets demolition of debutant Sebastian Bialecki.
The 2020 champion was imperious from start to finish at the Mattioli Arena, winning six of the seven legs played while also landing a brace of 120 finishes in the closing stages.
“I think I played pretty decent in that game,” claimed Price, one of four former champions left in the field.
“I don’t care about anyone else or sending a message out, but it gives me a bit of confidence with the new darts and the new points.
“I knew they were good but they’re going to get better!”
Smith, meanwhile, fought back from a set adrift to defeat Cameron Menzies in a high-quality tussle, defying a blistering early barrage from the Scot and two match darts to triumph with a 99.54 average.
Elsewhere, 2022 runner-up Aspinall battled back from the brink to topple Dutch debutant Kevin Doets, who squandered three match darts for a straight-sets victory.
The Stockport star subsequently drew level with a sensational ten-darter, before producing a skin-saving 115 checkout in the penultimate leg of the contest.
2021 champion Jonny Clayton also opened his title challenge with a hard-fought victory against Poland’s premier player Krzysztof Ratajski, pinning 64% of his attempts at a starting double.
Clayton will now play Wessel Nijman for a place in the last eight, after the rising Dutch star overcame Rob Cross in straight-sets, avenging his defeat to the former World Champion in Leicester last year.
The World Grand Prix continues on today evening, as round one draws to a close.
World number two Luke Humphries begins his title bid against two-time runner-up Dave Chisnall, as Gian van Veen and Dirk van Duijvenbode go head-to-head in an all-Dutch affair.
Two-time champion James Wade begins his 22nd consecutive double-start campaign against Joe Cullen, while 2016 runner-up Gary Anderson takes on Australian number one Damon Heta.
Round One Results
Danny Noppert 2-1 Niko Springer (3-0, 2-3, 3-0)
Ross Smith 2-1 Cameron Menzies (0-3, 3-2, 3-0)
Nathan Aspinall 2-1 Kevin Doets (1-3, 3-2, 3-2)
Jonny Clayton 2-1 Krzysztof Ratajski (3-2, 2-3, 3-2)
Gerwyn Price 2-0 Sebastian Bialecki (3-0, 3-1)
Ryan Joyce 2-1 Michael van Gerwen (2-3, 3-1, 3-1)
Luke Woodhouse 2-1 Luke Littler (1-3, 3-2, 3-1)
Wessel Nijman 2-0 Rob Cross (3-2, 3-1)
