The World Grand Prix darts championships will see reigning champion Mike De Decker headlining a bumper 32-player field, as world number one Luke Humphries bids to reclaim the title he won in 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
World Champion Luke Littler and six-time World Grand Prix winner Michael van Gerwen are also set to star in the \u00a3600,000 event, which takes place from October 6-12.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
De Decker will be aiming to emulate Van Gerwen and Phil Taylor by becoming only the third player to retain the coveted World Grand Prix title since the tournament\u2019s inception in 1998.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Belgian number one toppled Humphries in a thrilling final 12 months ago, and he will open his title defence against two-time World Champion Peter Wright on Tuesday night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI still get goosebumps thinking about last year,\u201d reflected De Decker, the world number 20.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLuke was the player to beat throughout the tournament, so to go and lift the title \u2013 it was an emotional rollercoaster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m feeling quite confident. I played pretty well on the ProTour this week, and I\u2019m finally finding some consistency again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI know what Peter can do. He didn\u2019t win two World Championship titles by luck, so I\u2019m going in with the mindset that I have to play my A-game, like I do in every tournament.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
World number one Humphries will take centre stage on Monday\u2019s opening night, as he takes on 2022 runner-up Nathan Aspinall in a blockbuster showdown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fourth seed Stephen Bunting will also enter the fray on Monday evening, with the Liverpudlian pitted against German debutant Niko Springer for a place in round two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bunting lifted his sixth title of the campaign at last weekend\u2019s Swiss Darts Trophy, and the two-time semi-finalist is brimming with confidence ahead of his return to the East Midlands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m playing the best darts of my life. I feel consistently that I’m delivering,\u201d insisted Bunting, the 2024 Masters champion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI’m number four in the world. The rankings are over a few years so it shows how consistent I\u2019ve been, but you can\u2019t take anything for granted in this game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere are so many good players in this sport, so to be in the top four of the world is an unbelievable achievement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI can\u2019t take my foot off the gas. I need to keep on the practice board and keep improving, and hopefully there\u2019s a big tournament [win] coming soon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Two-time champion James Wade will also be in opening night action against 2023 semi-finalist Joe Cullen, in a repeat of their clash at the same stage of July\u2019s World Matchplay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wade – a runner-up to Littler at the UK Open and World Matchplay this year \u2013 has enjoyed a stunning resurgence over the last 18 months, which has left him closing in on a return to the world\u2019s top four.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think I\u2019ve had a brilliant 12 months,\u201d admitted Wade, who will make his 21st<\/sup> consecutive World Grand Prix appearance this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve always played brilliantly, but I\u2019m doing well and I\u2019m grinding out results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn terms of ranking money, I\u2019m the second-best performing player this year, I\u2019m back in the world\u2019s top five and I\u2019m keeping myself relevant!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Former finalists Gary Anderson and Raymond van Barneveld also renew their rivalry in a clash of the darting icons on Monday, after Van Barneveld secured his qualification in last-gasp fashion in Basel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ninth seed Rob Cross meets Dutch debutant Wessel Nijman in the opening match of the tournament, before German number one Martin Schindler faces Poland\u2019s premier player Krzysztof Ratajski.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Elsewhere, 2019 semi-finalist Chris Dobey goes up against Scotland\u2019s Cameron Menzies, while Dutch duo Danny Noppert and Jermaine Wattimena also do battle at the Mattioli Arena.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Van Gerwen will feature in another all-Dutch affair on Tuesday evening, as he begins his bid for a seventh World Grand Prix crown against 2020 runner-up Dirk van Duijvenbode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tuesday\u2019s stand-out tie pits teenage wonderkid Littler against World Youth Champion Van Veen, as two of the sport\u2019s most exciting stars chase their first victories in the double-start format.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton \u2013 champions in 2020 and 2021 respectively \u2013 will also star on Night Two, as they face former quarter-finalists Ryan Searle and Andrew Gilding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ross Smith – fresh from a remarkable Players Championship victory on Wednesday – will make his fifth World Grand Prix appearance against Daryl Gurney, who famously lifted the double-start crown in 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gurney\u2019s World Cup partner Josh Rock kicks off his challenge against 2024 semi-finalist Ryan Joyce, while Australian number one Damon Heta and Luke Woodhouse collide in Tuesday\u2019s curtain-raiser.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The World Grand Prix darts championships will see reigning champion Mike De Decker headlining a bumper 32-player 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