The World Grand Prix has already turned into the kind of tournament darts fans dream about — and Luke Littler is no longer part of it.
The defending champion and world No.1 was sent crashing out on opening night by Luke Woodhouse, leaving the 2026 tournament without its biggest name. Then, just 24 hours later, another top-ten seed suffered the same fate as Josh Rock was beaten by Niels Zonneveld. Suddenly, the path to the title looks dramatically different.
But while the shocks continue to dominate the headlines, Luke Humphries and Gian van Veen have quietly done exactly what they needed to do. Both secured comfortable victories on Tuesday night, keeping their title ambitions firmly alive as the tournament moves into the last 16.
Humphries Keeps His Cool Against Chisnall
Humphries arrived at the Mattioli Arena with enormous pressure on his shoulders.
After Littler’s surprise defeat to Woodhouse, the world No.2 suddenly found himself carrying even more attention. A first-round defeat would have created another huge shock and left a massive hole in the tournament’s seeded field.
Instead, Humphries got the job done.
He defeated Dave Chisnall 2-0, winning both sets 3-1. It was hardly a flawless display from the former world champion, but in a tournament built around the unusual double-in, double-out format, getting through the opening round is often more important than producing spectacular numbers.
Chisnall had his opportunity to make things uncomfortable. In the second set, he had a chance to level the contest at 2-2 but missed his checkout on double 10, allowing Humphries to close out the match.
That moment summed up the difference between surviving and advancing.
Humphries may not have been at his best, but he punished the opening when it appeared. That could become increasingly important as the tournament gets deeper and the matches become longer.
Van Veen Shows Why He Is A Serious Threat
Gian van Veen also made it through without dropping a set, defeating fellow Dutchman Dirk van Duijvenbode 2-0.
The third seed came flying out of the blocks, taking the opening set 3-0. He then moved 2-0 ahead in the second before Van Duijvenbode finally found some rhythm and levelled the set at 2-2.
That was where Van Veen had to show some composure.
Van Duijvenbode had an opportunity to take the set when he missed double 16, and Van Veen immediately took advantage to finish the match.
It was not necessarily a performance that will dominate highlight reels, but it was another example of why Van Veen has become such an important name in the current PDC landscape.
The Dutchman entered the tournament as the world No.3 and European champion, so expectations are considerably higher than they were a year or two ago. His ability to navigate difficult moments without panicking could be one of the defining characteristics of his campaign.
Josh Rock Becomes The Latest Big Casualty
If Humphries and Van Veen represented stability, Josh Rock represented another reminder that nothing is guaranteed at this tournament.
The seventh seed was beaten 2-1 by Niels Zonneveld, who produced an impressive deciding set to send the Northern Irishman home. Zonneveld won 3-1, lost the second set 3-2, then responded by taking the decider 3-1.
The finish was particularly impressive.
Zonneveld produced checkouts of 103, 116 and 133 during the final set, delivering when the pressure was at its highest.
Rock, meanwhile, had produced a spectacular 151 checkout earlier in the match, but it was Zonneveld who consistently found the important finishes when the match reached its decisive stage.
And that is becoming the story of this World Grand Prix.
Big scoring is useful. Big names are useful. Rankings are useful.
But doubles decide whether you survive.
A Tournament Built For Chaos
The World Grand Prix is unlike virtually every other major tournament on the PDC calendar because every leg requires players to both start and finish on a double.
That double-in, double-out format creates opportunities for players to disrupt opponents who might otherwise be considered favourites. It also means a player can be throwing beautifully but still find themselves struggling simply because they cannot get started in a leg.
The first round is played over the best of three sets, with each set consisting of best-of-five legs. From the second round, matches become best of five sets, meaning endurance and composure become increasingly important.
That makes Littler’s early exit particularly significant.
The reigning champion was beaten 2-1 by Woodhouse after taking the opening set 3-1. Woodhouse then won the second set in a deciding leg before taking control of the final set 3-1.
Michael van Gerwen also suffered an early exit, losing 2-1 to Ryan Joyce.
Now Rock has joined them.
Humphries Has A Huge Opportunity
With Littler, Van Gerwen and Rock already gone, Humphries has a very different tournament ahead of him.
His second-round opponent will be Jermaine Wattimena, who defeated Chris Dobey 2-0. Wattimena won 3-1 and 3-2, meaning Humphries will face a player who has already experienced the pressure of the unique format and knows he belongs in the last 16.
Van Veen, meanwhile, faces Ryan Searle.
Searle survived a thriller against William O’Connor, winning 2-1 after O’Connor had taken the second set 3-0. Searle ultimately won the deciding set 3-2 after surviving four match darts.
Those matchups are fascinating because neither Humphries nor Van Veen can afford to look too far ahead.
The £750,000 prize fund adds plenty of incentive, with £150,000 going to the eventual champion. But the real prize is the opportunity created by Littler’s absence.
The Road To Leicester Glory Is Wide Open
The first two nights have completely changed the complexion of this World Grand Prix.
Littler entered as defending champion, yet he is already watching from home. Van Gerwen is also gone, while Rock became another seeded casualty on Tuesday. At the same time, Humphries, Van Veen, Gary Anderson, James Wade and Stephen Bunting all survived the opening round.
That leaves the tournament beautifully unpredictable.
Humphries has the experience and a previous World Grand Prix title from 2023. Van Veen is the emerging force who has already climbed to world No.3. And plenty of other players now have a realistic opportunity to take advantage of a draw that suddenly looks far less intimidating.
One thing is certain: the World Grand Prix has already delivered more than enough drama.
With the defending champion gone, another top-ten player eliminated and the remaining contenders preparing for longer matches, the tournament has become a completely different battle.
Now Humphries and Van Veen have to prove they can handle the pressure that comes with opportunity.
And after everything we’ve seen in Leicester already, it would be foolish to assume the surprises are finished.