The
World Grand Prix is a
televised darts tournament that takes place annually. The competition started
in 1998, with Phil Taylor emerging the winner after beating Rod Harrington by a
13-8 margin.
The tournament is
usually organised by PDC (Professional Darts Corporation) and is the
third-longest running darts event in the PDC calendar.
In 2023, the event was
scheduled to take place in Leicester, England, from October 2nd to October 8th,
with the likes of Gerwyn Price, Joe Cullen, Michael Smith, and Luke Humphries
going against each other at Morningside Arena.
This write-up breaks
down the 2023 World Grand Prix Tournament to give you a basic understanding of
this prestigious event. It covers the tournament's unique double-in, double-out
format, prize money, and 9-darter record holders.
How the World Grand Prix Differs From Other
Darts Tournaments
First of all, darts
competitions differ from other sports in many aspects. For instance, if you
decide to
bet on football at
Lottoland Sports, you'll notice that the darts playing formats
are way too different compared to team sports.
Typically, darts is an
individual sport. So, instead of competing as a team, players compete against
other players one on one.
Besides, dart
tournaments differ from each other based on game formats and scoring systems.
In the case of the World Grand Prix, the competition features the double-in,
double-out game format where players must start and finish each leg with a
double score, usually a double 20 or a bullseye.
The World Grand Prix is
the only PDC tournament where participants must hit a double before the score
count starts. As such, the event adds an extra level of difficulty due to its
unique format, making it more exciting as contestants try to come up with
winning strategies.
As noted above, The
World Grand Prix follows a set-play format, making it different from other
darts tournaments that follow the knockout and robin-round formats. Each set in
The World Grand Prix is usually contested by the best of 5 legs in the early
stages and the best of 7 legs in the later stages.
Let's break it down
further.
●
Best of 3 sets in the first round
●
Best of 5 sets in the second round
●
Best of 5 sets in the quarter-finals
●
Best of 7 sets in the semi-finals
●
Best of 9 sets in the finals
You must win the most
sets in a match to emerge the winner in that particular set.
Winners in the Previous 3 Tournaments
Phil Taylor holds the
record for being the most successful player in the history of The World Grand
Prix. He won the first tournament in 1998, which saw him pocket £9,000 from the
then £38,000 prize fund.
Currently, Michael van
Gerwen is the reigning champion and the 2nd most successful World Grand Prix
player. Gerwen beat Nathan Aspinall by 5-1 in his 12th appearance in 2022,
scooping his 6th World Grand Prix title. He took home £120,000 from a £600,000
prize-fund.
The 2021 World Grand
Prix event was won by Jonny Clayton, with Michael van Gerwen emerging as the
runner-up. Gerwen had won the 2020 event after beating Dirk van Duijvenbode by
a 5-1 margin.
Has Anyone Ever Completed a 9-Darter in the
World Grand Prix?
A nine-darter also
refers to a perfect leg. It's the highest achievement one can attain in a
single game.
Players who have
achieved this milestone include
Brendan Dolan in 2011, Robert
Thornton, and James Wade in the 2014 World Grand Prix quarter-finals.
All three
record-holders started with a double 20, then treble 20, and another treble 20
to attain 160 points. After 160 points, they went for 180, followed by 60, then
treble 17, and finally the bullseye.
About The 2023 World Grand Prix Prize Money
In the 2023 World Grand
Prix, players would compete for a £600,000 prize fund, almost 16 times more
than the first prize fund in 1998. Here is the breakdown of the 2023 event's
prize money:
●
Tournament winner: £120,000
●
Runner-up £60,000: £60,000
●
Semi-finalists: £40,000
●
Quarter-finalist: £25,000
●
Second-round losers: £15,000
●
First-round losers: £7,000
Final Thought
The World Grand Prix is
a tournament of its kind. Characterised by its unique double-in, double-out
format, the event adds an extra layer of difficulty to the game of darts. With
this breakdown, you at least have the basic knowledge of how this prestigious
darts event works. You can now confidently immerse yourself into the world of
darts and become a darts enthusiast as well.
Whether
you are a punter at Lottoland looking to understand how the World Grand Prix
works or you want to immerse yourself in the world of darts competitions, our
latest article has dissected the World Grand Prix for you. Check out this post
to enjoy it!