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!
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