100/1 sensation and Taylor shocks: The 5 biggest surprises at the World Grand Prix
PDCSaturday, 26 September 2026 at 16:00
At the World Grand Prix a match can swing faster than at any other major. Even after a big high finish, a player must hit a double to start the next leg before any scoring begins. Then there’s the set format: A slow start or a handful of missed doubles can already spell exit.
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Across the tournament’s history, that blend has repeatedly produced results few saw coming. Phil Taylor fell at the first hurdle twice. An outsider reached the final, a six-time champion failed to win a leg – and in 2024 a Belgian landed the title at 100:1.
2004: Andy Callaby knocks out Phil Taylor with a 145 finish
In the early years Phil “The Power” Taylor ruled the World Grand Prix. He won the events from 1998 to 2000 as well as 2002 and 2003. Only in 2001 did he lose in round one to Kevin Painter. At the seventh staging in 2004 Taylor was aiming for title number six.
His opening opponent was Andy Callaby. The Englishman had earned his spot via the PDPA qualifier and was making his PDC big-stage debut. For the 10-time world champion Taylor, the clash with the largely unknown countryman looked a formality.
But Callaby took the first set and raced 2–0 ahead in the second. He was one leg from a shock. A 140 left him 145, while Taylor, after 81, sat on 120. Then Callaby hit treble 20, treble 19 and double 14.
The Citywest Hotel in Dublin erupted. “Taylor is gone, Taylor is out,” cried the commentators as Callaby buried double 14. They called it “the biggest shock in the history of darts.” Taylor was out before his title defence had really begun.
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For Callaby, the run remains the peak of his career. He never qualified for a World Championship. He did reach another quarter-final at the 2006 UK Open.
2007: Adrian Gray hands Taylor another opening shock
After his early exit in 2004, Taylor reclaimed the titles in 2005 and 2006. At the 2007 World Grand Prix, Adrian Gray awaited in round one. The debutant was ranked 44th, Taylor the undisputed world number one. Again, almost everything pointed to “The Power.”
At first, it went to script. Taylor led 2–0 in legs in set one and was on the brink of the set. But Gray levelled. In the decider, Taylor, on 126, missed bull for the set. Gray seized his chance on double 12 and stole it.
In set two, Gray opened with a 107 finish on double 16. Moments later the same double made it 2–0 in legs. Taylor pulled one back, but Gray kicked off his next leg on double 16 and then fired back-to-back 180s. Double 7 sealed the 2–0 sets win.
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For Taylor it was a third first-round exit at the Grand Prix – and a second shocker against a debutant. Gray later lost in the quarter-finals to John Part. Reaching the last eight remained the high point of his darts career.
2020: Dirk van Duijvenbode charges to the final ranked 72 in the world
Dirk van Duijvenbode had regained his Tour Card for 2020 and impressed early. He made a European Tour semi-final and another at a Players Championship. Ranked 72, the Dutchman qualified for his first World Grand Prix. Few foresaw a run to the final.
His opener against Mensur Suljović turned into a test of patience. Van Duijvenbode won 2–1 in sets, though both men averaged only just over 70. In round two, newly crowned World Matchplay champion Dimitri Van den Bergh awaited.
Van Duijvenbode raised his level against the Belgian. He took the first two sets in last-leg deciders, surviving set darts. Van den Bergh hit back, but the Dutchman closed it out 3–1. His 55% on doubles was pivotal in reaching his first major quarter-final.
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There, van Duijvenbode beat Gary Anderson 3–1. In the semi-finals he faced Simon Whitlock, who had dumped out Michael van Gerwen with a 100 average. Van Duijvenbode imposed himself with heavy scoring and a stack of 180s. A 4–1 sent him into the final.
Gerwyn Price finally halted the charge. The Welshman led 4–1 in sets before van Duijvenbode cut it to 2–4. In set seven the Dutchman went 2–0 up in legs. Price, however, reeled off three on the spin and sealed a 5–2 win with a 102 checkout. For van Duijvenbode, the final marked his breakthrough on the big stage.
Dirk van Duijvenbode sensationally finished runner-up at the 2020 World Grand Prix
2024: Michael van Gerwen loses every leg to Daryl Gurney
Daryl Gurney drew a brutal opener at the 2024 World Grand Prix. He faced Michael van Gerwen, the tournament’s most successful player after Phil Taylor. The Dutchman had already lifted the World Grand Prix title six times. Gurney, the 2017 champion, had meanwhile slipped to 25th in the world rankings.
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Van Gerwen’s recent form also pointed his way. He had reached the World Matchplay final and the World Series of Darts Finals semi-finals. Against Gurney, he aimed to mount another title charge. Instead, his start turned into one of his bitterest defeats at a major.
The first set went entirely against van Gerwen. Gurney twice broke throw and sealed the 1-0 with a dart at double 8. While the Northern Irishman was ruthless on his chances, van Gerwen could not land his doubles.
Anyone expecting a response from the six-time champion was left disappointed. Gurney swept all three legs in the second set as well. After only six legs the match was over: 2-0 in sets, 6-0 in legs to the Northern Irishman. Van Gerwen exited without winning a single leg and finished 0/8 on doubles.
The manner of defeat made the result so striking. Van Gerwen had defined this event for years and routinely forced opponents to master its demanding double-in format. This time, he never found a foothold. Gurney produced one of the tournament’s starkest shocks, but could not build on it: he lost to Joe Cullen in the last 16.
2024: Mike De Decker wins the title at 100/1
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In the same year, Mike De Decker authored the tournament’s biggest underdog story. The Belgian arrived in Leicester ranked 36th in the world. Before the start, the bookmakers had him at 100:1 to win the title.
De Decker opened with a tight tussle against Damon Heta. In the first set he checked 116 in the decider while the Australian was waiting on 56. Heta levelled the sets, but De Decker took the third and advanced 2-1.
| Round | Opponent | Result (sets) | Average by De Decker |
| Round 1 | Damon Heta | 2-1 | 92.01 |
| Last 16 | Gary Anderson | 3-0 | 95.74 |
| Quarter-finals | James Wade | 3-0 | 91.64 |
| Semi-finals | Dimitri van den Bergh | 5-2 | 86.32 |
| Final | Luke Humphries | 6-4 | 92.06 |
Against Gary Anderson, the Belgian again delivered in the key moments. A 120 checkout gave him the second set, and a 74 finish sealed the 3-0 win. The quarter-finals brought James Wade, renowned for timing. This time the deciding legs belonged to De Decker: he won all three sets in last-leg deciders and reached his first major semi-final.
There he met compatriot and friend Dimitri Van den Bergh. After a slow start, De Decker levelled at 1-1 and then raced 3-1 clear. Van den Bergh clawed one back, but De Decker won 5-2. The final set up Luke Humphries – world number one, reigning world champion and defending World Grand Prix winner.
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The greatest success of Mike De Decker’s career: the 2024 World Grand Prix title
Humphries took the first set. De Decker hit back and surged into a 4-1 lead. Then the favourite responded: checkouts of 149 and 152 sparked Humphries’ comeback. A 67 finish eventually made it 4-4.
De Decker did not flinch. He claimed the ninth set and, in the deciding leg of the tenth, left 55. Humphries piled on the pressure with a 180. But the Belgian coolly checked 55 in two darts to win the final 6-4.
Read also
With his first major title, De Decker climbed from 36th to 25th in the world rankings. Above all, his timing on the doubles turned a 100:1 shot into one of the most surprising title runs in World Grand Prix history. What upset will the next edition bring?
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Samuel GillChief Content Officer
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
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- I guess this will mean the top players will turn up even less? Taken all the excitement of qualifying away I think. Wish they made it top 32 to qualify and the finals to last all week.Baphomet26-09-2026
- Great article - but not written by this site. It's taken wholesale from last Sunday's Observer with this interview published online on Saturday.Scoobedybop22-09-2026
- Such sad and pathetic little losers giving abuse to young woman for any reason, let alone who she is in a relationship with. Go Beau! An absolute star and comes across as a genuinely nice and kind person. Wish her nothing but the best.BandB22-09-2026
- I wouldn't mind if he quit now to be honest. He's not bigger than darts. Let's face it without darts he'd just be a normal fat gamer kid.medinabello22-09-2026
- You know,I said this,in a sentence,not 5 paragraphs!!rick6721-09-2026
- Oh dear,he lost. Well any competitive sport runs the risk of defeat. He is, currently,his own worst enemy. Wind the crowd up,and you get it back bigger. Put your dummy in kidrick6721-09-2026
- Does an exhibition count in the clean sweep though?BandB21-09-2026
- Played great in the final. Makes a mockery of the event when he qualified by losing all of his tour matchesBandB21-09-2026
- He isn't,and won't be the last player to get whistled or booed at. The problem I noticed,is that he winds them up,and give him back,and he doesn't like it. If you can't take it,don't give itrick6720-09-2026
- I hope Phil doesn't return. Watching him the seniors was embarrassing,and he should bow out,and let everyone remember what a legend he is.rick6716-09-2026
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