Debutant Luke Littler and Luke Humphries headline the opening night of the World Grand Prix Darts in Leicester 🎯 Watch all the action of the World Grand Prix Darts from Monday live on Sky Sports 📺
Preview 2024 World Grand Prix: Can Luke Humphries defend his World Grand Prix title?
PDCThursday, 03 October 2024 at 06:30
The 2024 World Grand Prix is
set to kick off from October 7th to 13th at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester,
and all eyes are on world number 1, Luke Humphries, as he begins his title
defence. Following a stellar year that saw him cement his place among darts'
elite, Humphries will be looking to go back-to-back in this unique double-start
tournament and further assert his dominance in the sport.
For Humphries, last year’s victory was
monumental. Securing his first major darts title in 2023 catapulted him to
global recognition and set him on a path to what has been a phenomenal 12
months. But with stiff competition from both seasoned veterans and rising
stars, defending the World Grand Prix title will be no easy feat.
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The Unique Format of the World Grand Prix
The World Grand Prix stands apart from
other darts events due to its distinctive "double-start" format,
where players must begin each leg by hitting a double. This adds an extra layer
of pressure and strategy to the game, with even the most experienced players
finding themselves struggling to get off the mark at times. Since its inception
in 1998, the World Grand Prix has been one of the most prestigious tournaments
on the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) calendar.
Past champions include some of the sport’s
greatest names, including Phil Taylor, who holds the record with 11 World Grand
Prix titles, and Michael van Gerwen, who has won six. The double-start format,
however, makes it a notoriously difficult tournament to dominate, with several
shock results over the years adding to its allure. Should Humphries
successfully defend his title, he would join the exclusive club of players who
have retained the World Grand Prix crown, alongside Taylor and van Gerwen.
What Happened in 2023?
Humphries made headlines at the 2023 World
Grand Prix with a stunning performance, staging a remarkable comeback in the
final against Gerwyn Price. After losing the first set 3-0, Humphries, once the
World Youth Champion, turned the match on its head by winning nine of the next
11 legs, sealing a 5-2 victory and marking his first major TV title.
The journey to his victory was far from
smooth. Defending champion Michael van Gerwen was eliminated early in the
second round by Chris "Hollywood" Dobey, leaving the tournament wide
open. Humphries, too, had to fight hard in the quarter-finals against Peter
Wright. Trailing 2-1, he mounted a comeback to win 3-2 and progress. In the
semi-finals, Humphries outclassed Joe Cullen, while Price dismantled Michael
Smith, setting up a thrilling final.
That 2023 triumph was the launchpad for
Humphries' meteoric rise. He’s since added the World Championship and World
Matchplay titles to his growing list of accolades and enters the 2024 World
Grand Prix as the man to beat.
Standout first round ties
Humphries vs. Bunting
In this year’s tournament, Humphries will
begin his title defence against Stephen Bunting, the reigning Masters champion.
At 39, Bunting is a seasoned player, and despite Humphries’ impressive form in
2024, Bunting will provide a stern test in the opening round.
The two last faced off in July during the
World Matchplay second round, where Humphries emerged victorious 11-7, although
it wasn’t an easy ride. Twice, Bunting went a break of throw up, forcing
Humphries to battle back each time. The reigning World Champion eventually
turned the game around, but the contest demonstrated Bunting's ability to
challenge the best.
Bunting has had a stellar 2024 himself,
with his most notable victory coming in February when he won his first
televised PDC title at the Masters, defeating none other than Michael van
Gerwen. The transition to using heavier 18-gram darts, as opposed to his former
12g barrel darts, has revitalised his game. With confidence high and a hunger
to build on his success, Bunting will be looking to knock out Humphries and
make a deep run in this year’s World Grand Prix.
Michael Smith vs. Gary Anderson
One of the most highly anticipated
first-round matches is the clash between world number 2, Michael Smith, and
two-time World Champion Gary Anderson. Smith, who has established himself as
one of the top players in the world, is seeking his first World Grand Prix
title, but standing in his way is Anderson, who was runner-up in this
tournament back in 2016.
Smith and Anderson last met during the
World Matchplay in July. In that encounter, Smith came from 3-0 down to win
10-5 in a tense and, at times, fiery contest. Anderson, never one to shy away
from the crowd, responded to jeers by gesturing “2-1” to remind fans of
Scotland’s win over England in the Euro 2024 final. The dynamic between the two
players makes this a must-watch match, with both men capable of going all the
way.
Luke Littler vs. Rob Cross
At just 17 years old, Luke Littler is
making waves in the darts world, and he’s set to make his World Grand Prix
debut against Rob Cross in the first round. Littler, one of five players making
their tournament debut, has enjoyed a remarkable rise in 2024, capturing five
ranking titles and firmly establishing himself as a future star of the sport.
Littler and Cross last squared off at the
Poland Darts Masters in June, with Littler coming out on top. The youngster has
beaten Cross multiple times, with Cross’ only victory over Littler coming in
February during the Premier League Darts in Exeter.
Littler holds the record for being the
youngest player to hit a televised nine-darter, achieving the feat at just 16
years and 363 days at the Bahrain Darts Masters. Earlier this year, he also
became the youngest-ever PDC Major title winner when he triumphed at the
Premier League Darts at 17 years and 123 days. If he can navigate the tricky
opening round, Littler could continue his incredible year with a strong World
Grand Prix showing.
Michael van Gerwen vs. Daryl Gurney
Six-time World Grand Prix champion Michael
van Gerwen is back after missing several tournaments recently due to illness.
Fresh off winning the Hungarian Darts Trophy in September, his first European
Tour title in nearly 18 months, MVG will be eager to regain his World Grand
Prix crown. His first-round opponent, Daryl Gurney, knows what it takes to win
this tournament, having claimed the title in 2017.
Gurney, who defeated Simon Whitlock to win
his Grand Prix title in Dublin, will provide stiff competition. However, van
Gerwen’s pedigree at this event, where he is second only to Phil Taylor in
terms of titles, makes him the favourite heading into their clash.
Raymond van Barneveld vs. Ricardo
Pietreczko
Another intriguing first-round matchup is
the rematch between Raymond van Barneveld and Ricardo Pietreczko. The two faced
off just last weekend in an epic encounter at the Swiss Darts Trophy second
round, where van Barneveld narrowly came out on top with a 6-5 victory.
The 57-year-old Dutchman, twice a World
Grand Prix runner-up, will be looking to roll back the years and make a deep
run in this year’s tournament. Pietreczko, 29, was knocked during the early
rounds last year’s Grand Prix and will be eager to make amends in Leicester.
Price vs. Noppert – A High-Stakes
Encounter
Gerwyn Price, last year’s runner-up and the
2020 World Grand Prix champion, faces a tough opening-round test against Danny
Noppert. Price, fresh from a dominant victory over Luke Littler at the
Australian Darts Masters in August, will be looking to go one step further this
year and reclaim the title.
Noppert, the Dutch number two, has had
success against Price in the past, notably defeating him 6-3 in the last 16 of
the 2024 PDC Players Championship 8. Noppert went on to win that tournament,
and a similar result here would be a significant statement of intent.
There’s an added touch of class to this
year’s tournament, as Boylesports has pledged to donate £20 to charity for
every double 20 hit throughout the World Grand Prix. The player who hits the
most double 20s will have the honour of choosing which charity the money goes
to, adding a meaningful incentive to the tournament’s unique format.
Can Luke Humphries Defend His Title?
As the 2024 World Grand Prix
approaches, all eyes will be on Luke Humphries as he embarks on his title
defence. With fierce competition from the likes of Luke Little, Michael Smith,
and Michael van Gerwen, it won’t be an easy path. However, if Humphries can
replicate his form from 2023 and rise to the occasion once again, he could very
well join the select few who have been successful in retaining their World
Grand Prix crown.
How can I watch the World Grand Prix on TV?
UK viewers can catch all the action on Sky Sports, while international viewers can tune in via the PDC’s broadcast partners, including DAZN and Viaplay.
How much prize money is there to earn?
The prize pool includes £600,000 in prize money. This makes the prize pool now almost sixteen times larger than when the tournament started in 1998. Back then, "only" £38,000 was made available by the PDC.
All participants will receive 7,500 pounds of prize money credited to their ranking anyway. This amount can eventually add up to a grand prize of £120,000 for the winner of the tournament.
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Latest comments
- Agreed! A good move, at last.MrYnyslas197101-10-2024
- Good riddance.thebogeyman01-10-2024
- A very helpful summary for new fans. Many thanks!
UndartedWaters01-10-2024 - He'll be changing his walk on music to "Something In The Air" by Thunderclap Newman...Thomas Moffatt26-09-2024
- Excellent news, common sense, at last.MrYnyslas197125-09-2024