Schedule World Grand Prix 2024: Wednesday night Luke Humphries, Nathan Aspinall and Rob Cross in action

The headlines are already being written at the 2024 World Grand Prix. On Wednesday night, we go again with the start of the second round of the double-in double-out tournament in Leicester. In the last sixteen, the format goes up slightly. Three sets will have to be won to reach the next round. Read our preview here.

This tournament is a unique event on the PDC calendar. The World Grand Prix is the only tournament where the legs are started and ended with a double. Because of this format, the World Grand Prix is known for its surprises, with often early eliminations of big names.

How was Nathan Aspinall's form, that was the big question heading into this tournament. The Asp passed his first test with flying colours. In a high-class match he defeated Ryan Searle in a deciding leg. The Englishman can use a good run at this World Grand Prix, as he has to defend a final spot from two years ago. But with Ryan Joyce, he meets an extremely dangerous opponent.

For Joyce, the format of the World Grand Prix is ideal. 'Relentless' is, as his nickname might expect, often ruthless on the doubles. Joyce was too strong for Josh Rock in the first round in two sets.

In the head-to-head, Joyce has a surprising 5-2 lead over Aspinall. It should be noted, however, that the last encounter was in April 2022. Somewhat strangely, Aspinall's last win over Joyce dates back to 2019.

Where many had expected Luke Littler in the second round, it was former world champion Rob Cross who managed to qualify for the second round at the expense of the teenage sensation. Moreover, it was also a very solid performance by 'Voltage', who managed to get underway with his first dart on 57% of the legs, tying that with a finishing percentage of 80 percent. 

Martin Schindler struggled one set in the first round with Brendan Dolan, but nevertheless won convincingly 2-0 in sets to reach the last sixteen for the second year in a row.

Cross and Schindler have met eleven times over the years. Eight times Cross prevailed, including the last three confrontations between them. Schindler won three times from the Englishman, but never at a major.

The defending champion is still in the tournament, although it was touch and go for Luke Humphries in the first round of this tournament. Humphries was a set and 0-2 behind against Stephen Bunting, survived a matchdart, and still managed to turn things around.

The world number one saw that the numbers two (Michael Smith) and three (Michael van Gerwen) were already eliminated at the World Grand Prix, and thus can advance even further up the world rankings this week. Humphries can also become the third player after Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen to defend his title at the World Grand Prix.

Ricardo Pietreczko was responsible for the elimination of Raymond van Barneveld in the first round. 'Pikachu' took excellent advantage of the chances offered to him by the five-time world champion and won 2-1 in sets from the Dutch darts legend. The last set ended in a convincing 3-0 for the German.

Last month these two players met on the Euro Tour and then it was Pietreczko who prevailed 7-4 against Humphries. However, 'Cool Hand Luke' managed to win the other five duels between them. The most notable showdown was at the World Darts Championship, where Pietreczko squandered a 3-1 lead in sets. Humphries came back and eventually became world champion in Ally Pally.

We close this evening with an interesting duel between Jonny Clayton and Ross Smith. Just last year these men faced each other in the first round and then it was Smith who won in two sets.

In the overall head-to-head, however, it is Clayton who leads 6-4. 'The Ferret' won over Smith at the UK Open earlier this season, although the last meeting between them at a Players Championship tournament was won by Smith.

Smith was by far the best player of the first round. The former European Championship winner recorded an average of 101.79 in his match against Gian van Veen (2-0). It was the ninth highest average ever at the World Grand Prix. As we might expect from Smith by now, his scoring darts were especially effective again. With his first nine scoring darts, Smith had an average of over 117.

However, Clayton also came out well in his opening round match against Ritchie Edhouse. The Welshman won 2-0 in sets against Ritchie Edhouse and averaged 93.71. Especially the doubles went well for 'The Ferret'. He was always open in his first turn and had a finishing percentage of 60 percent.

In the U.K, the tournament is broadcast on Sky Sports. On Oct. 7 and 8, broadcasts begin at 6 p.m.. The start times advance to 7 p.m. on Oct. 9, 10 and 11. On Saturday, Oct. 12, the semi-finals begin at 7:30 p.m. and the finals on Sunday, Oct. 13, start from 8:00 p.m.

All participating players are guaranteed £7500 in starting money. Second-round losers receive £15,000. The quarter-finalists go home with at least £25,000, the semi-finalists almost one and a half times as much (£40,000). The losing finalist receives a check for £60,000 and the winner receives the grand prize of £120,000.

First round: Best of 3 sets

Second round: Best of 5 sets

Quarterfinals: Best of 5 sets

Semifinals: Best of 9 sets

Final: Best of 11 sets

Nathan Aspinall v Ryan Joyce

Rob Cross v Martin Schindler

Luke Humphries v Ricardo Pietreczko

Jonny Clayton v Ross Smith