World Grand Prix 2026 draw: Reigning champion Luke Littler learns fate in double-in, double-out tournament with Humphries-Chisnall and Anderson-Heta standout ties
PDCMonday, 14 September 2026 at 16:44
The draw for the World Grand Prix 2026 has produced some tantalising clashes with the best players in the world ready to challenge for the honours in the tricky double-in, double out tournament.
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The World Grand Prix will be played from 28.09.2026 to 04.10.2026 at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester. The top 16 in the world rankings are paired in round one with the 16 highest-ranked players on the one-year ProTour Order of Merit who qualified via that route. The winner will receive £150,000 in prize money this year.
Defending champion Luke Littler is paired with Luke Woodhouse in the first round. The world number one won the World Grand Prix for the first time twelve months ago and can join an elite group in Leicester. Only Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen have previously won the unique double-in, double-out event in back-to-back years.
Littler is also chasing a clean sweep of the major TV titles in 2026. With Woodhouse, winner of the Baltic Sea Darts Open, the teenager faces a stern first hurdle right away. Luke Humphries also knows his opening opponent. The 2023 champion meets Dave Chisnall, a two-time World Grand Prix finalist.
Van Gerwen, van Veen and Price learn their opponents
Michael Van Gerwen has won the World Grand Prix six times in his career and meets in Leicester the man who reached the semi-finals in 2024. He will take on Ryan Joyce Van Veen, the reigning European champion, also draws an opponent with strong previous form at the event, Dirk van Duijvenbode. ‘The Aubergenius’ reached the final in 2020.
2020 winner Gerwyn Price has debutant Sebastian Bialecki for his opening test. Another Welsh-Poland clash sees Jonny Clayton take on Krzysztof Ratajski. A tantalising clash between Nathan Aspinall and Kevin Doets could brew a Littler clash in the second round. Former world champion Rob Cross and Wessel Nijman lock horns with Josh Rock in action against Niels Zonneveld.
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Wade and Anderson draw familiar names
James Wade, a two-time World Grand Prix winner, opens against Joe Cullen. The Englishman reached the semi-finals as recently as 2023. Gary Anderson is paired with Australia’s number one, Damon Heta.
Ross Smith and Cameron Menzies face off for a last-16 spot, while Stephen Bunting meets Andrew Gilding. Ryan Searle draws William O’Connor.
World Grand Prix 2026 draw
| (1) Luke Littler | v | Luke Woodhouse |
| (16) Nathan Aspinall | v | Kevin Doets |
| (8) Danny Noppert | v | Niko Springer |
| (9) Michael van Gerwen | v | Ryan Joyce |
| (4) Gerwyn Price | v | Sebastian Bialecki |
| (13) Ross Smith | v | Cameron Menzies |
| (5) Jonny Clayton | v | Krzysztof Ratajski |
| (12) Wessel Nijman | v | Rob Cross |
| (2) Luke Humphries | v | Dave Chisnall |
| (15) Chris Dobey | v | Jermaine Wattimena |
| (7) Josh Rock | v | Niels Zonneveld |
| (10) Gary Anderson | v | Damon Heta |
| (3) Gian van Veen | v | Dirk van Duijvenbode |
| (14) Ryan Searle | v | William O'Connor |
| (6) James Wade | v | Joe Cullen |
| (11) Stephen Bunting | v | Andrew Gilding |
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Lucas MichaelDarts Journalist
Lucas Michael is a darts journalist and reporter based in Cambridge, UK, and has been part of the DartsNews team since 2025. He covers professional darts through reports, analysis, round-ups, and live coverage, with a focus on clear context and accurate reporting across the PDC calendar.
A key part of his work is liveblogging major tournaments throughout the year, providing real-time updates, match coverage, and contextual reporting across the professional circuit. He also reports regularly from events on site and has covered the PDC World Darts Championship from the venue, delivering first-hand insight throughout the tournament.
Within the newsroom, Lucas works closely with the editorial team and supports coverage alongside Chief Content Officer Samuel Gill and reporter Kieran Wood.
Lucas holds a BA (Hons) in Sports Journalism. In his work, he places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating content promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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- He wasn't "offered £501,000 to face Luke Littler". He was allowed to audition for the chance. That's not the same. Literally like saying I was offered a no.1 single, when actually I decided not to attend an open casting for the X factor.BandB13-09-2026
- I loved Jan and loved his walk on music "Explode" by Jordan & Baker. I think if he stuck around the BDO he definitely would have been World Champion, should have won in 2014, he never really showed any of his talent in the PDC. I remembered he worked in a bank or in finance and maybe that was his priority, he was also a fan and interested in magic. Definitely should have achieved much more in darts than he did. Wherever you are nowadays Jan, hope all is well and I was always a fan.richieburnettrocks11-09-2026
- Not much of a tournament really,is it? Now they've all pulled out,it's open for everyone. I'm sure if you bought tickets,you'd be disappointed. Doesn't that seem to bother the withdrawals? Not at all!!rick6710-09-2026
- Need to see her take part in the womens tour. She'll break the inernet.medinabello08-09-2026
- If he can be bothered? He won't play darts in Germany yet he'll go over and get an award!??rick6702-09-2026
- Why is this the main story? He chose not to compete in loads of tournaments,yes he's number 1 in the world,but he does have to turn up at tournaments! Play the next world championship in Dortmund and see if he turns up!!rick6727-08-2026
- This is exactly what I mean,littler survives the 1st round,I think you'll find a lot of other players did. Can you just report on the real sport,and not just 1 person. I like Luke,but this is getting boring now,as Kevin painter once said to Taylor!! The sport is about every player,not 1 who everyone seems to have put the sport on the map.,which he hasn't,he's just got in when the money is massive. Great as he is,it seems like what's the point in anyone trying,he's going to win everything,unless it's in Germany or Australia!!!rick6726-08-2026
- I mean look, Littler's picture is first,wattimena is second and he won! Level it up. I know littler is fantastic,but the sport was here before him,and will be when he's retired. Any player in the top 64/128 can beat each other,it's not big news. Poor Jermaine,wins it,and not even the headline!!rick6726-08-2026
- I appreciate that littler is a fantastic player,but the top 3 articles are about him. Before he'd thrown a dart in the tournament. Level it out a bit, Taylor and van gerwen soon got disliked as the media could only see them,and nobody else seemed to matterrick6725-08-2026
- The two-point Lucky Loser qualifiers are Ross Smith, Robb, Whitlock, Sakai, Ilagan and Toylo. Jermaine is not on the entries list on Dartconnect for the TCH qualifier so the four from the main OoM are probably Searle, Nijman, Dobey, Wattimena.Scoobedybop24-08-2026
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