Luke Humphries produced one of the most astonishing comebacks in BoyleSports World Grand Prix history on Monday, kicking off his title defense with a dramatic win, while Rob Cross denied Luke Littler in a thrilling opening night in Leicester.
The action-packed first day of the double-start tournament began at the Mattioli Arena with eight intense first-round matches. Reigning champion Humphries found himself on the brink of defeat against Stephen Bunting but mounted a sensational comeback to secure his place in the next round.
Bunting, a two-time semi-finalist, dominated the early stages, winning the first five legs and leaving Humphries in a precarious position. However, after Bunting missed a dart at double 16 to seal a whitewash victory, Humphries roared back with three consecutive legs to level the contest at one set apiece.
From there, Humphries, the world number one, powered through, winning three of the last four legs to complete the remarkable turnaround.
“These are the games you live for,” said Humphries, who will now face Ricardo Pietreczko in the second round. “Stephen was very unlucky there. He was the better player overall, but I never gave in, and that’s a true champion’s attitude. Once I won that first leg, I knew the opportunity was there.”
Rob Cross Shines, Defeats Luke Littler
While Humphries survived a scare, tournament favorite Luke Littler was unable to continue his winning ways, as Rob Cross eliminated the teenager in his double-start debut. Cross displayed remarkable precision, hitting eight of his ten attempts at a finishing double to come through the high-quality contest.
Despite Littler landing six 180s, Cross showed his class, wrapping up victory with an 88 finish on the bull. Cross, who has never advanced beyond the second round in his previous seven World Grand Prix appearances, will be hoping to continue this form in the coming rounds.
“My record in this tournament isn’t great, so I’m delighted to get over the winning line,” reflected Cross. “I struggled in the first set but found my rhythm and felt solid on my throw, which gives me confidence for the next few days.”
Nathan Aspinall Overcomes Injury, Edges Out Ryan Searle
Elsewhere, 2022 runner-up Nathan Aspinall made a triumphant return to the big stage after a wrist injury, defeating Ryan Searle 2-1 in a thrilling final set. Aspinall, making his first televised appearance since July, secured the victory with a 12-dart break in the decider.
“I’m just so happy to win after everything I’ve been through over the last few months,” said Aspinall. “It was a tough game against Ryan, but I’m thrilled with the way I performed.”
Other Notable Performances
Ross Smith produced a standout display on the opening night, demolishing Gian van Veen in straight sets with an impressive 101.79 average. Despite van Veen landing a 170 checkout, Smith cruised through, setting up a second-round tie with Jonny Clayton, the 2021 champion. Clayton, meanwhile, opened his campaign with a hard-fought victory over Ritchie Edhouse.
Martin Schindler, a quarter-finalist in 2023, continued his solid form by defeating Brendan Dolan 2-0. Schindler was joined in the last 16 by his fellow German, Ricardo Pietreczko, who came through a thrilling three-set encounter against Raymond van Barneveld. Pietreczko dominated the final set to advance.
Ryan Joyce also enjoyed success, winning his first World Grand Prix appearance since 2020 by overcoming Josh Rock in straight sets in the tournament’s opening match.
What’s Next?
The first-round action continues on Tuesday with another eight matches, including six-time champion Michael van Gerwen taking on 2017 winner Daryl Gurney. The blockbuster tie between Michael Smith and Gary Anderson will also headline the night, with former champions James Wade and Gerwyn Price set to face Peter Wright and Danny Noppert, respectively.
Catch all the action live on Sky Sports in the UK, or tune in through the PDC’s global broadcast partners, including DAZN and Viaplay, or on PDCTV (excluding UK, Germany, Austria & Switzerland).
Stay tuned for more updates as the BoyleSports World Grand Prix heats up!
2024 BoyleSports World Grand Prix Results – Monday, October 7
- Ryan Joyce 2-0 Josh Rock (3-2, 3-0)
- Martin Schindler 2-0 Brendan Dolan (3-0, 3-2)
- Jonny Clayton 2-0 Ritchie Edhouse (3-1, 3-2)
- Nathan Aspinall 2-1 Ryan Searle (3-1, 0-3, 3-2)
- Ricardo Pietreczko 2-1 Raymond van Barneveld (3-2, 2-3, 3-0)
- Luke Humphries 2-1 Stephen Bunting (0-3, 3-2, 3-1)
- Rob Cross 2-1 Luke Littler (3-2, 2-3, 3-1)
- Ross Smith 2-0 Gian van Veen (3-0, 3-1)
Next matches World Grand Prix Round 1 Day 2 – Tuesday, October 8
Starting From 18:15 BST
Catch all the action live on Sky Sports, or tune in through the PDC’s global broadcast partners.
- Dave Chisnall vs Cameron Menzies
- Luke Woodhouse vs Dimitri Van den Bergh
- Mike De Decker vs Damon Heta
- Peter Wright vs James Wade
- Gerwyn Price vs Danny Noppert
- Michael Smith vs Gary Anderson
- Michael van Gerwen vs Daryl Gurney
- Chris Dobey vs Joe Cullen
