With the Premier League now taking a back seat for the October international break, darts is ready to be the focus of English sporting eyes.
The World Grand Prix is one of the best tournaments on the calendar and really tests the skills of the finest dartists on the planet with its unique format.
In case you are unaware, the World Grand Prix is a double-start tournament, meaning players cannot begin to chip away at the 501 until they have hit the outer ring – which really adds an extra layer of drama.
Ahead of the first round of matches this evening, NetBet has provided a detailed preview, along with the latest outright darts odds.
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World Grand Prix: Key Information
Dates: October 7-13
Location: Mattioli Arena, Leicester, UK
Number of players: 32
Broadcaster: Sky Sports
World Grand Prix: First Round Draw
Luke Humphries vs Stephen Bunting
Raymond van Barneveld vs Ricardo Pietreczko
Jonny Clayton vs Ritchie Edhouse
Gian van Veen vs Ross Smith
Rob Cross vs Luke Littler
Brendan Dolan vs Martin Schindler
Nathan Aspinall vs Ryan Searle
Josh Rock vs Ryan Joyce
Michael Smith vs Gary Anderson
Mike de Decker vs Damon Heta
Gerwyn Price vs Danny Noppert
Peter Wright vs James Wade
Michael van Gerwen vs Daryl Gurney
Chris Dobey vs Joe Cullen
Dave Chisnall vs Cameron Menzies
Luke Woodhouse vs Dimitri van den Bergh
World Grand Prix Preview
The now serial winner and world No1 Humphries is the reigning champion in this event – which was actually his maiden television ranking title – and it may take something special to stop him from winning again after his triumph at the 2024 World Matchplay.
But teenage sensation Littler could halt ‘Cool Hand’ in his tracks after recently winning the Premier League at the first time of asking. Well, unless Bunting pulls off a first-round upset against Humphries, which cannot be ruled out for a player of his undeniable quality.
Littler is one of the ProTour Order of Merit Qualifiers and will be one of five debutants at this event.
And it will be interesting to see how he copes with the double-start format against a formidable first-round opponent in Cross, although nothing in the professional darts world has fazed him as of yet.
Of course, six-time winner Van Gerwen cannot be ruled out of contention, while Price, Clayton, Gurney and Wade are all previous winners of this tournament too.
Former world champion Smith will be eyeing more silverware as well after a slightly sub-par year by his own lofty standards.
Van den Bergh, Rock, Aspinall, Van Veen, Dobey and Cullen are other names to watch out for in this year’s tournament, with Dobey and Cullen meeting in what could prove to be a spectacular first-round clash.
It promises to be a thrilling week of darting action as the build-up to the PDC World Championship over the festive period really begins.
Oh and do not forget, there has been a slight change made to the format for this year. The semi-finals will be the best of nine sets, while the final has been changed to the best of 11 sets.
All sets are the best of five legs.
World Grand Prix Outright Odds
*Odds are subject to change
Luke Littler – 4.33
Luke Humphries – 5.00
Michael van Gerwen – 6.50
Gary Anderson – 10.00
Gerwyn Price – 12.00
Michael Smith – 17.00
Chris Dobey – 21.00
Rob Cross – 23.00
Dave Chisnall – 23.00
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