World Grand Prix Kicks Off with Major Upsets

World Grand Prix in Leicester witnessed a surprising turn of events as six-time champion Michael van Gerwen and world number two Michael Smith were both eliminated in the first round. Van Gerwen, hailing from the Netherlands faced off against Northern Ireland’s Daryl Gurney, the 2017 champion, who delivered a commanding performance, winning 2-0.

This match marked a historic low for Van Gerwen as he failed to win a single leg—a first for him in a televised ranking match in 13 years. Meanwhile, Michael Smith encountered a fierce challenge from Scotland’s Gary Anderson, losing 2-1 in a highly anticipated rematch. The two players had previously met in the first round of the World Matchplay in July where Smith emerged victorious.

However, Anderson turned the tables this time, recovering from a set down to claim victory and avenge his earlier defeat. In other notable matches, Wales’ 2020 champion Gerwyn Price triumphed over Dutch number two Danny Noppert with a 2-1 victory. Two-time World Grand Prix winner James Wade advanced by defeating Peter Wright 2-1.

Meanwhile, Joe Cullen demonstrated resilience by coming back from a first-set loss to secure a 2-1 victory over fellow Englishman Chris Dobey. In additional results, Dave Chisnall secured a straightforward 2-0 victory against Cameron Menzies, while Luke Woodhouse lost 2-1 to Dimitri van den Bergh.

Mike de Decker also progressed, defeating Damon Heta 2-1. The first round of the tournament proved to be full of surprises, setting the stage for an exciting competition ahead.