The World Grand Prix kicked off in Leicester in spectacular fashion with seven high-quality games under the rare double-start format.
The top players in the world descended upon the Mattiol Arena to stake their claim to one of the last remaining majors of 2024 and it didn’t disappoint.
Major names were knocked out at the first hurdle and old and new faces showed impressive title-capturing form.
Here is what we learned from the opening day of the World Grand Prix.
Rob Cross defeats Luke Littler
Luke Littler’s bizarre Sky Sports form – outside of the Premier League – continued as The Nuke fell at the first hurdle against an inspired Rob Cross.
Littler mirrored his World Matchplay opening-round defeat to Michael van Gerwen as he bowed out of the Leicester event with a 2-1 defeat to World No. 4 Cross.
Littler didn’t play badly and averaged higher than Cross at 94.03, but Voltage’s doubling game was double that of The Nuke’s.
The 17-year-old took to X to reveal he was happy with his form and his sights are now turned toward the next Pro Tour events in Wigan.
Results like these will always happen with the World Grand Prix’s format, but another first-round exit for Littler is not ideal for The Nuke.
Cross will play Martin Schindler in the second round after The Wall defeated Brendan Dolan 2-0 in his opening-round match.
Nathan Aspinall edges thriller against Ryan Searle
The best – and most competitive – match of the night came from Ryan Searle and Nathan Aspinall who both took each other to their limits.
Aspinall won the tight affair on a last leg decided with a nerves-of-steel double 3 to secure his place in the next round.
It’s wonderful to have a fit and healthy Aspinall back on the tour and a win in his first televised match since July will do wonders for his confidence.
The Asp will play Ryan Joyce in the second round after Relentless shocked in-form Josh Rock with a straight-sets victory.
Luke Humphries produces extraordinary comeback
Luke Humphries World Grand Prix defence looked all-but-over as Stephen Bunting won the first 5 legs of their encounter to go one leg away from a shock upset.
Bunting had one dart for the match but missed the double 16 to give Cool Hand a small glimmer of hope in the tie.
As champions do, Humphries won the next three legs on the spin to set up a last-set decider. It was a nervy last three legs but the 29-year-old held his nerve as Bunting faded.
Comebacks like this are what make a champion and Humphries is proving he’s ready to fight to defend his title.
Humphries set up a second-round clash with Ricardo Pietreczko who produced a fine display to knockout Raymond van Barneveld.
Ross Smith averages over 100 against Gian van Veen
Ross Smith produced the best individual display of the opening night by dispatching in-form Gian van Veen in the night’s last encounter.
Smith averaged 101.79, the ninth-best average in Grand Prix history, to comfortably defeat van Veen in impressive style.
It was a testament to Smith’s form that van Veen’s solitary leg came from a stunning 170 checkout. The Dutchman surely saw his Grand Prix debut going differently, but no one was beating Smith in that form.
Jonny Clayton impresses against Ritchie Edhouse
Jonny Clayton rolled back the years to 2021 when he won the Grand Prix with his performance against Ritchie Edhouse.
Edhouse came into his debut tournament in fantastic form, having hit an average of 120+ in the European Tour, but he had no answers for The Ferret.
Clayton averaged an impressive 93.74 and peaked with an excellent 130 checkout on the bull. The Ferret will play fellow in-form thrower Smith in the second round.