The World Grand Prix 2024 kicked off with surprises on the opening day, as the unique double-start rule led to several upsets. Many pre-tournament favorites were eliminated early, reigning champion Luke Humphries who was in big trouble but made a dramatic comeback against Stephen Bunting, keeping his title defense alive.
The tournament started with Josh Rock facing Ryan Joyce. The match was tight, with both players holding serve until the decisive fifth leg, where Joyce broke Rock’s throw after Rock missed three darts at double. Joyce took the first set and continued his strong performance, winning the match 2-0 in sets.
Next, Martin Schindler took on Brendan Dolan. Schindler dominated early, winning the first set 3-0. Dolan fought back in the second set but couldn’t maintain his level, and Schindler sealed the win with a 2-0 set victory.
Jonny Clayton, former World Grand Prix champion, showed good form, defeating Richie Edhouse 2-0, making it three straight 2-0 set wins on the day.
The fourth match of the evening was a close contest between Nathan Aspinall and Ryan Searle. Aspinall initially led 1-0 and 2-0 but Searle made a strong comeback, forcing a deciding set. Aspinall ultimately prevailed with a 2-1 win after a thrilling final set.
In the fifth match, Raymond van Barneveld faced Ricardo Pietreczko. The match was messy, with both players struggling. Pietreczko took advantage in the final set, winning 3-0 to secure a 2-1 victory.
The most entertaining match of the night came between Luke Humphries and Stephen Bunting. Bunting raced to a 1-0 set lead with impressive darts, but Humphries turned the match around, eventually winning 2-1 after a fantastic comeback, including crucial 180s at key moments.
Luke Littler, a pre-tournament favorite, faced Rob Cross but lost 2-1. Despite a strong start, Littler missed crucial darts in the final set, allowing Cross to secure the win with a finishing 88.
The final match saw Ross Smith defeat Gian van Veen 2-0, with Smith maintaining control throughout the match and averaging an impressive 101.79.
Day 1 Results:
- Josh Rock vs Ryan Joyce: 0-2
- Brendan Dolan vs Martin Schindler: 0-2
- Jonny Clayton vs Richie Edhouse: 2-0
- Nathan Aspinall vs Ryan Searle: 2-1
- Raymond van Barneveld vs Ricardo Pietreczko: 1-2
- Luke Humphries vs Stephen Bunting: 2-1
- Rob Cross vs Luke Littler: 2-1
- Ross Smith vs Gian van Veen: 0-2
Matches for Day 2:
- 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
