High-Stakes Clashes Mark Day Two of BoyleSports World Grand Prix

The BoyleSports World Grand Prix continued on Tuesday, marking the conclusion of the first round matches held in Leicester. Day Two of this prestigious double-start event witnessed eight opening round contests at the Mattioli Arena, where prominent figures in darts collided in high-stakes confrontations.

Six-time champion Michael van Gerwen faced a challenging match against the 2017 winner Daryl Gurney. Elsewhere, former champions James Wade and Gerwyn Price were set to play against Peter Wright and Danny Noppert, respectively. A major clash on the agenda was between Michael Smith and Gary Anderson, promising a thrilling spectacle for darts enthusiasts.

Additional matchups included two-time runner-up Dave Chisnall competing against Scottish debutant Cameron Menzies, and UK Open champion Dimitri Van den Bergh facing Luke Woodhouse. Van den Bergh’s compatriot, Mike De Decker, competed against Australian number one Damon Heta, while 2019 semi-finalist Chris Dobey squared off with Joe Cullen, who reached the semi-finals last year.

The event is being broadcast live, with coverage on Sky Sports in the UK, alongside various PDC worldwide broadcast partners such as DAZN and Viaplay, ensuring a global audience for the tournament.

Tuesday’s fixtures resulted in Dave Chisnall defeating Cameron Menzies with a decisive 2-0 (3-0, 3-0). Dimitri Van den Bergh edged out Luke Woodhouse in a tightly contested match, winning 2-1 (1-3, 3-1, 3-1). In another encounter, Mike De Decker successfully overcame Damon Heta 2-1 (3-2, 1-3, 3-1), while James Wade claimed victory over Peter Wright with a final score of 2-1 (2-3, 3-1, 3-0). Remaining matches included players such as Gerwyn Price against Danny Noppert, Michael Smith versus Gary Anderson, and Chris Dobey against Joe Cullen.

Looking forward, Wednesday’s schedule comprises several second-round matches, including Nathan Aspinall against Ryan Joyce, Rob Cross facing Martin Schindler, and Luke Humphries competing against Ricardo Pietreczko. Jonny Clayton will battle Ross Smith in another anticipated match-up.

The tournament has already seen unexpected turns, particularly with pre-tournament favourite Luke Littler succumbing to Rob Cross in a 2-1 defeat on his debut in the Grand Prix. Despite his six maximums, the teenage star struggled with the double-start format, allowing Cross to secure victory with an impressive finish. Cross’s next challenge will be against Germany’s Martin Schindler in the second round.

Among significant developments, reigning champion Luke Humphries staged a remarkable comeback against Masters winner Stephen Bunting. Humphries, described as the world number one, overturned a set and two-leg deficit to secure a 2-1 win. This victory adds to Humphries’s aspirations to match legends Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen by retaining the title.