World Grand Prix: Luke Littler loses to Rob Cross on tournament debut as Luke Humphries rallies past Stephen Bunting | Darts News
Luke Littler suffered a first-round exit to Rob Cross on his World Grand Prix debut on a dramatic opening night in Leicester that saw defending champion Luke Humphries almost experience the same fate.
Littler, the 17-year-old who has won nine titles in as many months in 2024 amid a stunning start to his professional darts career, was appearing for the first time in the double-start event but lost 2-1 to Cross, the 2018 world champion and No 4 seed.
Littler levelled the match at 1-1 after losing the first set but a battling Cross impressively held his nerve and won the next set, finishing on the bullseye in his triumphant fourth leg to progress to round two and knock the pre-tournament favourite out.
Earlier Humphries, the defending champion, had been on the verge of an early exit himself against an in-form Stephen Bunting, who won the first five legs against the world No 1 and then had a shot at a double to win the match.
But after ‘The Bullet’ missed the match-winning double 16, Humphries spectacularly turned the match around.
Bunting stunned Humphries with a 115 checkout to take control of the opening set
The world champion won the next three legs to suddenly level the match at one set apiece and then eased away in the deciding third as Bunting’s challenge slowly faded.
Raymond van Barneveld, the 2008-2009 runner-up, meanwhile lost in the first round for the second successive year in a 2-1 defeat to Ricardo Pietreczko.
Ricardo Pietreczko forgot to start with a double at the World Grand Prix
‘Pikachu’ will now play Humphries in round two.
In the night’s other epic encounter, Nathan Aspinall progressed to round two after a last-leg shootout against Ryan Searle.
This is a breaking news story that is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh this page for the latest updates.
Sky Sports brings you live updates as they happen. Get breaking sports news, analysis, exclusive interviews, replays and highlights.
Sky Sports is your trusted source for breaking sports news headlines and live updates. Watch live coverage of your favourite sports: Football, F1, Boxing, Cricket, Golf, Tennis, Rugby League, Rugby Union, NFL, NBA, Darts, Netball and get the latest transfers news, results, scores and more.
Visit skysports.com or the Sky Sports App for all the breaking sports news headlines. You can receive push notifications from the Sky Sports app for the latest news from your favourite sports and you can also follow @SkySportsNews on Twitter to get the latest updates.
What’s happening Tuesday at the World Grand Prix?
Michael van Gerwen opens his bid to claim a seventh World Grand Prix title
The first round will draw to a close, as six-time champion Michael van Gerwen continues his bid for a seventh double-start success against 2017 winner Daryl Gurney.
Michael Smith and Gary Anderson renew their rivalry in a repeat of their first-round showdown at the World Matchplay, while 2020 champion Gerwyn Price enters the fray against Danny Noppert.
Two-time World Grand Prix winner James Wade plays 2018 runner-up Peter Wright in another blockbuster battle, as Chris Dobey and Joe Cullen collide on the World Grand Prix stage for a second straight year.
UK Open champion Dimitri Van den Bergh kicks off his campaign against Luke Woodhouse, with Van den Bergh’s fellow Belgian Mike De Decker pitted against Australian No 1 Damon Heta.
Two-time runner-up Dave Chisnall will open the show in Leicester, and the sixth seed faces a tough test against an in-form Cameron Menzies – one of five debutants in the 32-player field.
Sky Sports+ has officially launched and will be integrated into Sky TV, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports app, giving Sky Sports customers access to over 50 per cent more live sport this year at no extra cost. Find out more here.
