Humphries, Wade progress at World Grand Prix as Rock dumped out

Luke Humphries - the new title favourite after Luke Littler's exit - beats below-par Dave Chisnall before appearing to shush member of crowd, will face Jermaine Wattimena next; other winners on Tuesday include Gian van Veen, Gary Anderson, Stephen Bunting and debutant Niels Zonneveld

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Luke Humphries was not punished for a raft of missed finishing doubles as he beat a below-par Dave Chisnall to reach the second round of the World Grand Prix in Leicester.

Humphries - who has made the last three finals in this event, winning in 2023 ahead of two runners-up finishes since - is the new favourite to triumph this year following defending champion Luke Littler's shock defeat to Luke Woodhouse on the opening night.

Cool Hand, sporting a scab on his forehead he put down to an allergic reaction, defeated Chisnall 2-0 while averaging only 80.41 and going at 26 per cent on his doubles as he secured a second-round meeting with Chris Dobey's conqueror Jermaine Wattimena.

Chisnall had a chance to break Humphries and force a deciding set only to bust his score, before the world No 2 wrapped up victory on double four and then appeared to shush someone in the crowd.

Dobey was one of two seeds to tumble on Tuesday evening, alongside Josh Rock, who fell to Niels Zonneveld as the Dutch debutant peeled off three ton-plus finishes in the third set to book a last-16 date with Gary Anderson.

Rock - who at one point attempted an audacious 101 finish with bullseye, one, bullseye - had lit up proceedings by following a 180 with a roof-raising 151 to break Zonneveld and ensure a deciding set.

Dobey, meanwhile, suffered a first-round exit for the third year running.

'Hollywood' - who burned four darts to break Wattimena in the opening leg - averaged below 80 and really struggled to hit the mandatory starting double in legs, with a sizzling 128 finish at the start of the second set his only moment of magic.

James Wade fought back from a set down and shrugged off six missed match darts in the space of two visits to beat Joe Cullen 2-1 as he resumed his bid for a third Grand Prix title and first in 16 years.

A key moment came in the fourth leg of the second set when Wade hit the bull for a finish of 81, just as Cullen was eyeing a break that would have left him throwing for victory.

Wade faffed about before getting over the line, squandering arrows at double top and double 10 in the third leg of the deciding set before pinning double 10 in the next to advance.

Wade's reward is a clash with Stephen Bunting, who defeated Andrew Gilding 2-1 in the final match of the round.

There was further Grand Prix despair for Damon Heta as he suffered a sixth-straight first-round loss - the Australian has never won a match here - after surrendering a one-set lead and wasting a match dart at double five in the second set against Anderson.

Anderson, runner-up in 2016 to Michael van Gerwen, swept the third set 3-0 while averaging 110.

Gian van Veen saw off fellow Dutchman Dirk van Duijvenbode in straight sets for his first victory on this stage after round-one exits in 2024 and 2025, to Ross Smith and Littler respectively.

However, Van Duijvenbode missed two tries at double 16 to set up a decider having belatedly found his scoring form after an abject display while losing the first five legs.

Van Veen will play Ryan Searle next after 'Heavy Metal' punished four missed match darts from William O'Connor to progress as he won the final three legs of their encounter having lost the previous five.

O'Connor's electric run after losing the first set included taking out 95 with back-to-back double 19s but the Irishman - appearing at this event for the first time in over a decade - then lost his way.

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