World Grand Prix Darts: Luke Littler, Luke Humphries or Jonny Clayton to win double begin match?

Will the same old suspects Luke Littler, Luke Humphries or Michael van Gerwen elevate the World Grand Prix, or can Jonny Clayton spring a shock on the double begin occasion?

Glen Durrant – the 2019 semi-finalist – casts his eye over the distinctive ‘double in, double out’ format.

Belgian star Mike De Decker was the shock winner in 2024, having beforehand not reached the final 4 or higher at a serious championship so will we get one other huge shock this time round?

The winner is?

You wish to be going into October within the type of your life with all the massive titles to come back and I just like the upward trajectory of Luke Humphries.

He had a monster common on the ProTour this week and he’s my choose to win it. I simply assume he does issues in the correct approach – very diligent, glorious work ethic.

He brazenly admitted he wasn’t placing as a lot time in across the relentless touring and exhibitions so he’s intelligent and cute sufficient to work out what he must do and I absolutely count on him to be again within the winner’s circle this week.

Individuals can say there may be strain because the No 1 seed and he has an extremely troublesome opener in opposition to Nathan Aspinall so he is aware of he needs to be firing on all cylinders. He additionally is aware of the best way to win this occasion – he did it in 2023 and made final 12 months’s remaining.

Who’re the darkish horses?

I’ve a sense Jonny Clayton will do nicely.

I understand how troublesome it’s if you get into your 50s and also you’re on a little bit of decline, how troublesome it’s with all these youthful gamers coming by means of, however Jonny’s type is superb.

I do not know if he has tweaked his darts or carried out one thing together with his set-up however he’s taking part in phenomenally. He’s additionally a confirmed winner.

Within the 12 months of The Ferret, in 2021, his titles included the World Grand Prix.

The underside half appears to be like extremely troublesome however he’s the title I’d search for.

One other over-50 in Gary Anderson has the stamina for this and the motivation remains to be there. He would not journey as a lot as the opposite gamers now so he could are available more energizing.

I additionally do a bit of labor with Ryan Joyce, one of the best D16 hitter on the earth. He isn’t in one of the best of type however he made the semis final 12 months and if he’s ever going to win a serious, it will likely be the World Grand Prix.

He has bought Josh Rock within the first spherical however that can be the primary spherical from final 12 months when Joyce comfortably gained 2-0 and Rock did not benefit from the transition to the double begin, wanting like a fish out of water.

How is Luke Littler wanting?

Gian van Veen has crushed Littler the final two occasions they’ve performed on the European Tour, one with a 110 common, so their opening-round match is a captivating one.

Gian is just not afraid of Luke as they’ve been taking part in one another since their growth days. In regular circumstances, I’d say that is an terrible draw for Luke.

With this being a double begin on the World Grand Prix it does really feel like a unique recreation however it’s actually not the draw Littler would have needed.

Luke is a genius. As a commentator, I discover myself simply saying wow on a regular basis. He’s distinctive and the overall reverse preparation-wise to what I’d do. He throws 9 darts earlier than a recreation, barely practises, however when he desires to win one thing, he wins it.

I’m not certain the motivation is all the time there for him when he goes to a ProTour or a European Tour occasion however he turned up on the Matchplay this 12 months a day earlier than and we had by no means seen something prefer it. He was on the apply board as he needed it and went on to win it.

What about Michael van Gerwen?

Michael ended his title drought with a primary top-level match win in two years on the World Sequence Finals and that will probably be a giant weight off his shoulders.

Van Gerwen supporters ought to be getting excited and he’s a six-time winner of the World Grand Prix.

He can’t look previous his first match in opposition to Dirk van Duijvenbode however I like his manner on the oche and he appears to have the bit between his tooth.

I feel he has knuckled down and he appears glad in his private life proper now. Like he all the time says, when he performs his A-game, he’s nonetheless one of the best on the earth.

How a lot have you ever loved James Wade’s resurgence this 12 months?

It has been nice. I’ve nice admiration for him proper now. Longevity within the PDC is so troublesome and he’s in his third decade and nearly as good as he has ever been. He should be a shoo-in for the Premier League subsequent 12 months after his type this season.

If you start with a double begin as we do on the Grand Prix, he has to come back into the equation. He and Littler are one of the best tops and 10s hitters on the earth.

What first-round match stands out most?

The Gary Anderson-Raymond van Barneveld match whets my urge for food, two guys from my period, however Humphries vs Aspinall, Van Gerwen vs Van Duijvenbode. There are just a few unbelievable video games.

The followers are in for one thing particular in essentially the most distinctive match we’ve.

How will the double begin have an effect on issues?

I feel it favours the gamers who go for double high as a result of you have got that transition from D16 to T20.

In case you hit D16 that’s 32 factors and you’re leaving a 9 on the tip so gamers will go from D16 all the way down to the 19s.

Humphries is a confirmed winner from the D16s however I bear in mind 11-time winner Phil Taylor telling me to be taught beginning on tops.

When is the World Grand Prix on Sky Sports activities?

The 2025 BoyleSports World Grand Prix will happen on the Mattioli Enviornment, Leicester, from October 6-12, as 32 of the world’s high stars compete in one of many sport’s most prestigious tournaments.

Michael van Gerwen and Luke Humphries are set to be joined by world champion Luke Littler in headlining this 12 months’s area.

Mike De Decker sensationally stormed to his first Premier Occasion title finally 12 months’s occasion.

Sky Sports activities will as soon as once more be the house of the World Cup of Darts, World Matchplay, World Grand Prix, Grand Slam of Darts and extra! Stream darts and extra high sport with NOW