The short double in, double out format of the World Grand Prix has made the event notorious for early upsets in the past. As we approach the halfway stage in Leicester, it appears this year's competition is no different.
Where else to start than the performance of the first round. After a superb display in Hungary last week, Luke Woodhouse pipped Ricardo Pietreczko to the last qualification spot for the Grand Prix. However, the 34 year old showed in round one he is fully deserving of his place, dispatching Dave Chisnall in straight sets. 'Chizzy' came in to the tournament as one of the favourites due to his form on the European Tour but was no match for a relentless 'Woody' on the day.
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Stephen Bunting went into this year's Grand Prix brimming with confidence and even said it's the best he's ever felt on stage, as he sent Nathan Aspinall packing in a last leg decider. Despite this, 'The Bullet' wasn't able to emulate this form in the second round, losing a scrappy affair to Germany's Martin Schindler.
Proving that no one is safe in the first round of the Grand Prix, Andrew Gilding came back from a set down to defeat world number eight, Rob Cross. Fan favourite, Gilding followed this up with a 3-2 second round victory over Gary Anderson. The double in, double out format seems to favour the pinpoint accuracy of 'Goldfinger'.
While there have been some inevitable upsets in the first round of a Grand Prix, many of the big guns still remain in the tournament. Michael Smith and Gerwyn Price have both booked their places in the third round without dropping a set, while Michael Van Gerwen demolished Josh Rock, in what was a disappointing Grand Prix debut for the Ulsterman. World number six Luke Humphries is still somehow yet to win a major but will be confident this is his time as he trounced Daryl Gurney.
Round 1:
Dirk van Duijvenbode 1 - 2 Brendan Dolan
Jose de Sousa 1 - 2 Gary Anderson
Krzysztof Ratajski 2 - 1 James Wade
Martin Schindler 2 - 1 Raymond van Barneveld
Nathan Aspinall 1 - 2 Stephen Bunting
Gerwyn Price 2 - 0 Danny Noppert
Michael Smith 2 - 0 Callan Rydz
Rob Cross 1 - 2 Andrew Gilding
Joe Cullen 2 - 0 Mike De Decker
Dave Chisnall 0 - 2 Luke Woodhouse
Damon Heta 1 - 2 Ryan Searle
Dimitri van den Bergh 0 - 2 Chris Dobey
Peter Wright 2 - 0 Gabriel Clemens
Michael van Gerwen 2 - 0 Josh Rock
Jonny Clayton 0 - 2 Ross Smith
Luke Humphries 2 - 0 Daryl Gurney
Round 2:
Andrew Gilding 3 - 2 Gary Anderson
Stephen Bunting 2 - 3 Martin Schindler
Gerwyn Price 3 - 0 Krzysztof Ratajski
Michael Smith 3 - 0 Brendan Dolan
Tonight, four more players will try to book their place in the third round. It's Luke v Luke in the opening match as Humphries faces Woodhouse in what promises to be a cracker. Peter Wright is up against Ryan Searle and defending champion, Michael van Gerwen faces an in-form Chris Dobey. Joe Cullen and Ross Smith will conclude the second round.
Can Gilding go all the way? Could Humphries secure his first major? Please let us know your thoughts on this year's Grand Prix in the comments below...
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