It was almost disaster before a dart was thrown. During his walk-on at the World Grand Prix, Michael van Gerwen nearly stumbled on his way to the stage on Tuesday night — a bizarre moment that foreshadowed what was to come.
Van Duijvenbode strikes early to send Van Gerwen home
Facing fellow Dutchman Dirk van Duijvenbode, Van Gerwen never truly found his rhythm. Van Duijvenbode capitalized brilliantly, taking his chances and sealing a 2–0 victory in sets (3–0, 3–2). The result means a surprisingly early exit for the three-time world champion.
It’s a sharp contrast to recent form — just weeks ago, Van Gerwen lifted the World Series of Darts Finals trophy in Amsterdam after defeating Luke Littler 11–7 in the final.
Littler and Van Veen deliver record-breaking averages
On Tuesday evening, Littler continued his sensational rise, defeating another Dutchman, Gian van Veen, in a match that will go down as one of the best ever seen at the World Grand Prix.
Van Veen produced the highest average in tournament history with 106.47, but still fell short as Littler posted a phenomenal 105.58 to win 2–0 in sets.
Given the double-in, double-out format — which typically lowers averages by around ten points — both players effectively performed at a level of 116+ averages, highlighting the extraordinary standard of play.
What’s next at the World Grand Prix?
Both Dirk van Duijvenbode and Luke Littler will return to action on Thursday evening. Van Duijvenbode takes on Daryl Gurney of Northern Ireland, while Littler awaits the winner of Peter Wright vs. Mike De Decker.
Meanwhile, Danny Noppert remains the last Dutchman standing in the tournament. “The Freeze” will face Stephen Bunting on Wednesday night, hoping to keep Dutch hopes alive in Leicester.