2023 World Grand Prix Preview as double in double out returns

The special double-start event returns to Leicester’s Morningside Arena on Monday with the opening of the 2023 BoyleSports World Grand Prix.

In the 32-player lineup for the 26th World Grand Prix, which also features World Champion Michael Smith and the 2020 winner Gerwyn Price, reigning champion Michael van Gerwen will be competing.

Nathan Aspinall, the runner-up from the previous year, and Jonny Clayton, the champion in 2021, are two more of the eight seeded athletes in the £600,000 competition, which runs from October 2–8.

Since his first victory in the double-start competition in 2012, six-time champion Van Gerwen has dominated it. This year, one of three debutants, World Youth Champion Josh Rock, will face Van Gerwen as he opens his title defence.

The two have engaged in several memorable big-stage battles over the past 12 months, but Van Gerwen is fired up for their most recent match on Tuesday night.

“It should be a fantastic game against Josh. He is a phenomenal player,” claimed Van Gerwen, a winner of the World Grand Prix in 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2022.

“I am happy with my game at the moment, but this is a really tough event to win, and with the short format in the early rounds, you can’t afford to make any mistakes.

“It’s a crucial period coming up, but I will be ready for it, trust me. This is only the start.

“I want to be back at the top [of the rankings]. It is going to be a tough task, but I know I’m capable of doing that, so I just need to focus on myself and make sure I play my A-game.”

Tuesday’s action will also see Clayton open his challenge against European Champion Ross Smith, as the Welshman aims to put a tumultuous few months behind him at the Morningside Arena.

“I am defending money from winning the World Grand Prix two years ago, so let’s see how it goes,” said Clayton, whose father passed away just days after his run to July’s World Matchplay decider.

“I can’t just forget about my Dad, but darts was his life and I just want to keep doing him proud.

“My mind is back now on the big-stage tournaments coming up. It’s an important part of the year so I want to do well, and fingers crossed I will.

“Hopefully, the Ferret will come out on the winning side again. I want to lift every trophy that’s going, and I will try my hardest to do that.”

2018 runner-up Peter Wright kicks off his campaign against German number one Gabriel Clemens on Tuesday, with sixth seed Luke Humphries pitted against 2017 champion Daryl Gurney.

Dimitri Van den Bergh and Chris Dobey collide in another stand-out tie, Australian number one Damon Heta plays Ryan Searle, while Joe Cullen meets Mike De Decker in the evening’s opener.

Elsewhere, two-time runner-up Dave Chisnall begins his bid against debutant Luke Woodhouse, having warmed up for this year’s event by winning two ranking titles within the last week.

“I think I’m due a big title with the way I’m playing,” admitted Chisnall, who followed up his Hungarian Darts Trophy victory with ProTour success in Barnsley on Thursday.

“It is hard enough to win a ProTour, never mind a TV tournament, but I believe it is going to come one day, and hopefully it comes this week.

“People used to say I couldn’t hit doubles, but when I go into this tournament I seem to hit my starting double pretty well.

“Luke is a good player. I helped him qualify last week by beating Scott Williams [in Budapest], but I’m just going to relax and play the board, not the player.”

On Monday night, world number one Smith and Welsh star Price will compete, with Smith facing Newcastle’s Callan Rydz and Price facing 2021 semi-finalist Danny Noppert.

World Matchplay winner Aspinall will face a resurgent Stephen Bunting in round two, while eighth seed Rob Cross will face UK Open champion Andrew Gilding.

Two-time champion James Wade is one of five former champions in the lineup, and he faces Poland’s top player, Krzysztof Ratajski, on the opening night.

Former finalists Dirk van Duijvenbode and Brendan Dolan kick off the event, while two-time runner-up Raymond van Barneveld makes his double-start return against Germany’s Martin Schindler.

Another previous finalist in play on Monday is Gary Anderson, who has been drawn against Portugal’s Jose de Sousa in an intriguing first round match.

Anderson won his second ranking championship of the year in Friday’s Players Championship 24, following a string of breathtaking performances during last week’s ProTour treble-header.

Following a difficult 18-month period, the two-time World Champion has returned to his dazzling best in 2023, and he believes that enjoyment was the key to his comeback.

“I just turn up and play darts now, and I giggle when I win,” quipped Anderson, a runner-up to Van Gerwen in the 2016 edition.

“My practice over the [summer] holidays hasn’t been great, but I’m coming here playing well; I’ve got new darts, they’re going well.

“I think it’s going to be wide open this year. You can’t really say an outsider [will win it], but I don’t think it will be one of the favourites. Maybe it could be an old 52-year-old, you never know!”

2023 World Grand Prix

October 2-8, Morningside Arena, Leicester

Tournament Bracket

(1) Michael Smith v Callan Rydz

Dirk van Duijvenbode v Brendan Dolan

(8) Rob Cross v Andrew Gilding

Jose de Sousa v Gary Anderson

(4) Gerwyn Price v Danny Noppert

Krzysztof Ratajski v James Wade

(5) Nathan Aspinall v Stephen Bunting

Martin Schindler v Raymond van Barneveld

(2) Michael van Gerwen v Josh Rock

Dimitri Van den Bergh v Chris Dobey

(7) Jonny Clayton v Ross Smith

Joe Cullen v Mike De Decker

(3) Peter Wright v Gabriel Clemens

Damon Heta v Ryan Searle

(6) Luke Humphries v Daryl Gurney

Dave Chisnall v Luke Woodhouse

Session Schedule

Monday October 2 (1800 BST)

First Round x8

Dirk van Duijvenbode v Brendan Dolan

Jose de Sousa v Gary Anderson

Krzysztof Ratajski v James Wade

Martin Schindler v Raymond van Barneveld

Nathan Aspinall v Stephen Bunting

Gerwyn Price v Danny Noppert

Michael Smith v Callan Rydz

Rob Cross v Andrew Gilding

Tuesday October 3 (1800 BST)

First Round x8

Joe Cullen v Mike De Decker

Dave Chisnall v Luke Woodhouse

Damon Heta v Ryan Searle

Dimitri Van den Bergh v Chris Dobey

Peter Wright v Gabriel Clemens

Michael van Gerwen v Josh Rock

Jonny Clayton v Ross Smith

Luke Humphries v Daryl Gurney