Luke Littler’s World Grand Prix Title Defence Ends in Shock First-Round Defeat to Luke Woodhouse

Defending champion Luke Littler’s reign at the World Grand Prix is over after the 19-year-old suffered a stunning 2-1 first-round defeat to Luke Woodhouse on the tournament’s opening night in Leicester, according to Sky Sports and talkSPORT.

Littler raced into the lead, taking the opening set 3-1 with a 106 checkout, but his scoring deserted him as the underdog took full advantage of the double-in, double-out format. Woodhouse, 37, held his nerve to claim sets two and three, sealing the biggest win of his career on double 12.

It was the first time in 703 days that Littler has fallen in the opening round of a televised ranking event, a run stretching back to the 2024 European Championship, according to talkSPORT.

Twelve months after announcing himself as World Grand Prix champion with a 6-1 final victory over Luke Humphries, Littler’s defence lasted barely an evening. The night produced a second seismic upset when six-time winner Michael van Gerwen also exited, losing 2-1 to Ryan Joyce after surrendering a one-set lead, Sky Sports reported.

Woodhouse will face former finalist Nathan Aspinall in the second round after Aspinall edged Kevin Doets in a final-leg decider earlier in the evening.

Sources

• Sky Sports
• talkSPORT