2025 PDC World Grand Prix: Luke Littler Headlines Star-Studded Field in Leicester
The 2025 BoyleSports World Grand Prix, the PDC’s iconic “double-in, double-out” major, kicks off on October 6 at Leicester’s Mattioli Arena, with 32 elite players battling for a £600,000 prize pot (£120,000 to the winner). Reigning world champion Luke Littler headlines the lineup as the No. 2 seed, making his debut in the event after skipping the 2024 edition due to scheduling. The 18-year-old phenom, fresh off a dominant year including the World Championship, UK Open, and World Matchplay titles, enters as a heavy favorite—his explosive scoring and checkout prowess (58% doubles conversion in majors) could net him a first WGP crown. The draw, pitting top-16 seeds (from the two-year PDC Order of Merit) against 16 Pro Tour qualifiers, was made on September 29, promising fireworks in the unique format where every leg starts and ends on a double.
This year’s field marks a milestone: For the first time, all top 16 OoM players are seeded, expanding from eight in prior years. Notable absentees include 2023 world champion Michael Smith (first miss since 2013) and Dave Chisnall (out after nine straight European Tour defeats). Defending champ Mike De Decker returns via Pro Tour, aiming to repeat his 2024 upset over Luke Humphries.
#### Seeded Players (Top 16 on PDC Order of Merit)
These heavyweights draw first-round opponents from the Pro Tour qualifiers:
| Seed | Player | Key 2025 Highlights |
|——|————————-|———————|
| 1 | Luke Humphries (ENG) | World No. 1; Premier League champ; 2024 WGP finalist |
| 2 | Luke Littler (ENG) | World Champion; Triple Crown holder; 78% win rate |
| 3 | Michael van Gerwen (NED) | 6x WGP winner; World Series Finals champ |
| 4 | Stephen Bunting (WAL) | World No. 4; Masters finalist |
| 5 | James Wade (ENG) | 2x WGP winner; consistent top-10 |
| 6 | Jonny Clayton (WAL) | Former WGP champ; Euro Tour specialist |
| 7 | Gerwyn Price (WAL) | Former WGP champ; Pro Tour leader |
| 8 | Chris Dobey (ENG) | UK Open finalist; rising force |
| 9 | Rob Cross (ENG) | 2018 world champ; strong Pro Tour |
| 10 | Josh Rock (NIR) | World Cup semi; young gun |
| 11 | Peter Wright (SCO) | 2x world champ; 2018 WGP finalist |
| 12 | Gary Anderson (SCO) | 2x WGP runner-up; veteran power |
| 13 | Nathan Aspinall (ENG) | World No. 5; consistent performer |
| 14 | Joe Cullen (ENG) | Pro Tour winner; steady riser |
| 15 | Ryan Searle (ENG) | European Tour champ |
| 16 | Danny Noppert (NED) | Dutch powerhouse; top-20 staple |
Pro Tour Qualifiers (Top 16 Non-Seeded from One-Year Order of Merit)
These challengers face seeds in the opener, bringing fresh blood like De Decker and Joyce:
1. Martin Schindler (GER) – German No. 1; Euro Tour winner
2. Mike De Decker (BEL) – Defending WGP champ; Pro Tour ace
3. Daryl Gurney (NIR) – 2017 WGP winner; Rock’s World Cup partner
4. Ryan Joyce (ENG) – 2024 semi-finalist; comeback kid
5. Raymond van Barneveld (NED) – 5x world champ; 2x WGP runner-up
6. Andrew Gilding (ENG) – 2023 UK Open champ; late bloomer
7. Gian van Veen (NED) – World Youth champ; rising star
8. Niels Zonneveld (NED) – Dutch qualifier; consistent earner
9. William O’Connor (IRL) – Irish stalwart; Pro Tour regular
10. Brendan Dolan (NIR) – Veteran; double-start specialist
11. Ryan Meikle (WAL) – Emerging talent; recent breakthroughs
12. Cameron Menzies (SCO) – Scottish qualifier; dark horse
13. Florian Hempel (GER) – German contender
14. Graham Hall (ENG) – English grinder
15. Dylan Slevin (IRL) – Irish prospect
16. Richie Burnett (WAL) – 1995 world champ; wily veteran
Tournament Lowdown and Littler’s Title Tilt
The event unfolds over seven days: Eight first-round matches on October 6-7, followed by second round (October 8-9), quarters (October 10), semis (October 11), and final (October 12, 8pm BST). All sets are best-of-five legs, testing precision in the double format—where Littler’s 180s (averaging 12 per match) could shine, but veterans like van Gerwen (6x winner) thrive on experience.
Littler, seeded to face a Pro Tour foe like Slevin or Burnett, enters with momentum: A 6-3 Czech Open final win over Humphries last week. “Double-in’s tricky, but I’m ready—aiming for everything,” he told PDC TV. Humphries (top seed) eyes revenge after 2024’s final loss, while van Gerwen (No. 3) hunts a record seventh. Sky Sports and PDCTV broadcast globally; tickets via PDC site.
With Littler leading the charge, this WGP could redefine rivalries—expect “The Nuke” to explode early.
