Ryan Joyce produced a clinical display to eliminate Michael van Gerwen on Day One of the unique double-start BOYLE Sports World Grand Prix, while Gerwyn Price delivered the performance of the night at the Mattioli Arena.
Van Gerwen, another high-profile casualty, seized the early initiative but Joyce’s trademark combination finishing proved decisive.
The 2024 semi-finalist converted 92, 110 and 118 checkouts en route to a deciding-set victory and a second-round meeting with two-time semi-finalist Danny Noppert.
Noppert himself maintained his impressive East Midlands record by seeing off a mid-game fightback from Niko Springer.
Gerwyn Price and Ross Smith will renew their rivalry in round two, a repeat of their clash in the final of last weekend’s World Series of Darts Finals. Price was imperious, averaging 101.61 in a straight-sets demolition of debutant Sebastian Bialecki.
The 2020 champion won six of the seven legs played and landed a brace of 120 finishes in the closing stages.
“I think I played pretty decent in that game,” said Price, one of four former champions still in the field. “I don’t care about anyone else or sending a message out, but it gives me a bit of confidence with the new darts and the new points. I knew they were good but they’re going to get better!”
Smith fought back from a set adrift to defeat Cameron Menzies in a high-quality contest, defying a blistering early barrage from the Scot and two match darts to triumph with a 99.54 average.
Elsewhere, 2022 runner-up Nathan Aspinall battled back from the brink to topple Dutch debutant Kevin Doets, who squandered three match darts for a straight-sets victory.
The Stockport star levelled with a sensational ten-darter before producing a skin-saving 115 checkout in the penultimate leg.
2021 champion Jonny Clayton opened his title challenge with a hard-fought win against Poland’s Krzysztof Ratajski, pinning 64% of his attempts at a starting double.
Clayton will face Wessel Nijman for a place in the last eight after the rising Dutch star overcame Rob Cross in straight sets, avenging his defeat to the former World Champion in Leicester last year.
The 2026 BOYLE Sports World Grand Prix continues on Tuesday evening as round one draws to a close. World number two Luke Humphries begins his title bid against two-time runner-up Dave Chisnall, while Gian van Veen and Dirk van Duijvenbode contest an all-Dutch affair.
Two-time champion James Wade starts his 22nd consecutive double-start campaign against Joe Cullen, and 2016 runner-up Gary Anderson takes on Australian number one Damon Heta.
The tournament is being broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK, through the PDC’s worldwide broadcast partners including DAZN and Viaplay, and on PDCTV (excluding UK, Germany, Austria & Switzerland based subscribers).
2026 BOYLE Sports World Grand Prix
Monday September 28
Round One x8
Danny Noppert 2-1 Niko Springer (3-0, 2-3, 3-0)
Ross Smith 2-1 Cameron Menzies (0-3, 3-2, 3-0)
Nathan Aspinall 2-1 Kevin Doets (1-3, 3-2, 3-2)
Jonny Clayton 2-1 Krzysztof Ratajski (3-2, 2-3, 3-2)
Gerwyn Price 2-0 Sebastian Bialecki (3-0, 3-1)
Ryan Joyce 2-1 Michael van Gerwen (2-3, 3-1, 3-1)
Luke Woodhouse 2-1 Luke Littler (1-3, 3-2, 3-1)
Wessel Nijman 2-0 Rob Cross (3-2, 3-1)
Tuesday September 29 (1800 BST)Round One x8
Chris Dobey v Jermaine Wattimena
Ryan Searle v William O’Connor
Josh Rock v Niels Zonneveld
James Wade v Joe Cullen
Gary Anderson v Damon Heta
Gian van Veen v Dirk van Duijvenbode
Luke Humphries v Dave Chisnall
Stephen Bunting v Andrew Gilding
Best of Three Sets
Wednesday September 30 (1900 BST)
Round Two x4
Danny Noppert v Ryan Joyce
Jonny Clayton v Wessel Nijman
Gerwyn Price v Ross Smith
Luke Woodhouse v Nathan Aspinall
Best of Five Sets
Images: Kieran Cleeves/PDC
