Leicester’s unique major continued to sort the men from the boys on Tuesday as the remaining first-round ties of the Boyle Sports World Grand Prix played out under the double-in, double-out rules that make this event a different beast from everything else on the calendar.
Jermaine Wattimena set the evening’s tone. Hollywood Chris Dobey never found a foothold. The Dutchman raced through 2-0, averaging in the mid-86s while Dobey laboured in the high 70s, and the 15th seed was gone before the crowd had properly settled.
Ryan Searle followed with a workmanlike 2-1 over William O’Connor. The Irishman posted the better numbers but Searle was the one hitting the doubles when the sets were on the line.Then came the result that will linger.
Josh Rock, seeded seven and in the conversation as a dark horse, ran into a pumped-up Niels Zonneveld. Both men lived in the low-to-mid 90s.
Rock produced the 151 checkout, Zonneveld produced the bigger moments on the outer ring and pinched the deciding set.
Another seeded scalp, another reminder that this format does not forgive.
James Wade did James Wade things: unspectacular, unflappable, 2-1 over Joe Cullen. Gary Anderson, never the most natural fit for the double-start, still had too much know-how for Damon Heta and closed it 2-1.
The all-Dutch scrap between Gian van Veen and Dirk van Duijvenbode promised fireworks and delivered a mismatch. Van Veen, already looking like one of the players who could go deep now that Littler is out, whitewashed his compatriot 2-0.
That left the two late games. Luke Humphries, the 2023 champion and world number two, opened against Dave Chisnall; Stephen Bunting faced Andrew Gilding in the nightcap.
Both are still live as the clock ticked past ten.Monday had already claimed the defending champion and a six-time winner.
Tuesday added Rock and Dobey to the casualty list and left a last-16 picture heavy on Dutch names and old heads who know how this event works.
Wednesday’s second-round session from 7pm now looks properly loaded.
Tuesday results (best of three sets)
Jermaine Wattimena 2–0 Chris Dobey
Ryan Searle 2–1 William O’Connor
Niels Zonneveld 2–1 Josh Rock
James Wade 2–1 Joe Cullen
Gary Anderson 2–1 Damon Heta
Gian van Veen 2–0 Dirk van Duijvenbode
Luke Humphries v Dave Chisnall
Stephen Bunting v Andrew Gilding
Check backnfronthe evening’s full report soon.
