Under the bright lights of Leicester’s Morningside Arena, where the sharp crack of darts meeting board echoes like thunderclaps, the World Grand Prix is living up to its reputation as darts’ most unforgiving battlefield. This double-in, double-out gauntlet—where every leg demands a finish on a double and a single misstep can unravel a set—has long been the domain of grizzled veterans like Michael van Gerwen and Gerwyn Price. But on a pulsating Tuesday evening in October 2025, the script flipped dramatically. The new guard charged forward with unyielding ferocity, as teenage phenom Luke Littler and the relentless Josh Rock bulldozed their way into the second round, signaling that the future of the sport isn’t just knocking—it’s kicking down the door.
At just 18, Luke Littler has become darts’ wunderkind, a prodigy whose meteoric rise reads like a fever dream. From his heart-stopping runner-up finish at the 2024 PDC World Championship to clinching the crown earlier this year with a masterful defeat of van Gerwen, Littler’s trophy cabinet bulges with the spoils of the World Matchplay and Premier League triumphs. Yet, the World Grand Prix had eluded him, a stubborn thorn in his side after a first-round exit to Rob Cross in his 2024 debut. This time, though, Littler arrived with fire in his eyes and steel in his throw, facing off against Gian van Veen, the 20-year-old Dutch dynamo who’s made a habit of upsetting the apple cart. Van Veen had toppled Littler in their last two European Tour clashes, including a blistering 110-average demolition, but the Brit wasn’t about to let history repeat.
What unfolded was nothing short of darts sorcery—a 11-minute spectacle that will be etched in the annals of the sport. Littler stormed to a 2-0 sets victory, his 105.58 average the second-highest winning mark in World Grand Prix history. But the real jaw-dropper came from van Veen, who shattered Alan Warriner-Little’s 24-year-old record with a staggering 106.47 three-dart average—the highest ever in the tournament. Despite winning just two of eight legs and never getting a crack at a double in the second set (where he still averaged 105.67), van Veen pushed Littler to the brink. The Englishman, unfazed, unleashed a monstrous 151 finish to snag the first set 3-2 after trailing, then sealed the deal with a clinical 144 checkout in the second. “What have we just witnessed?!” the crowd seemed to roar in unison, as commentators marveled at a match where both players eclipsed the 100-average barrier, a rarity in this format’s treacherous waters.
Post-match, Littler, ever the cool customer, reflected on the electric tension. “You will not see a better game than that,” he said, his voice laced with the quiet thrill of survival. “We push each other every time, play our best darts against each other.” He tipped his cap to van Veen, predicting big things: “It wouldn’t surprise me if he won a major in the next few months or years. He’s incredible.” This wasn’t just a win; it was redemption, a statement that Littler’s precision and poise transcend formats. Fresh off parting ways with his management team—a move he described as the “right time” to go solo with family and sponsor support—Littler now eyes defending champion Mike De Decker in Thursday’s last-16 clash. De Decker, who clawed back from a set down to edge Peter Wright 2-1 with a sublime 152 checkout, admitted his own nerves: “It was a shaky start, but I played well in the final two sets.” For Littler, aiming to join Humphries (2023 winner) and De Decker (2024) as a double-start conqueror, this feels like destiny aligning.
Meanwhile, across the oche, 23-year-old Northern Irish firebrand Josh Rock etched his name into the tournament’s lore with a gritty maiden victory. Rock, who entered with a chip on his shoulder after back-to-back first-round flameouts—including a 2-0 whitewash by Ryan Joyce in 2024—faced his nemesis head-on. Trailing 1-0 after Joyce raced to a 3-0 set opener, Rock summoned the warrior spirit that propelled him to the 2022 World Youth Championship and a recent Players Championship double. He leveled at 1-1 with a composed 3-1 set, then, in a decider dripping with drama, clawed back from the brink to nail a clutch 108 checkout on the bullseye in the final leg. The 2-1 triumph wasn’t pretty, but it was pure heart—a revenge arc completed in the most satisfying fashion.
Rock’s joy was palpable as he savored the moment, his first taste of success in this event after years of near-misses. “I’ve been waiting for this,” he beamed, the weight of past defeats lifting like morning fog. This victory sets up a mouthwatering rematch with Gerwyn Price on Thursday, renewing a rivalry that’s already produced fireworks. Price, the fiery Welshman and world No. 4, scraped through 2-1 against Ryan Searle, dropping the opener 0-3 before storming back with 3-2 and 3-1 sets. Known for his ice-in-the-veins checkouts and unshakeable mentality, Price will relish testing Rock’s newfound momentum. “He’s a tough one, but I’m ready,” Rock hinted, eyes gleaming with ambition.
The night’s undercurrents only amplified the youthquake. In a seismic upset, Dirk van Duijvenbode whitewashed six-time champion Michael van Gerwen 2-0, ending the Dutch legend’s bid for a record-extending seventh crown before it began. Van Gerwen, who dominated from 2012-2015 and 2022, looked off-color, averaging below his lofty standards as Van Duijvenbode advanced to face Daryl Gurney. Elsewhere, Jonny Clayton, the 2021 kingpin, snapped a six-match skid against Andrew Gilding with a crisp 2-0, while Luke Woodhouse pulled off a stunner, rallying from 0-3 down to beat Damon Heta 2-1 in a last-leg thriller—extending the Australian’s winless streak to five appearances.
As the dust settled on Day 2, the £600,000 showdown—boasting a £120,000 winner’s purse—feels electric with possibility. Monday’s openers saw world No. 1 Luke Humphries cruise 2-0 past Nathan Aspinall, Gary Anderson grind out a 2-1 over Raymond van Barneveld, and Joe Cullen topple James Wade 2-0, setting up Humphries vs. Bunting and Anderson vs. Cullen in the last 16. But it’s the infusion of fresh blood like Littler and Rock that has pundits buzzing. These aren’t just upstarts; they’re architects of change, blending blistering pace with veteran savvy in a format that chews up the unwary.
In the broader tapestry of darts’ golden era—fueled by sold-out arenas, global broadcasts, and a surge in youth academies—the World Grand Prix stands as a crucible. Littler, with his social media savvy and unflappable demeanor, embodies the sport’s evolution, drawing crowds that rival football. Rock, the underdog with a puncher’s chance, represents the grit that built legends like Phil Taylor. Together, their advances whisper a bold truth: the throne isn’t occupied forever. As Thursday looms with quarterfinal pathways to glory, one can’t shake the sense that this tournament isn’t just crowning a champion—it’s anointing a dynasty. Littler and Rock aren’t waiting their turn; they’re seizing it, arrow by unerring arrow. The old guard better watch their backs, because the new one is locked, loaded, and loving every leg.
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