Darts World Grand Prix Preview, 2025 Latest Odds & Tournament Format
Lewis Watson 
It’s time for some double trouble in Leicester this weekend…
The Mattioli Arena will play host to the World Grand Prix this week, with the unique “double in, double out” format hoping to throw a few spanners in the works of one of the most unpredictable events on the calendar.
Mike De Decker’s title defence begins with a bang as he’s paired with 2018 runner-up Peter Wright in the opening round.
The Belgian upset Luke Humphries to lift the trophy 12 months ago, sealing the biggest win of his career. Now, as Belgium’s number one, De Decker looks to go back-to-back in a draw stacked with intrigue.
Humphries, hungry for revenge, opens against Nathan Aspinall in a clash of world-class consistency, while teenage sensation Luke Littler faces a tricky opener in Gian van Veen — the Dutchman more than capable of spoiling the party.
We're ready and raring to go at Free Bets so it's time to set the stage for you.
Darts World Grand Prix Preview 2025
Let’s take a closer look at this week’s tournament:
- Tournament Name: 2025 World Grand Prix Darts
- When: Monday, 6 October – Sunday, 12 October
- Where: Leicester, United Kingdom
- Live Streaming: Sky Sports
- 2024 Winner: Mike de Decker
2025 World Grand Prix Darts – Competition Format
32 players will battle it out for World Grand Prix honours, including the top 16 from the PDC’s Order of Merit and the top 16 non-qualified players from the ProTour Order of Merit.
There will be two debutants at this event in 2025 including the hotly tipped Wessel Nijman and recent Hungarian Darts Trophy winner Niko Springer.
James Wade, Michael van Gerwen, Daryl Gurney, Gerwyn Price, Jonny Clayton, Mike de Decker and Luke Humphries are all former winners of this event and all return in 2025.
£600,000 is on the line, with a cut of £120,000 going to the eventual champion.
Rounds & Sets Format
- 1st Round: Best of 3 sets
- 2nd Round: Best of 5 sets
- Quarter-finals: Best of 5 sets
- Semi-finals: Best of 9 sets
- Final: Best of 11 sets
Darts World Grand Prix Odds
Here's a look at the latest darts betting ahead of Monday's opening night, giving you a look at the pre tournament favourites.
Odds are available with many of the best UK betting sites, and we've got the best available on the market below.
| Player | Latest Darts World Grand Prix Odds |
| Luke Littler | 9/4 |
| Luke Humphries | 13/2 |
| Josh Rock | 10/1 |
| Gerwyn Price | 10/1 |
| Michael Van Gerwen | 10/1 |
| Stephen Bunting | 14/1 |
| Rest | 25/1 or bigger |
Top seeds for the World Grand Prix
Luke Humphries (1)
The reigning world number one has been a model of consistency across the PDC calendar, stringing together deep runs and keeping his average numbers among the very best on tour.
Littler has stolen the headlines in 2025, but Humphries has been a steady hand, clinging onto his stop at the top of the rankings.
This tournament carries an extra edge for Humphries.
Twelve months ago, he fell at the final hurdle, undone by Mike De Decker. Now, with the draw placing him against Nathan Aspinall in round one, Humphries has no margin for error. Aspinall is as gritty as they come, capable of soaking up pressure and snapping at his opponent’s heels when it matters most.
Luke Littler (2)
Luke Littler arrives with expectation heavy on his shoulders — and, if recent months are anything to go by, he has the game to carry it.
The 18-year-old already boasts titles at the World Matchplay, UK Open, World Championship and across the European and World Series of Darts tours, but hasn’t got any pedigree of note in this particular tournament.
The Grand Prix brings a different kind of pressure. Drawn against Gian van Veen in round one, Littler faces a fellow rising star who has the scoring power to punish even the briefest lapse. Van Veen’s pace and aggression could force Littler into a firefight, the kind of match where his composure will be tested early.
Form-wise, Littler has looked sharp. His scoring remains monstrous, his checkout percentages steady, and he continues to thrive in last-leg deciders.
The question is whether he can sustain that level over the course of another demanding week, against seasoned campaigners hungry to hand him a rare defeat, coupled with the unique format of doubling in as well as doubling out.
Michael van Gerwen (3)
Michael van Gerwen enters this tournament still regarded as one of the sport’s leading contenders, though his form has been inconsistent in 2025.
The Dutchman remains capable of producing the high scoring and clinical finishing that defined his dominant years, but he has also shown lapses that have cost him in key matches.
With younger players such as Luke Littler and Luke Humphries setting the pace, van Gerwen’s challenge is to prove he can still win regularly at the highest level. If he settles early and finds rhythm, he remains a serious threat. However, the question is whether he can sustain that standard over the course of another long week.
This event — one that “Mighty Mike” has won six times — offers van Gerwen the chance to reassert himself in a shifting landscape and remind the field that he is still one of the most dangerous players in darts.
Stephen Bunting (4)
Stephen Bunting is a seasoned campaigner with a strong track record on the PDC circuit. Known for his steady scoring and ability to handle pressure, Bunting is capable of producing deep runs if he maintains consistency.
In 2025, his form has been solid but unspectacular, with no major titles yet this year, apart from trophies on the European Tour and World Series of Darts. His challenge will be to match the scoring power of the younger, faster players while avoiding early upsets.
If Bunting can stay composed and take advantage of scoring opportunities, he has the experience to push into the later stages. This tournament provides a chance to remind the field that he remains a competitive presence in high-level darts.
Darts World Grand Prix on Freebets
Looking ahead to the action next week, make sure you're back with us to check out the latest Darts betting tips for every day of action, as well as updated odds and stories from Leicester.
With Lewis Watson, our resident darts expert, we'll be back every single day before players take to the oche!
