World Grand Prix (darts)
Template:Short description Template:More citations needed Template:Use dmy dates Script error: No such module "Infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". The BoyleSports World Grand Prix is a PDC darts tournament traditionally held in Dublin, Ireland every October, but has taken place in Leicester, England since 2021. Its original venue was the Casino Rooms in Rochester, Kent in 1998 and 1999, and then for one year only in 2000 at the Crosbie Cedars Hotel in Rosslare, County Wexford. In 2001, the tournament moved further north to the Citywest in Dublin. In 2009, the tournament moved from the Reception Hall at the main Citywest Hotel, to the newly completed bigger venue on site, the Citywest Hotel Convention Centre. In 2012, the tournament moved back to the Reception Hall for that year, before returning to the Convention Centre in 2013. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 tournament was held at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry, and since 2021, it has been held at the Morningside Arena, Leicester. When the World Grand Prix was founded in 1998, it replaced the earlier World Pairs tournament which ran from 1995 to 1997.
The World Grand Prix was sponsored by bookmakers Paddy Power from 2001 to 2003, before Sky Bet took over in 2004. The subsidiary Sky Poker was the tournament's sponsor in 2008. In 2010, online gambling company Bodog became the event's title sponsor, while PartyPoker.com took over as the main sponsor in 2011. In 2016, Unibet took over as sponsor, with BoyleSports sponsoring the event since 2019.
Although he has dominated the event with eleven title wins, Phil Taylor has been knocked out of the World Grand Prix five times in the first round. In 2001, he lost 2–1 to qualifier Kevin Painter. in 2004, he was beaten 2–0 by Andy Callaby. in 2007, he lost 2–0 to Adrian Gray. in 2015, he was beaten 2–0 by Vincent van der Voort, and in 2016, he was beaten 2–1 by Steve West.
The current champion is Mike De Decker, who defeated Luke Humphries, by a margin of 6-4, in the 2024 final to win his first major and first World Grand Prix title.
Tournament format
The tournament is unusual in that it is the only televised event in which players must commence and finish each leg on a double (including the bullseye).
There have been several different formats for the tournament. The first event in 1998 was a straight knock-out tournament played in a setplay format with each set being contested over the best of three legs. The following year this changed to the best of five legs per set. Furthermore, a group stage was introduced in 1999, with there only being four seeded players for the event, all of whom reached the semi-finals. In 2000, the tournament reverted to being a straight knock-out and has remained so ever since.
The double-start format also makes landing a perfect nine-dart finish even more difficult, as it limits the number of combinations and guarantees that a player must finish on the bullseye (unless they start with one). There were two famous near misses in the first two years, the first with Phil Taylor in the 1998 final against Rod Harrington, when Taylor was distracted by loud commentary from Sid Waddell just before throwing the eighth dart (which Taylor hit) before he missed the bullseye; and the second in the 1999 semi final, when Harrington missed the bullseye against Taylor. The first nine-darter in Grand Prix history was eventually completed by Brendan Dolan in the 2011 semi-final against James Wade. In 2014, James Wade and Robert Thornton both hit perfect legs in the same match, the first time this happened in any televised event. On all three occasions, the leg started with a score of 160 (starting on double 20), followed by 180, followed by finishing 161 with treble 20, treble 17, and bullseye.
World Grand Prix Finals
| Year | Champion (average in final) | Score | Runner-up (average in final) | Prize money | Sponsor | Venue | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Champion | Runner-up | ||||||
| 1998 | Template:Flagicon Phil Taylor <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(94.61)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | 13–8 | Template:Flagicon Rod Harrington <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(86.64)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | £38,000 | £9,000 | £5,000 | PDC | Casino Rooms, Rochester |
| 1999 | Template:Flagicon Phil Taylor <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(92.59)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | 6–1 | Template:Flagicon Shayne Burgess <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(81.26)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |||||
| 2000 | Template:Flagicon Phil Taylor <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(91.32)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | 6–1 | Template:Flagicon Shayne Burgess <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(81.48)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | £70,000 | £15,000 | £7,500 | Crosbie Cedars Hotel, Rosslare | |
| 2001 | Template:Flagicon Alan Warriner <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(83.52)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | 8–2 | Template:Flagicon Roland Scholten <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(81.84)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | £78,000 | Paddy Power | Citywest Hotel, Dublin Reception Hall (2001–2008, 2012) Convention Centre (2009–2011, 2013–2019) | ||
| 2002 | Template:Flagicon Phil Taylor <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(100.17)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | 7–3 | Template:Flagicon John Part <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(88.62)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | £70,000 | £14,000 | £7,000 | ||
| 2003 | Template:Flagicon Phil Taylor <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(94.80)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | 7–2 | Template:Flagicon John Part <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(83.25)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | £76,000 | £15,000 | £7,500 | ||
| 2004 | Template:Flagicon Colin Lloyd <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(85.29)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | 7–3 | Template:Flagicon Alan Warriner <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(77.91)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | £100,000 | £20,000 | £10,000 | Sky Bet | |
| 2005 | Template:Flagicon Phil Taylor <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(90.74)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | 7–1 | Template:Flagicon Colin Lloyd <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(82.05)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |||||
| 2006 | Template:Flagicon Phil Taylor <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(88.24)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | 7–4 | Template:Flagicon Terry Jenkins <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(82.51)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | £130,000 | £25,000 | £12,500 | ||
| 2007 | Template:Flagicon James Wade <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(86.03)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | 6–3 | Template:Flagicon Terry Jenkins <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(84.58)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | £200,000 | £50,000 | £20,000 | ||
| 2008 | Template:Flagicon Phil Taylor <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(97.81)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | 6–2 | Template:Flagicon Raymond van Barneveld <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(90.42)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | £250,000 | £25,000 | Sky Poker | ||
| 2009 | Template:Flagicon Phil Taylor <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(97.07)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | 6–3 | Template:Flagicon Raymond van Barneveld <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(86.62)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | £350,000 | £100,000 | £40,000 | Sky Bet | |
| 2010 | Template:Flagicon James Wade <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(88.92)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | 6–3 | Template:Flagicon Adrian Lewis <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(89.33)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Bodog | ||||
| 2011 | Template:Flagicon Phil Taylor <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(90.29)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | 6–3 | Template:Flagicon Brendan Dolan <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(84.68)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | PartyPoker.com | ||||
| 2012 | Template:Flagicon Michael van Gerwen <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(87.53)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | 6–4 | Template:Flagicon Mervyn King <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(81.96)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |||||
| 2013 | Template:Flagicon Phil Taylor <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(97.67)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | 6–0 | Template:Flagicon Dave Chisnall <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(81.29)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |||||
| 2014 | Template:Flagicon Michael van Gerwen <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(90.81)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | 5–3 | Template:Flagicon James Wade <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(89.26)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | £400,000 | £100,000 | £45,000 | ||
| 2015 | Template:Flagicon Robert Thornton <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(90.79)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | 5–4 | Template:Flagicon Michael van Gerwen <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(96.79)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |||||
| 2016 | Template:Flagicon Michael van Gerwen <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(100.29)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | 5–2 | Template:Flagicon Gary Anderson <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(92.73)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Unibet | ||||
| 2017 | Template:Flagicon Daryl Gurney <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(88.50)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | 5–4 | Template:Flagicon Simon Whitlock <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(83.53)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |||||
| 2018 | Template:Flagicon Michael van Gerwen <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(88.85)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | 5–2 | Template:Flagicon Peter Wright <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(91.61)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |||||
| 2019 | Template:Flagicon Michael van Gerwen <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(94.74)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | 5–2 | Template:Flagicon Dave Chisnall <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(93.32)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | £450,000 | £110,000 | £50,000 | BoyleSports | |
| 2020 | Template:Flagicon Gerwyn Price <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(88.19)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | 5–2 | Template:Flagicon Dirk van Duijvenbode <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(87.07)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Ricoh Arena, Coventry[1] | ||||
| 2021 | Template:Flagicon Jonny Clayton <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(94.44)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | 5–1 | Template:Flagicon Gerwyn Price <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(92.47)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | Morningside Arena, Leicester | ||||
| 2022 | Template:Flagicon Michael van Gerwen <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(91.07)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | 5–3 | Template:Flagicon Nathan Aspinall <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(91.88)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | £600,000 | £120,000 | £60,000 | ||
| 2023 | Template:Flagicon Luke Humphries <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(93.30)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | 5–2 | Template:Flagicon Gerwyn Price <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(91.00)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |||||
| 2024 | Template:Flagicon Mike De Decker <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(92.06)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | 6–4 | Template:Flagicon Luke Humphries <templatestyles src="Template:Color/styles.css" />(90.56)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". | |||||
Records and statistics
Total finalist appearances
Nine-dart finishes
Three nine-darters have been thrown at the World Grand Prix. The first one was in 2011, the other two happened in the same game in 2014, notable as being the only televised match which has had nine-darters from both players.
| Player | Year (+ Round) | Method (double-in double-out) | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Template:Flagicon Brendan Dolan | 2011, Semi-Final | D20, 2 x T20; 3 x T20; T20, T17, Bull | Template:Flagicon James Wade | 5–2 |
| Template:Flagicon James Wade | 2014, 2nd Round | D20, 2 x T20; 3 x T20; T20, T17, Bull | Template:Flagicon Robert Thornton | 3–2 |
| Template:Flagicon Robert Thornton | 2014, 2nd Round | D20, 2 x T20; 3 x T20; T20, T17, Bull | Template:Flagicon James Wade | 2–3 |
High averages
An average over 100 in a match in the World Grand Prix has been achieved 22 times, of which Phil Taylor is responsible for 9.
| Ten highest World Grand Prix one-match averages | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average | Player | Year (+ Round) | Opponent | Result |
| 106.45 | Template:Flagicon Alan Warriner | 2001, 1st Round | Template:Flagicon Andy Jenkins | 2–0 |
| 104.86 | Template:Flagicon Gary Anderson | 2013, 1st Round | Template:Flagicon Jelle Klaasen | 2–0 |
| 104.47 | Template:Flagicon Michael van Gerwen | 2013, 1st Round | Template:Flagicon John Part | 2–0 |
| 103.09 | Template:Flagicon Michael van Gerwen | 2016, Quarter-Final | Template:Flagicon Simon Whitlock | 3–1 |
| 103.02 | Template:Flagicon Phil Taylor | 2011, Semi-Final | Template:Flagicon Richie Burnett | 5–2 |
| 102.85 | Template:Flagicon Dave Chisnall | 2020, 1st Round | Template:Flagicon Glen Durrant | 2–0 |
| 102.48 | Template:Flagicon Phil Taylor | 2010, 1st Round | Template:Flagicon Brendan Dolan | 2–0 |
| 102.26 | Template:Flagicon Phil Taylor | 2011, 1st Round | Template:Flagicon Peter Wright | 2–1 |
| 101.79 | Template:Flagicon Ross Smith | 2024, 1st round | Template:Flagicon Gian van Veen | 2–0 |
| 101.75 | Template:Flagicon Phil Taylor | 2010, 2nd Round | Template:Flagicon Andy Smith | 3–0 |
| Five highest losing averages | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average | Player | Year (+ Round) | Opponent | Result |
| 97.78 | Template:Flagicon Dave Chisnall | 2018, Quarter-Final | Template:Flagicon Michael van Gerwen | 1–3 |
| 97.20 | Template:Flagicon Gary Anderson | 2015, 2nd Round | Template:Flagicon Ian White | 1–3 |
| 97.03 | Template:Flagicon Phil Taylor | 2015, 1st Round | Template:Flagicon Vincent van der Voort | 0–2 |
| 96.84 | Template:Flagicon Michael van Gerwen | 2020, Quarter-Final | Template:Flagicon Simon Whitlock | 0–3 |
| 96.79 | Template:Flagicon Michael van Gerwen | 2015, Final | Template:Flagicon Robert Thornton | 4–5 |
| Different players with a 100+ match average – updated 12/10/24 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Total | Highest Av. | Year (+ Round) |
| Template:Flagicon Phil Taylor | 9 | 103.02 | 2011, Semi-Final |
| Template:Flagicon Michael van Gerwen | 4 | 104.47 | 2013, 1st Round |
| Template:Flagicon Dave Chisnall | 2 | 102.85 | 2020, 1st Round |
| Template:Flagicon Simon Whitlock | 2 | 101.12 | 2020, 1st Round |
| Template:Flagicon Alan Warriner | 1 | 106.45 | 2001, 1st Round |
| Template:Flagicon Gary Anderson | 1 | 104.86 | 2013, 1st Round |
| Template:Flagicon Ross Smith | 1 | 101.79 | 2024, 1st Round |
| Template:Flagicon Gerwyn Price | 1 | 100.82 | 2021, 1st Round |
| Template:Flagicon Luke Humphries | 1 | 100.30 | 2024, Semi-Final |
| Five highest tournament averages | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average | Player | Year | ||
| 99.46 | Template:Flagicon Michael van Gerwen | 2016 | ||
| 99.23 | Template:Flagicon Phil Taylor | 2010 | ||
| 98.62 | Template:Flagicon Phil Taylor | 2009 | ||
| 98.50 | Template:Flagicon Phil Taylor | 2008 | ||
| 98.22 | Template:Flagicon Phil Taylor | 2012 | ||
World Team Championship
The World Team Championship event which preceded the introduction of this event was held between 1995 and 1997.[2]
Media coverage
The World Grand Prix has been broadcast in the UK by Sky Sports since the first tournament.
References
External links
- World Grand Prix page on the PDC website
- World Grand Prix on Darts Database
- World Grand Prix on Mastercaller
Template:World Grand Prix Darts Template:PDC Darts Tournaments