Luke Humphries was not punished for a raft of missed finishing doubles as he beat a below-par Dave Chisnall to reach the second round of the World Grand Prix in Leicester. Humphries - who has made the last three finals in this event, winning in 2023 ahead of two runners-up finishes since - is the new favourite to triumph this year following defending champion Luke Littler's shock defeat to Luke Woodhouse on the opening night.

Cool Hand, sporting a scab on his forehead he put down to an allergic reaction, defeated Chisnall 2-0 while averaging only 80.41 and going at 26 per cent on his doubles as he secured a second-round meeting with Chris Dobey's conqueror Jermaine Wattimena. Chisnall had a chance to break Humphries and push for a deciding set only to bust his score, before the world No 2 wrapped up victory on double four and then appeared to shush someone in the crowd.

Dobey was one of two seeds to tumble on Tuesday evening, alongside Josh Rock, who fell to Niels Zonneveld as the Dutch debutant peeled off three ton-plus finishes in the third set to book a last-16 date with Gary Anderson. Rock - who at one point attempted an audacious 101 finish with bullseye, one, bullseye - had lit up proceedings by following a 180 with a roof-raising 151 to break Zonneveld and ensure a deciding set. Dobey, meanwhile, suffered a first-round exit for the third year running.

James Wade fought back from a set down and shrugged off six missed match darts in the space of two visits to beat Joe Cullen 2-1 as he resumed his bid for a third Grand Prix title and first in 16 years. Wade's reward is a clash with Stephen Bunting, who defeated Andrew Gilding 2-1 in the final match of the round. There was further Grand Prix despair for Damon Heta as he suffered a sixth-straight first-round loss - the Australian has never won a match here - after surrendering a one-set lead and wasting a match dart at double five in the second set against Anderson.