Humphries opens Grand Prix title defence with 2-0 win over Aspinall

Luke Humphries opened his title defence with a 2-0 victory over Nathan Aspinall on Monday night at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester, advancing to the second round of the Boyle Sports World Grand Prix. Humphries, the world number one and 2023 champion, closed out the match with a 156 checkout in the second set after Aspinall had produced a 170 maximum checkout in the first set but struggled with doubles under the tournament's double-in, double-out format.

Humphries said the format suits his game. "My doubling in gives me a chance to go on and do well. I feel really good up there on stage," he said, adding that he was "striving for more" despite the win. Aspinall, who has slipped down the rankings since early exits at other events this year, missed several opening darts at doubles that allowed Humphries to take early control.

Poland's Krzysztof Ratajski will be Humphries's second-round opponent after he beat Germany's Martin Schindler 2-0, dropping only one leg. The draw has produced several notable results on an opening night that saw a mixture of comfortable victories and tight, deciding-leg affairs.

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