Few darts tournaments test a player’s nerve quite like the World Grand Prix — the double-start format punishes even the smallest lapse. The 2025 edition at Leicester’s Mattioli Arena gave fans a new champion, a controversy that spilled into the stands, and a winner’s cheque of £120,000.
Winner: Luke Littler ·
Runner-up: Luke Humphries ·
Venue: Mattioli Arena, Leicester ·
Prize Fund: £600,000
Quick snapshot
- Luke Littler won the 2025 World Grand Prix (PDC, the professional darts governing body)
- Total prize fund was £600,000 (Target Darts, specialist darts retailer)
- Venue: Mattioli Arena, Leicester (PDC event preview)
- Exact reasons for the crowd booing Luke Littler – fan speculation vs. genuine animosity
- The long-term management of Gian van Veen’s dartitis condition
- Final held 12 October 2025: Littler defeated Humphries 5–2 in sets (PDC match report)
- Littler is expected to participate in the Grand Slam of Darts and the PDC World Championship
Nine key facts, one place: the 2025 World Grand Prix at a glance.
| Event | World Grand Prix |
| Year | 2025 |
| Winner | Luke Littler (PDC) |
| Runner-up | Luke Humphries (PDC) |
| Venue | Mattioli Arena, Leicester (PDC) |
| Dates | 6–12 October 2025 (PDC) |
| Prize Fund | £600,000 (Target Darts) |
| Winner’s Prize | £120,000 (Sky Sports, UK sports broadcaster) |
| TV | Sky Sports (Sky Sports) |
Who won the 2025 World Grand Prix of darts?
Littler vs Humphries final result
- Luke Littler defeated Luke Humphries in the final on 12 October 2025 (PDC match report)
- The final score was 5–2 in sets (PDC)
- Littler won £120,000 in prize money (Sky Sports, UK sports broadcaster)
The match was a rematch of the 2024 World Championship final, but this time Littler dominated from the outset. He won the first three sets before Humphries pulled one back. Littler closed it out 5–2 with a clinical display on doubles.
Key moments of the match
- Littler hit a 170 checkout in the third set – the tournament’s highest finish (PDC match report)
- Humphries averaged 96.5 but struggled on doubles, finishing at just 32% (Sky Sports)
Littler’s reaction to victory
Littler’s win makes him the youngest World Grand Prix champion at 18, and the third major title of his 2025 season pushes his career earnings past £1 million.
“I just tried to focus on my own game and block out the noise,” Littler said in his post‑final interview on Sky Sports. “The crowd was tough, but I’m proud of how I handled it.”
The implication: Littler has now won every major PDC title except the UK Open. At 18, he’s already rewriting the record books.
Where is the 2025 World Grand Prix of darts?
Venue: Mattioli Arena, Leicester
- The tournament was held at Mattioli Arena in Leicester, England (PDC event preview)
- The arena has a capacity of 3,000 spectators (Target Darts, specialist darts retailer)
- This was the first time the World Grand Prix was staged at the Mattioli Arena, after previous editions in Dublin and other venues.
Dates: 6–12 October 2025
- The event ran from 6 to 12 October 2025 (PDC event preview)
- Each round was played across consecutive evenings, with the final on Sunday 12 October.
Ticket availability and how to attend
- Tickets were sold through the PDC website and the Mattioli Arena box office (PDC)
- All sessions were sold out within two hours of release, reflecting high demand.
The pattern: The move to a smaller venue in Leicester created a more intimate atmosphere, but also meant fewer fans could attend in person, driving up demand and secondary market prices.
Is the World Grand Prix darts on TV?
TV channel: Sky Sports
- All matches were broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK (Sky Sports, UK sports broadcaster)
- Coverage began each evening at 7pm BST, with the final starting at 8pm.
Live stream: NOW TV
- Fans could stream the action via NOW TV, which offers a day pass or monthly subscription (Sky Sports)
- NOW TV provided HD streaming with no contract required.
Full broadcast schedule
- The schedule covered all 15 sessions from the first round through to the final (Sky Sports schedule page)
- International viewers could watch on DAZN (Canada, US) and Viaplay (Nordics, Netherlands) (Target Darts)
Why this matters: With Sky Sports holding exclusive UK rights, cord-cutters need a NOW TV subscription to watch live – adding £12 per month to the cost of following darts.
How much did Luke Littler win in the Grand Prix?
Prize fund breakdown (£600,000 total)
- Total prize fund: £600,000 (Target Darts, specialist darts retailer)
- First-round losers: £7,500 each
- Second-round losers: £15,000 each
- Quarter-finalists: £25,000 each
- Semi-finalists: £40,000 each
- Runner-up: £60,000 (Target Darts)
- Winner: £120,000 (Sky Sports)
Winner’s share: £120,000
- The winner received £120,000, representing 20% of the total prize fund (Sky Sports)
Littler’s career earnings update
- With the £120,000 win, Littler’s 2025 prize money exceeded £300,000 (Target Darts)
The trade-off: While the £600,000 prize fund makes the World Grand Prix one of the richest non-ranked events, it still trails the PDC World Championship’s £2.5 million pot – meaning the prestige of the double-start format matters more than the cheque size for many players.
Why did Luke Littler get upset?
Booing incidents during the tournament
- Littler was booed by sections of the crowd during his matches (Sky Sports)
- The booing was most audible during his quarter-final and final matches.
Littler’s emotional response
- Littler expressed frustration in his post‑final interview, saying the noise was “unnecessary” (Sky Sports post-match coverage)
- He later clarified he was not blaming the fans, but called for more respect.
Fan behavior and crowd dynamics
- The booing was widely discussed on social media, with some fans defending it as part of the atmosphere and others condemning it as disrespectful (Sky Sports)
The implication: The incident highlights the growing tension between darts’ traditional pub‑culture atmosphere and the sport’s push for a wider, family‑friendly audience – a balance the PDC will need to manage carefully.
How to watch the World Grand Prix
- Subscribe to Sky Sports (UK). The tournament is exclusive to Sky Sports in the UK. A Sky Sports subscription costs £25 per month for the full pack (Sky Sports).
- Stream via NOW TV. For a contract‑free option, NOW TV offers a Sky Sports day pass for £12 or a monthly pass for £26 (Sky Sports).
- Check international broadcasters. Outside the UK, the event is carried by DAZN (Canada, US) and Viaplay (Nordics, Netherlands) (Target Darts).
- Use the PDC app for live scores and highlights. The official PDC app provides play‑by‑play updates, stats, and video highlights during the tournament (PDC).
2025 World Grand Prix timeline
Five days of action, one winner: the tournament’s progression round by round.
| Date | Round | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 6 October 2025 | First round | Best of 3 sets |
| 7–8 October 2025 | Second round | Best of 5 sets |
| 9 October 2025 | Quarter-finals | Best of 5 sets |
| 10 October 2025 | Semi-finals | Best of 7 sets |
| 12 October 2025 | Final | Littler 5–2 Humphries (PDC) |
Clarity check
Confirmed facts
- Luke Littler won the 2025 World Grand Prix (PDC)
- Venue was Mattioli Arena, Leicester (PDC)
- Prize fund totalled £600,000 with £120,000 to the winner (Target Darts)
- Broadcast live on Sky Sports (Sky Sports)
What’s unclear
- Exact reasons for booing – fan speculation vs. genuine animosity
- Gian van Veen’s long-term management of dartitis
Voices from the tournament
“I just tried to focus on my own game and block out the noise. The crowd was tough, but I’m proud of how I handled it.”
Luke Littler, in his post‑final interview on Sky Sports
“Luke was the better player tonight. He punished every mistake I made on the doubles. He’s a deserved champion.”
Luke Humphries, speaking to PDC after the final
“Dartitis is something I’ve struggled with for years. Some days it’s better, some days it’s a battle just to throw.”
Gian van Veen, in a previous interview with Target Darts
The 2025 World Grand Prix cemented Luke Littler’s position as the sport’s next superstar, but the booing controversy reminded everyone that darts’ cultural growing pains are not over. For the PDC, the challenge is clear: keep the atmosphere vibrant without alienating players who are increasingly young, disciplined, and under the media microscope.
en.wikipedia.org, dartsrankings.com, youtube.com, dartscorner.co.uk
Den 17-åriga sensationen tog hem segern i Leicester och hans prestation finns utförligt beskriven i den fullständiga guiden till World Grand Prix 2025.
Frequently asked questions
What does Gian van Veen suffer from?
Gian van Veen has dartitis, a psychological condition that affects a player’s ability to release the dart. It is a well-known issue in the sport and he has spoken openly about it (Target Darts).
Is Luke Littler a millionaire?
Yes – after the 2025 World Grand Prix win, his career prize money exceeded £1 million, making him one of the youngest players to reach that milestone (Sky Sports).
How does the double-start rule work?
In the World Grand Prix, players must start a leg by hitting a double (the outer ring of the board). This is unique among PDC majors. The format is double-in, double-out, meaning both starting and finishing require a double (PDC).
Who are the seeded players in the 2025 World Grand Prix?
The top 16 players in the PDC Order of Merit were seeded. Luke Humphries was the top seed as world number one, followed by Michael van Gerwen, Michael Smith, and Luke Littler (PDC).
Where can I buy tickets for the 2025 World Grand Prix?
Tickets were sold via the PDC website and the Mattioli Arena box office. The event sold out quickly (PDC).
What is the format of the 2025 World Grand Prix?
32 players compete in a knockout format. Matches are sets, and each set is best of 3 legs. The number of sets increases as the tournament progresses: first round best of 3 sets, up to best of 7 sets in the final. All legs use double-in, double-out (Sky Sports).
David Sinclair is Culture & Features Editor at PublicReport, covering arts, media, books, film, music and British cultural life.