Changing the format of the World Grand Prix: how the tournament rules differ.

Return of the World Grand Prix

According to The Sun: The World Grand Prix is once again ready to delight darts fans, holding its competition at the Mattioli arena in Leicester.

Luke Littler aims to secure his first victory in this tournament, as last year he failed to get past Rob Cross in his debut match.

Luke Humphries also hopes to improve his results compared to last year and claim the title.

In last year's final, he lost to Mike De Decker, who is returning in 2025 to defend his title.

Among other participants in the 'star' darts are Michael van Gerwen and Gerwyn Price, who are also ready to compete in the event.

World Darts Grand Prix Rules

Unlike Premier League Darts and World Matchplay Darts, matches in the World Grand Prix are won in sets rather than games.

This resembles the format of the World Darts Championship.

Each set consists of a maximum of five games, so the team that first wins three games wins the set.

Here is how the tournament progression looks:

• First Round: up to three sets
• Second Round and Quarterfinals: up to five sets
• Semi-finals: up to seven sets
• Final: up to nine sets

The World Grand Prix also uses the 'double start' or 'double in, double out' format, which is not present in other major tournaments.

This format means that players must hit either a double zone or bullseye to start scoring points in each set, unlike other games where players can start scoring at their discretion.

The 'double start' format posed a real challenge for Littler last year when he couldn't adapt quickly and lost to Cross.

This prestigious tournament will once again bring together the best darts players, as they all seek to showcase their talents at the Mattioli arena. The dynamics of the competition and strong rivalry promise an exciting spectacle for darts fans.