Luke Littler will begin the defence of his World Grand Prix title in Leicester from September 28 to October 4, but the world No 1 is entering another major event where the pressure is about more than just winning the opener. The 19-year-old starts against Luke Woodhouse in the first round, while Luke Humphries faces Dave Chisnall as he looks to protect second place in the world rankings.
The World Grand Prix remains one of the sport's most distinctive tests because of its double-in, double-out format, and that makes margins feel even smaller than in a normal major. Littler arrives as the player everybody else is chasing, while Humphries has the more straightforward ranking equation: at the very least, he needs to match what he did two years ago if he wants to keep his place behind the world No 1.
Littler's title defence comes with the spotlight on him again
There has been no shortage of attention around Littler in recent weeks. Earlier this month, he was booed and whistled at during the World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam, where he had arrived after winning the first six major titles of the season.
He did not finish that event the way he would have wanted, losing 10-4 to Jonny Clayton in the last eight. But the bigger picture remains clear: Littler is still the standard-setter, and the World Grand Prix gives him the chance to show that even after one setback, he remains the man to beat.
Stephen Bunting said the reaction Littler received had changed the mood around him, and warned that crowd pressure can quickly build if a player appears affected by it. He said: "It's really hard, isn't it? Obviously, Luke is the best player in the world. For whatever reason, the crowd got on his back, they didn't want him to do the [clean sweep]".
Bunting added that if a player shows the crowd they are getting to them, things can become even harder. "If you let the crowd know they're getting to you, it can be 10 times worse," he said. "It's a horrible noise to hear when you're trying to concentrate. But I understand it'll keep happening, no matter how much we talk about it."
Humphries knows what is at stake
For Humphries, the story is slightly different but no less important. After a shock round-one exit to Cameron Menzies in the World Matchplay on July 20, he did not return to competitive action until the end of August. Now he is back in a major where the rankings pressure is immediate.
He has spoken about putting in the work to stay near the top, saying: "I'm going to get back on the practice board at home as much as I can now and I'm going to dedicate the rest of the year to trying to be my best and trying to push Luke - and not just Luke, but everyone else because I want to stay at No 2."
That is the real tension around Leicester. Littler is defending a title, Humphries is defending position, and both men know that the World Grand Prix does not reward passengers. Gerwyn Price and Ross Smith are also among the leading names in the field, which means the tournament has the feel of a genuine ranking and form check for the game's biggest players.
A tournament that can change the picture quickly
The opening round already gives the event a sharp edge. Littler against Luke Woodhouse is a title-holder's opening assignment, while Humphries against Dave Chisnall is the sort of match that can alter the shape of the rankings conversation very quickly.
For Littler, the job is to reset after Amsterdam and make sure the noise around him stays secondary to the darts. For Humphries, it is about proving that his ranking place is still secure and that one bad run does not define a season. In a format as unforgiving as this, both players will know that nothing comes easy once the first dart is thrown.
The World Grand Prix has a habit of exposing any weakness fast. Leicester will show whether Littler can defend his crown with the same authority that took him to the top, and whether Humphries can keep his hold on No 2 when the pressure starts to bite.
