The World Grand Prix has a unique capacity for chaos. As the source notes, a match can swing faster than at any other major, because even after a big high finish, a player must hit a double to start the next leg before any scoring begins. Add the set format, and a slow start or a handful of missed doubles can already spell exit. Across the tournament's history, that blend has repeatedly produced results few saw coming — Phil Taylor fell at the first hurdle twice, an outsider reached the final, a six-time champion failed to win a leg, and in 2024 a Belgian landed the title at 100:1.
In 2004, Andy Callaby knocked out Phil Taylor with a 145 finish. Taylor had ruled the early years, winning from 1998 to 2000 as well as 2002 and 2003, with only a 2001 first-round loss to Kevin Painter blotting his copybook. At the seventh staging in 2004, Taylor was aiming for title number six, and his opening opponent was Callaby, who had earned his spot via the PDPA qualifier and was making his PDC big-stage debut. Callaby took the first set and raced 2–0 ahead in the second. A 140 left him 145, while Taylor, after 81, sat on 120. Then Callaby hit treble 20, treble 19 and double 14. The Citywest Hotel in Dublin erupted. "Taylor is gone, Taylor is out," cried the commentators as Callaby buried double 14. They called it "the biggest shock in the history of darts." For Callaby, the run remains the peak of his career; he never qualified for a World Championship, though he did reach another quarter-final at the 2006 UK Open.
In 2007, Adrian Gray handed Taylor another opening shock. After early exits in 2004, Taylor reclaimed the titles in 2005 and 2006, and at the 2007 World Grand Prix, Gray awaited in round one. The debutant was ranked 44th, Taylor the undisputed world number one. Taylor led 2–0 in legs in set one and was on the brink of the set, but Gray levelled. In the decider, Taylor, on 126, missed bull for the set, and Gray seized his chance on double 12 to steal it. In set two, Gray opened with a 107 finish on double 16, then the same double made it 2–0 in legs. Taylor pulled one back, but Gray kicked off his next leg on double 16 and then fired back-to-back 180s. Double 7 sealed the 2–0 sets win. For Taylor it was a third first-round exit at the Grand Prix – and a second shocker against a debutant. Gray later lost in the quarter-finals to John Part, and reaching the last eight remained the high point of his darts career.
In 2020, Dirk van Duijvenbode charged to the final ranked 72 in the world. He had regained his Tour Card for 2020 and impressed early, making a European Tour semi-final and another at a Players Championship. Ranked 72, the Dutchman qualified for his first World Grand Prix, and few foresaw a run to the final. His opener against Mensur Suljović turned into a test of patience; Van Duijvenbode won 2–1 in sets, though both men averaged only just over 70. In round two, newly crowned World Matchplay champion Dimitri Van den Bergh awaited. Van Duijvenbode raised his level against the Belgian, taking the first two sets in last-leg deciders and surviving set darts. Van den Bergh hit back, but the Dutchman closed it out 3–1, with his 55% on doubles pivotal in reaching his first major quarter-final. There, he beat Gary Anderson 3–1. In the semi-finals he faced Simon Whitlock, who had dumped out Michael van Gerwen with a 100 average. Van Duijvenbode imposed himself with heavy scoring and a stack of 180s, and a 4–1 sent him into the final. Gerwyn Price finally halted the charge. The Welshman led 4–1 in sets before van Duijvenbode cut it to 2–4. In set seven the Dutchman went 2–0 up in legs, but Price reeled off three on the spin and sealed a 5–2 win with a 102 checkout. For van Duijvenbode, the final marked his breakthrough on the big stage.
In 2024, Michael van Gerwen lost every leg to Daryl Gurney. Gurney drew a brutal opener, facing the tournament's most successful player after Phil Taylor. The Dutchman had already lifted the World Grand Prix title six times, while Gurney, the 2017 champion, had slipped to 25th in the world rankings. Van Gerwen's recent form also pointed his way: he had reached the World Matchplay final and the World Series of Darts Finals semi-finals. Instead, his start turned into one of his bitterest defeats at a major. The first set went entirely against van Gerwen; Gurney twice broke throw and sealed the 1-0 with a dart at double 8. While the Northern Irishman was ruthless on his chances, van Gerwen could not land his doubles. Anyone expecting a response from the six-time champion was left disappointed, as Gurney swept all three legs in the second set as well. After only six legs the match was over: 2-0 in sets, 6-0 in legs to the Northern Irishman. Van Gerwen exited without winning a single leg and finished 0/8 on doubles. Gurney produced one of the tournament's starkest shocks, but could not build on it: he lost to Joe Cullen in the last 16.
In the same year, Mike De Decker authored the tournament's biggest underdog story. The Belgian arrived in Leicester ranked 36th in the world, and before the start the bookmakers had him at 100:1 to win the title. De Decker opened with a tight tussle against Damon Heta. In the first set he checked 116 in the decider while the Australian was waiting on 56. Heta levelled the sets, but De Decker took the third and advanced 2-1. Against Gary Anderson, the Belgian again delivered in the key moments: a 120 checkout gave him the second set, and a 74 finish sealed the 3-0 win. The quarter-finals brought James Wade, renowned for timing, but this time the deciding legs belonged to De Decker: he won all three sets in last-leg deciders and reached his first major semi-final. There he met compatriot and friend Dimitri Van den Bergh. After a slow start, De Decker levelled at 1-1 and then raced 3-1 clear. Van den Bergh clawed one back, but De Decker won 5-2. The final set up Luke Humphries – world number one, reigning world champion and defending World Grand Prix winner. Humphries took the first set, but De Decker hit back and surged into a 4-1 lead. Then the favourite responded: checkouts of 149 and 152 sparked Humphries' comeback, and a 67 finish eventually made it 4-4. De Decker did not flinch. He claimed the ninth set and, in the deciding leg of the tenth, left 55. Humphries piled on the pressure with a 180, but the Belgian coolly checked 55 in two darts to win the final 6-4. With his first major title, De Decker climbed from 36th to 25th in the world rankings. Above all, his timing on the doubles turned a 100:1 shot into one of the most surprising title runs in World Grand Prix history.
