This is also going to be a time when those chasing spots in the Premier League will really want to impress the most, while the two year World Ranking approach used by the PDC means there can be big changes made to the positions, which could lead to more opportunities in 2027.
Most of the tournaments have the same kind of format with the length of the match the biggest difference from week to week- the floor events and opening Rounds of the European Tour events are all played in best of eleven Leg format, while there are a couple of tournaments that use Set play rather than Legs to determine winners.
With all that being said, the World Grand Prix is the standalone tournament on the calendar.
It is played in a Set format, but this is also the only tournament that has a 'Double In, Double Out' setting and that does make it very different to the other events played throughout the year.
This does give players more opportunities to try and earn the upsets, although it should also be said that Luke Humphries and Luke Littler have won the World Grand Prix in the last three seasons. The outlier in that time is Mike De Dekker, who has never really reached those heights again, but Rob Thornton and Daryl Gurney are other surprising winners of the tournaments since 2015, while Michael van Gerwen, Jonny Clayton and Gerwyn Price have all won the title pretty recently too.
Luke Littler will always be the strong favourite in any tournament he enters, while the tournament being played in the United Kingdom is another positive for him after dealing with the boo boys at the World Series of Darts Finals.
He has a pretty awkward opening draw, but not many would write off Luke Littler, even if the hopes of sweeping all of the Majors in 2026 ended with the defeat in Amsterdam last week.
You would probably be more comfortable backing Luke Humphries from the bottom half of the draw, but there is so much to like about how Ross Smith has been getting on.
A tough path has to be trodden if Smith is going all of the way, but this is a player in form having won the last Ranking event and who looks a definite contender at the World Championship with the right draw in front of him.
At the World Grand Prix, Ross Smith is expected to be tested right out of the gate, which could make it tough.
Instead there could be some value in backing James Wade for a run- he has not really enjoyed the format in recent years, but that would be ignoring the fact he has won the World Grand Prix twice before, and Wade could be tough to stop if he can earn a revenge victory over Joe Cullen who beat him in the First Round last year.
Danny Noppert to win & both over 0.5 180s v Niko Springer: The 'Double In, Double Out' format does have an impact on the maximum hitting markets, but you would still expect Danny Noppert and Niko Springer to hit one each considering their abilities around the treble 20.
All of the top players know what kind of threat Niko Springer brings to the oche and the German is someone who will step up his level against the better players he faces.
However, Springer has not really brought that form into events played over the last month and so you have to believe Danny Noppert has too much for him.
You would not really say that Noppert is in great form of his own or anything like that, but he did put a few wins together at Players Championship 29 played last week. The 6-4 loss to Luke Littler at the World Series of Darts Finals will have given the Dutchman some belief, while he had a couple of solid wins at a couple of European Tour events played earlier this month.
Danny Noppert had suffered a couple of hard luck losses at the World Grand Prix, but broke through to reach the Semi Final last year and can edge to a victory in the First Round in 2026.
Ross Smith to win & over 1.5 180s & Cameron Menzies over 0.5 180s: These two were set for a big match at the World Matchplay, but it lasted just three Legs before Cameron Menzies felt too ill to continue.
He will be hoping to challenge Ross Smith for much longer than that in the First Round at the World Grand Prix and Cameron Menzies picked up a win at Players Championship 29 to boost confidence ahead of this Ranking event.
Cameron Menzies has plenty of ability and will be dangerous, but Ross Smith should be very familiar with the format and winning the World Series of Darts Finals to add to the considerable success on the floor and on the European Tour Stage will have given Smudger a huge amount of belief.
Ross Smith has simply put in so many wins of late that the confidence will be surging and although his recent record at this event is disappointing, the favourite can add a couple of maximums to go with at least one from his opponent on the way through to the Second Round in 2026.
Wessel Nijman v Rob Cross: There is no doubt that Rob Cross has enjoyed the format at the World Grand Prix and even beat Luke Littler at the event two years ago.
Last year he overcame Wessel Nijman in a three Set battle in the First Round, but Rob Cross will know he needs to be a lot better if he is going to do the same again.
Twelve months on, Wessel Nijman is a much stronger player than he was and he has earned a bit of revenge over Rob Cross by beating him in the final of a European Tour event at the end of June.
Wessel Nijman remains the more consistent scorer, as he was in the loss to Rob Cross here last year, and he can just do enough to edge past the former World Champion and reverse the result from 2025.
MY PICKS: Danny Noppert to Win & Both Players Over 0.5 180s @ 2.10 Bet365 (1 Unit)
Ross Smith to Win & Smith Over 1.5 180s & Cameron Menzies Over 0.5 180s @ 2.10 Bet365 (1 Unit)
Wessel Nijman @ 1.72 Bet365 (1 Unit)
Darts 2026: 136-170, - 21.70 Units (305 Units Staked, - 7.11% Yield)
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