The likes of Gerwyn Price, Michael Smith and Gary Anderson all made it through but there were some shocks on the card as well with Raymond van Barneveld and Nathan Aspinall suffering losses.
Dirk van Duijvenbode 1-2 Brendan Dolan
After a flawless first set, Dirk van Duijvenbode failed to get it going against Brendan Dolan and the Dutchman hurtled out of the World Grand Prix in the first round.
Both threw a mediocre average of under 85 and Dolan was equally slow on the doubles (42 per cent), but in the moments that mattered Van Duijvenbdode did not stand up and the Northern Irishman was able to strike.
Jose de Sousa 1-2 Gary Anderson
De Sousa was rock solid in his own legs with an average of 104, but in the end lost out against Gary Anderson at the World Grand Prix.
De Sousa won the first set by breaking Anderson in the last leg, but lost his own second set in a whitewash and also failed to play any tricks in a thrilling third set to keep Anderson, who just managed an average of almost 100 in De Sousa's legs, from victory.
Krzysztof Ratajski 2-1 James Wade
A furious start from James Wade, including a 132 finish to break Ratajski in his first leg, was not enough for the world number 16 to reach the next round of the World Grand Prix.
Ratajski lost both his own legs in the first set, but recovered well with a flawless second set and came from 0-2 behind in the third and deciding set to win the match.
For Ratajski, this was his third win in a row over Wade. in a row.
Martin Schindler 2-1 Raymond van Barneveld
Raymond van Barneveld also failed to reach the next round of the World Grand Prix.
It again took a decisive third set, but a doubles percentage of just 30 per cent kept 'Barney' from a ticket to the quarter-finals.
Van Barneveld lost the first set after a break from Schindler in Van Barneveld's second leg of his own, which could have won him the set. Schindler won the last leg to make it 1-0.
In the second set, both players retained all their own legs and the Dutchman managed to finish the job with an admittedly uncertain but decisive tops finish.
However, the third set was not for Van Barneveld: Schindler started and held his first two legs before the German broke Van Barneveld in his last leg, thus settling the fate for the Dutchman.
Nathan Aspinall 1-2 Stephen Bunting
Nathan Aspinall, the world number five, was the next big name to hit the oche in Leicester.
A fine match between Aspinall and Bunting started with a 1-3 win for Stephen Bunting in set one, before Aspinall grabbed the second set 3-2.
The third and decisive set got off to a hard start with two breaks and Aspinall narrowly missing a 164 finish. However, both players retained their final legs and the pot eventually went to Bunting.
Gerwyn Price 2-0 Danny Noppert
Gerwyn Price initially struggled to open his account and missed an array of doubles, but Noppert did not manage to make enough use of the built-up lead and was broken by Price in a possible set-winning fourth leg, after which the Welshman also took the last leg and therefore the first set.
The second set was soon done for Noppert after Price broke Noppert in both legs of the Frisian and Noppert was sent home early with a 3-0 set defeat.
Michael Smith 2-0 Callan Rydz
Michael Smith sent Callan Rydz home with a big sweep. A furious first set, in which Michael Smith hit an unprecedented average of 110, and no less than an average of 136.6(!) in his own leg, brought Smith to a 1-0 lead at lightning speed.
Callan Rydz started the second set extremely well with a 126 finish, but had to acknowledge Smith's superiority in both his legs thereafter, with the reigning world champion finishing the job with a 3-1 set win and a ticket to the second round in the World Grand Prix; surprisingly only the third time ever that Smith has made it out of the first round.
Rob Cross 1-2 Andrew Gilding
Andrew Gilding edged out former world champion Rob Cross in the final match of the night.
The UK Open champion came back after a first-set deficit.
Indeed, Cross started the match better, winning the first four legs, but it was Gilding who then won four in a row to take the lead for the first time in the match.
Cross fought back strongly in the third set, taking it to match point, but had to let the last two legs go to Gilding, who recorded his first-ever Grand Prix victory.
