James Wade and Nathan Aspinall produced authoritative performances to secure their places in the World Grand Prix semi-finals, setting the stage for a compelling Saturday night lineup.
Aspinall looked poised to establish a new tournament record average as he cruised past Ryan Joyce with a 3-0 victory. His scoring average of 105.15 ranked as the fourth-highest in the event’s history and marked the best figure ever recorded in a quarter-final match.
Meanwhile, Wade dismissed world No. 2 Gian van Veen in just over 20 minutes, surrendering only a single leg. Describing his own display as having “bashed up” his opponent, Wade’s efficiency earned high praise from pundits.
Sky Sports analyst Wayne Mardle characterized Wade’s showing as “absolutely devastating” and “world class,” while three-time world champion John Part agreed, noting that Wade appeared not just as a great thrower but as a winner who capitalized on his opponent’s struggles from the outset. Part added that he views Wade as a legitimate title contender.
Despite cruising to a 3-0 win over debutant Niels Zonneveld, Luke Humphries expressed dissatisfaction with his performance. The 2023 champion averaged 85.91, matching his Dutch opponent, but relied on superior doubling to progress. Humphries admitted he felt like the second-best player during the first two sets and warned that if he cannot improve, he will not reach Sunday’s final.
Humphries acknowledged the challenge posed by his upcoming semi-final opponent, Wade, stating, “He’s a tough player to play against.” He added that the outcome would depend on whether he could access his usual scoring levels.
In the other semi-final clash, Aspinall prepares to face Gerwyn Price, who survived a tense encounter against compatriot Jonny Clayton. Price overcame a two-set deficit and survived three match darts to win 3-2 in an all-Welsh quarter-final.
Aspinall, who reached the semi-finals of this event in 2022 before finishing as runner-up to Michael van Gerwen, is feeling confident following his victory over Joyce. After claiming the World Matchplay title in 2023, Aspinall expressed his belief that he is ready to add another major championship to his collection.
“I feel like I can win this tournament,” Aspinall said. “It’s probably one of my best performances ever on stage for my whole career.”
The semi-final schedule for Saturday features Nathan Aspinall versus Gerwyn Price at 8pm, followed by James Wade taking on Luke Humphries. Coverage of Day 6 begins live on Sky Sports+ at 8pm and on Sky Sports Main Event at 8.30pm.
Humphries admitting he felt second best is worrying. If he doesn’t fix his doubles, he won’t get past Wade.
Wade was simply ruthless out there. Getting through Van Veen that quickly is scary good stuff, honestly.