James Wade secured his place in the World Grand Prix semi-finals by dismantling third seed Gian van Veen at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester. The veteran darts player produced a dominant display, dropping only a single leg during the one-sided victory.
Wade’s impressive performance sets up a semi-final meeting with Luke Humphries, who became the tournament favorite after defending champion Luke Littler suffered a shock first-round exit. Humphries continued his flawless run by easing past Niels Zonneveld 3-0, remaining the only player to go through the quarter-final stage without losing a set.
In a contrasting encounter, compatriot Gerwyn Price endured a harrowing test against Jonny Clayton in an all-Welsh quarter-final clash. Trailing two sets to none, Price staged a remarkable comeback, winning six of the next seven legs to level the tie. The final set saw Clayton take the lead, but he missed a crucial match dart to win in straight legs, forcing a decider.
In the deciding leg, Price had two match-winning darts of his own but failed to convert them, allowing Clayton to keep the pressure on. Ultimately, ‘The Ferret’ held his nerve to snatch victory and book his spot in the last four.
Price will now face Nathan Aspinall, who delivered a masterclass in his quarter-final defeat of Ryan Joyce. Aspinall won in straight sets while recording an average of 105.15, marking the fourth-highest average in World Grand Prix history and the best for a quarter-final match.
The semi-finals are scheduled to take place on Saturday evening, with live coverage beginning at 8pm on Sky Sports+ and 8:30pm on Sky Sports Main Event.
Van Veen never stood a chance against Wade. That semi against Humphries looks set to be a blockbuster encounter.
Price surviving three match darts against Clayton is pure drama. What a comeback to reach the semis!