Jonny Clayton ended Wessel Nijman's hopes of a televised breakthrough at the World Grand Prix on Wednesday night, booking his place in the quarter-finals at Leicester's Mattioli Arena. The Welshman, nicknamed 'The Ferret', ensured Nijman's wait for a TV breakthrough continues as the race for the last eight got underway with play starting at 19:00 BST.
The opening round had already delivered shocks, with both Luke Littler and Michael van Gerwen crashing out. Gerwyn Price was handed another shot at Ross Smith following his World Series Finals defeat, while Luke Woodhouse aimed to follow up his win over the defending champion when he faced Nathan Aspinall. All four matches were covered live as the first quarter-finalists were decided.
The night's action came amid a backdrop of drama at the tournament, with a visible injury to Luke Humphries raising questions during the World Grand Prix. Meanwhile, the prize money on offer for the winner in Leicester remains a hot topic, with Gerwyn Price and Luke Humphries among those in contention for the title.
Attention now turns to the remaining quarter-final spots, with the Mattioli Arena hosting the conclusion of the second-round ties. With big names already departed, the path to the title remains wide open as the World Grand Prix enters its decisive stages.
