The quarter-final lineup at the 2026 World Grand Prix is complete, with Luke Humphries, James Wade, Gian van Veen and Niels Zonneveld all advancing in Leicester. With Luke Littler's title defence having ended on the opening night, the challengers are coming thick and fast to take the crown he won 12 months ago.
Luke Humphries was the standout performer as he searches for a fourth consecutive final, producing a majestic 3-0 win over Jermaine Wattimena. Humphries found 14 from 19 darts at double to start a leg and pinned nine from 14 at the end of legs, summing up a clinical showing. Wattimena missed a dart for the big fish in the opening leg before making a hash of 40, and Humphries pinned double 16 the first time of asking to break. After trading breaks, Humphries missed double 18 for a 150 checkout, but a 129 outshot culminated a 12-dart leg which forced a decider. Two set darts came and went for Wattimena, with a fabulous 88 finish in two darts earning Humphries a pivotal advantage. A 13-darter got Wattimena level before missing the bull for a 130, and Humphries showed his class with 76 going in three. By this point Humphries had missed just two darts when starting a leg, and he continued that streak in the opening two legs of the third set. A 180 followed by a 177 set up 32, and the 2023 winner found it for an incredible 10-darter. This was followed by a 14-darter as a Humphries win felt inevitable. Wattimena won the next two legs, but Humphries was not to be stopped, blasting into the last-eight as possibly the favourite to clinch the title.
Gian van Veen found himself 2-1 down against Ryan Searle at one point in their contest, but turned it around to seal a 3-2 win and continue his fine tournament. Searle was fortunate to win his opening round tie, while van Veen broke new ground with a first-ever win in this tournament. It began with three holds of throw, but a phenomenal 152 checkout by 'The Giant' stole the spotlight and came right before he completed the first set with Searle missing doubles to confirm a decider. Four holds of throw led to another decider, with van Veen almost finding checkouts of 119 and 146 and a 13-darter for Searle the highlight. Van Veen then blew the chance for a 2-0 lead as he took seven darts to get in, and Searle built up enough of an advantage to fire himself back in the match. 'Heavy Metal' produced a special moment at the start of the third set with a 167 checkout, the highest of the tournament and a break of throw. He would then wire double 16 for a 146 to reinforce his lead, but van Veen made him pay as he broke back instantly. Three breaks on the spin were backed with a 13-dart hold by the Englishman who stole the lead away from his opponent. Van Veen was in need of a solid response and produced that with a break of throw off the bat, choosing to set up the 154 after leaving 34, pinning his favourite double 16. Searle clapped back, nailing tops twice for a fabulous 100 checkout. He would throw for the match but struggled to get off the mark, and some poor scoring visits mixed in gave van Veen some breathing space with the first fifth set of the second round on the cards. The PDC World Darts Championship finalist made it three legs on the spin with a bit of fortune, missing five darts to break in the second leg of the set, but in turn Searle squandered eight darts. That spelt doom as van Veen reached the World Grand Prix quarter-final for the very first time.
Niels Zonneveld's World Grand Prix debut continues to go from strength to strength, while Gary Anderson's aspirations for a maiden title prolongs after an out-of-sorts performance allowed Zonneveld to prevail 3-1. Anderson's start consisted of single one and two bounce-outs, a shaky start to say the least, but he almost won it with an eye-catching 150 checkout. Zonneveld, who had missed the bull for a 128, broke the throw on double 12. Both players missed numerous darts on the outer ring and somehow Anderson broke back. The trend of breaks continued with a decider in store, and Zonneveld again seized the initiative, taking the lead despite both players not competing at their highest level. That changed on the next set as 'Tripple Z' took out back-to-back 14 darters to race clear. Anderson missed the bull for a 126, a checkout he really needed to take out, because of a 171 Zonneveld found to leave 24. He found double 12 the first time of asking and doubled his lead. 'The Flying Scotsman' kept his hopes alive as he streaked into a 2-0 lead. Zonneveld managed to break back on double four, but a missed dart at tops allowed Anderson to return, and he showed his opponent how to do it. He failed to get off to a flyer in the fourth set, missing double 16 for a 101. Zonneveld pinned double 15 for a 109 straight after. To rub salt into the wound, Anderson saw his dart go in and out of the bull for an 86 finish. Zonneveld showed no mercy and cruised to glory, almost doing it in style with a 134 but returning to find a favourable double 10 target to blast through.
James Wade boosted his title chances with another brilliant performance, seeing off a very impressive Stephen Bunting 3-1 to book his spot in yet another major quarter-final. Aside from an abject third set, Wade was in control. He almost got off to a flyer, missing tops for a 101, and was not punished for a similar situation for a 116, finding double 18 the third time of asking. This segment was missed by 'The Bullet' as Wade came back to find the double 12 he so perfectly set up. He dominated the next leg and had no trouble in sewing up the opening set, averaging over 98. 'The Machine' was in control of proceedings, not forced to go the 18's route after leaving 68 with two left in hand, finding treble 16 for double 10 in a brilliant finish. Bunting quickly got all square but for the third leg in a row, Wade began with a 160. Both players mustered up relatively routine holds which saw a decider for the second set play out. Each of them was averaging over 100 in the set, but it would go the way of the former champion who was in a rampant mood. Bunting failed to take out the 142, and that opened the door for Wade to double his advantage with an eighth Grand Prix quarter-final coming into sight. Wade's level did drop in the third set as the former Masters champion saw his chance, with 14 and 15 darters seeing him steam ahead. He averaged around 40 more points in that set than his opponent before taking out 48 in two to get his first set on the board. Wade woke up in the fourth set, with a 14-darter via a different 48 checkout followed by yet another 160 start. He cruised to a crucial break and was on the brink of victory, finishing in style by nailing double 13 for an 81 finish. Ageing like fine wine, Wade's 22nd World Grand Prix campaign continues.
