James Wade and Luke Humphries booked their places in the semi-finals of the World Grand Prix with convincing straight-sets victories in Leicester on Friday evening. Wade swept aside Gian van Veen 3-0, while Humphries defeated Niels Zonneveld by the same scoreline. The pair join Nathan Aspinall and Gerwyn Price in the last four.
Wade produced a remarkably efficient performance, needing just an 81 average to see off Van Veen, who managed only a single leg in the entire match in which he had an opportunity to finish. The Englishman established control immediately, holding his throw in 17 darts to take the opening set without facing serious resistance, as Van Veen averaged just 66 in the first set. Wade held in 18 darts in the second set before punishing another poor leg from Van Veen with a 17-darter to move 2-0 ahead. He then produced the standout leg of the match, firing an 11-darter with a 62 finish to take his sixth consecutive leg. Van Veen finally found a finish in the ninth leg, hitting double two with his fourth dart, but Wade sealed the match with a 13-darter.
Humphries also secured a 3-0 victory over Zonneveld, although the Dutchman had opportunities to make the contest considerably closer. Both players needed time to settle in the opening leg, with Humphries eventually holding in 20 darts. Zonneveld responded with an excellent 12-darter before missing three darts at tops in the third leg, allowing Humphries to escape with an 18-darter. Humphries completed the opening set with a 17-darter. In the second set, Zonneveld missed several darts at double in the third leg, allowing Humphries to move 2-1 ahead. Zonneveld forced a deciding leg but missed one dart at tops for a 135 finish, and Humphries took out 75 to claim the set. In the third set, Humphries opened with a 17-darter, Zonneveld responded with a 78 finish, but when Zonneveld missed two darts at double 11, Humphries closed out the match.
Nathan Aspinall came remarkably close to producing the highest average in World Grand Prix history during his quarter-final against Ryan Joyce. Aspinall followed a 110 finish by taking the opening leg of the second set, before Joyce responded with a superb 153 checkout. Aspinall produced a 112 finish for a 12-darter, but Joyce hit double 18 to make it 2-2. Aspinall took the set with another 13-darter, with his average sitting at 109.78 at that stage. He continued his high-level performance in the third set, opening with a 15-darter, and after some missed doubles, sealed the match with a 75 finish. Those missed doubles prevented Aspinall from breaking the highest World Grand Prix average record.
Gerwyn Price completed a dramatic comeback against Jonny Clayton to secure his place in the semi-finals. Both players struggled on the opening doubles, with Price missing six darts in the first leg before eventually taking it. Clayton responded with a spectacular 110 finish before following it with a 117 checkout to move 2-1 ahead. Price fought back but missed two darts at tops and double 12, allowing Clayton to steal the opening set. Clayton then took the second set 2-0, including a 98 finish. From the third set onwards, Price found his rhythm, taking out 54 to reduce the deficit to 2-1. He dominated the fourth set, opening with a 64 finish before breaking Clayton to move 2-0 ahead, completing the set 3-0 to force a deciding fifth set. Clayton raced into a 2-0 lead, but Price survived his first match dart, pulled a leg back, and hit tops to force a deciding leg. Clayton then had two more match darts but neither found the target, and Price took full advantage to complete the comeback 3-2.
The semi-final line-up is now complete: James Wade faces Luke Humphries, while Nathan Aspinall takes on Gerwyn Price.
