Gerwyn Price secured a straight‑sets victory over Ross Smith to book an all‑Welsh quarter‑final encounter with his World Cup teammate Jonny Clayton at the World Grand Prix in Leicester. The win followed a comfortable opening‑round triumph over Sebastian Białecki, with Price conceding only four legs in the match at the Mattioli Arena. Despite being outscored by Smith – who posted the highest average of the first round – Price’s efficient 3‑0 win earned him a Friday night meeting with Clayton, who has also been in fine form throughout the tournament.
The Welsh duo now face each other in what promises to be a high‑stakes showdown, with both players eager to advance to the semi‑finals. Clayton entered the quarter‑finals after a dominant 3‑1 performance against Dutchman Wessel Nijman.
He opened the match with three consecutive checkouts exceeding 100 points, eventually recording four ton‑plus finishes in total. His 93.08 average and clinical finishing helped him overcome the 12th seed and move on to the next round. In other sections of the draw, England’s Ryan Joyce breezed past Danny Noppert in straight sets, while Luke Woodhouse – who had pulled off a surprise upset over Luke Littler in the opening round – was eliminated after a 3‑0 loss to Nathan Aspinall. Aspinall’s victory was decisive, as he broke Woodhouse’s throw early and then sealed the match with a 135 checkout.
Price’s statistics for the evening were impressive: he averaged 101.61 overall, though his average dipped by more than ten points against Smith. After an early break, Price responded with a brilliant 13‑dart leg to level the scores and eventually clinched the opening set in a final‑leg decider. He followed that with an 86 finish to take the second set and an 80 checkout early in the third.
Smith fought back with a 116 checkout to break and narrow the gap, but Price finished the match on a double 18. Reflecting on his performance, Price told Sky Sports, "I don’t think it was a great game and I don’t think we played brilliant. What we did do in patches was start well and finish well, but the bits in between were a little bit rubbish. I know he [Clayton] is chasing a Grand Slam spot, so the pressure is on him.
I think he got lucky in the first round – hopefully he doesn’t get lucky in the next round!" Clayton’s own narrative was equally compelling. He claimed the opening set without dropping a leg, opening with a 112 checkout, then a 116, and finally a 125 bullseye finish. Nijman managed to snatch a leg back with a 90 checkout, taking the second set in a tight decider. However, Clayton quickly regained momentum, opening the third set with a 126 bullseye finish.
Throughout the match he hit eight maximums and displayed a range of high‑pressure finishes, ultimately securing four of the next six legs to seal his quarter‑final place for the third year running. Speaking after his win, Clayton said, "My scoring was good but, to be fair, Wessel [Nijman] missed a few chances on doubles and he gave me a few chances. The two bullseyes were good, the 126 was good and I have a big smile." On the other side of the bracket, Aspinall continued his strong run by defeating Woodhouse 3‑0.
He averaged 96.27, launched eight 180s, and broke Woodhouse’s throw early with a 135 checkout. After breaking back, he hit a 104 finish to open a two‑set lead and then ran three consecutive legs to seal his spot in the quarter‑finals. Aspinall explained his mindset, "As long as I can handle the pressure, which I think I have shown in these two games in the key moments, I am going to be tough to beat this week. If it all comes together, I am one of the best players in the world.
Everybody knows that but I have to prove it." Aspinall’s next opponent will be Ryan Joyce, who dominated his opening match, limiting Danny Noppert to just three legs and expressing frustration over the stage floorboards shifting during play. The quarter‑finals are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., with matches played to the best of three sets. Fans can watch the action live on Sky Sports+ and Sky Sports Main Event, with coverage continuing daily through to the final on Sunday. For those without a Sky subscription, streaming options are available via NOW, offering flexible, contract‑free viewing.
Overall, the World Grand Prix continues to deliver thrilling darts, with Welsh players Price and Clayton poised to add another chapter to their rivalry, while English contenders Aspinall and Joyce look to cement their places in the latter stages of the competition.