Luke Humphries delivered a markedly stronger performance on the double‑start format, using his precision on the finishing doubles and a flawless 10‑dart leg to dispatch Jermaine Wattimena 3‑0 and advance to the World Grand Prix quarter‑finals. The evening also featured 3‑1 wins for James Wade, who overcame Stephen Bunting, and for Niels Zonneveld, who beat Gary Anderson. In a thrilling five‑set showdown, Gian Van Veen edged past Ryan Searle 3‑2 after a decisive final set.
Humphries entered the tournament as the favorite after defending champion Luke Littler suffered a surprising loss to Luke Woodhouse on opening night. His earlier match against Dave Chisnall had been underwhelming – a 2‑0 victory in which he averaged just 80 and hit a meagre 26 % on his closing doubles.
Two nights later, the 2023 champion and runner‑up in both 2024 and 2025 displayed a dramatic turnaround. He posted an average of 94.11 and finished with a 64 % success rate on his final doubles.
Even more striking was his 74 % conversion on opening doubles, repeatedly targeting double 16 at the start of legs. Dubbed “Cool Hand”, Humphries will meet fellow Dutchman Zonneveld in the quarter‑finals on Friday. He opened the third set with a perfect 10‑dart finish, while Wattimena faltered twice by hitting the wrong double in the first set.
After the match, Humphries reflected: “I feel I have a solid chance of taking the title. I’ve been a little inconsistent lately, but if I can smooth that out I’ll be very difficult to beat.
It wasn’t my best showing, but it was a clear improvement on Tuesday. I think I was hitting my first three darts consistently, and when you’re playing at that level you need a top‑flight performance to be stopped.” James Wade, meanwhile, produced a masterclass in opening play, securing his eighth World Grand Prix quarter‑final appearance.
He launched his encounter with Bunting by hitting the maximum 160 checkout five times, a remarkable display of scoring power on the double‑start board. Wade acknowledged the difficulty of the format: “I’m incredibly grateful because winning on a double start is tough. We can all try to act relaxed, but the reality is it’s brutal, almost hellish, and demands relentless work.
I don’t feel I’m at my absolute best yet, but the competition forces me to raise my game. I have a lot of gear left in the tank – talk is cheap, and I’m full of cheap talk!” In another match, Ryan Searle, who recorded the week’s highest checkout of 167, fought hard against Van Veen. He broke the Dutchman’s serve with a 100 finish in the fourth set, only to be broken back immediately in the deciding leg.
Van Veen, who had led 2‑0 in the penultimate set before Searle leveled the score at 2‑2, then surged ahead, sweeping the final set 3‑0 to claim victory. Van Veen explained his mindset: “When I fell behind 2‑1 in sets, I thought, ‘No, this isn’t how I want to go out.’ Double 16 had served me well in the first round, but it troubled me today.
In the end, things fell into place. I was pleased with my scoring, though I missed a few crucial darts. Fortunately, I managed to close it out.” Niels Zonneveld, fresh from an opening‑round win over Josh Rock, continued his impressive run by eliminating Anderson.
He started the match by taking the first set, winning every leg despite playing against the throw. Anderson’s start was disastrous; he opened with a single 1, suffered two bounce‑outs, and later missed a bullseye for the leg, resulting in another bounce‑out in the fourth set. Zonneveld broke Anderson’s throw and sealed the match in the following leg.
Zonneveld, 28, spoke about the significance of the event: “This tournament is a massive milestone in my career. I’ve achieved a lot on the Pro Tour and Euro Tour, but I’ve only had one main‑stage appearance at the World Series Finals. Becoming a dad has meant less sleep, but I feel back in rhythm now.” The competition follows a best‑of‑five‑sets format, with the first player to win three sets advancing. The quarter‑finals will be broadcast live on Sky Sports+ and Sky Sports Main Event from 7 p.m.
on Friday, with daily coverage continuing through to the final on Sunday. Viewers are encouraged to use Chrome for the most accessible video player experience, and those without a contract can stream via NOW for a flexible, contract‑free option.