Luke Humphries delivered a markedly stronger performance in his recent World Grand Prix match, showcasing his double‑finishing talent and even producing a flawless 10‑dart leg that helped him breeze past Jermaine Wattimena 3‑0 and claim a place in the tournament’s quarter‑finals. The evening also produced a series of 3‑1 victories: James Wade overcame Stephen Bunting, while Niels Zonneveld dispatched Gary Anderson with the same scoreline.
In a thrilling five‑set showdown, Gian Van Veen edged out Ryan Searle 3‑2 after a nail‑biting final set. Humphries entered the event as one of the bookmakers’ favorites, especially after defending champion Luke Littler suffered a surprising defeat to Luke Woodhouse on opening night. Earlier in the week, Humphries had struggled, posting a modest average of 80 and converting just 26 % of his finishing doubles in a 2‑0 win over Dave Chisnall on Tuesday. Those numbers suggested a player still finding his rhythm.
Two nights later, however, the 2023 champion and runner‑up in both 2024 and 2025 dramatically turned his form around. He posted a robust average of 94.11 and finished with a 64 % success rate on his doubles. Even more impressive was his opening‑double conversion rate of 74 %, a statistic that highlighted how often he hit double 16 early in each leg, putting relentless pressure on his opponent. Nicknamed “Cool Hand,” Humphries will now meet fellow Dutchman Zonneveld in the quarter‑finals on Friday.
His 10‑dart perfect leg came at the start of the third set, a rare feat that underscored his renewed confidence. Wattimena, by contrast, faltered twice in the first set by selecting the wrong double, which contributed to his swift exit. After the match, Humphries reflected on his performance: "I’ve got a good chance of winning this. At the moment I’m a bit up and down, but if I can put that right I’m going to be tough to beat.
It wasn’t the best performance, but it was a good performance. It was a lot better than it was on Tuesday.
I think I got in every time with my first three darts. When you’re doing stuff like that, it’s going to take a top performance to beat you." James Wade, meanwhile, delivered a masterclass in opening play to reach his eighth World Grand Prix quarter‑final. He opened the match against Bunting with a 160 finish five times, an extraordinary display of scoring power that set the tone for his 3‑1 victory.
Wade acknowledged the difficulty of the double‑start format: "I am so grateful as it is so hard to win with a double start. We can all play it cool and pretend to be relaxed but it is awful, it is hellish, really hard work.
I don’t feel anywhere near my best but I am having to play better against better players. I have loads more gears to go – but talk is cheap. And I am full of cheap talk!" In another match, Ryan Searle impressed with a 167 checkout, the highest of the week, before falling to Van Veen.
Searle broke the Dutchman’s hold in the fourth set with a 100 finish, only to be broken back immediately in the deciding leg. Van Veen, who had been down 2‑0 in the penultimate set, fought back to 2‑2 and then dominated the final set 3‑0 to clinch the win.
Van Veen explained his mindset after the comeback: "When I was 2‑1 down in sets, I was like, ‘oh no, this is not how I want to go out.’ As good as double 16 went for me in the first round, it kind of bothered me today. But at the end it really came good. I was quite happy with my scoring, but just missed a couple of darts at a crucial time.
Luckily I got the job done." Niels Zonneveld continued his strong run by eliminating Anderson after a convincing opening‑round victory over Josh Rock. Zonneveld seized the first set by winning every leg against the throw, putting Anderson under immediate pressure. Anderson’s start was disastrous: he hit a single one, suffered two bounce‑outs, and later missed a bullseye that would have secured the leg, leading to another bounce‑out in the fourth set. Zonneveld broke Anderson’s throw and closed out the match shortly thereafter.
Speaking about his progress, the 28‑year‑old Zonneveld said: "Especially in this tournament, it is one of the biggest things in my whole career. I have achieved many things on the Pro Tour and Euro Tour but not on the main stage, just once at the World Series Finals.
I have become a dad so less sleep and all that but I feel in rhythm again." The tournament continues with matches scheduled from 7 p.m., each contested as best‑of‑five sets (first to three). Fans can watch the quarter‑finals live on Sky Sports+ and Sky Sports Main Event, with daily coverage running through to the final on Sunday.
For those without a contract, NOW offers a streaming option, while Sky Sports deals remain available for viewers seeking the most accessible way to follow the action.