Luke Humphries delivered a markedly stronger performance in the latest round of the World Grand Prix, using his exceptional double‑finishing ability and a flawless 10‑dart leg to cruise to a 3-0 victory over Jermaine Wattimena, thereby booking his place in the tournament's quarter‑finals. The match highlighted Humphries' resurgence after a modest showing earlier in the week, and it set the stage for a compelling clash with fellow Dutchman Niels Zonneveld in the next round.
Earlier in the evening, James Wade and Niels Zonneveld also posted convincing 3-1 wins, defeating Stephen Bunting and Gary Anderson respectively. In a thrilling five‑set encounter, Gian Van Veen edged out Ryan Searle 3-2 after a decisive final set, demonstrating the depth of talent on display throughout the event. Humphries entered the tournament as a favorite, especially after defending champion Luke Littler suffered a surprising loss to Luke Woodhouse on opening night.
However, his own opening match against Dave Chisnall was far from spectacular; he managed only an 80 average and hit just 26 percent of his attempted doubles, cruising to a 2-0 win that left many observers questioning his form. Two nights later, the 2023 champion and two‑time runner‑up (2024 and 2025) turned that narrative around dramatically.
He posted a 94.11 average and converted 64 percent of his finishing doubles, while an astonishing 74 percent of his opening doubles were successful, largely thanks to an early‑leg focus on double 16. The highlight of Humphries' match came at the start of the third set when he completed a perfect 10‑dart leg, a rare feat that underscored his renewed confidence. Wattimena, by contrast, faltered twice in the opening set by selecting the wrong finishing double, which proved costly in a match that quickly tilted in Humphries' favor. After the win, 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." Wade, meanwhile, showcased his own mastery of the double‑start format, securing his eighth World Grand Prix quarter‑final appearance. He opened his match against Bunting with a 160 checkout five times, a display of scoring power that left little doubt about his intentions. Despite a dip in his third set, Wade rebounded strongly in the other three, ultimately setting up a meeting with Van Veen.
Wade commented on 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!" On the other side of the draw, Ryan Searle produced a spectacular 167 checkout, the highest of the week, before breaking Van Veen's lead with a 100 finish in the fourth set. However, Searle could not maintain momentum and was broken in the very next leg, allowing Van Veen to recover and dominate the deciding set 3-0.
Van Veen, who had been 2-0 up in the penultimate set before Searle leveled the score, showed composure under pressure, ultimately sealing the match. Van Veen explained his mindset after the win: "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." Zonneveld continued his strong run by eliminating Anderson after a convincing opening‑round win over Josh Rock. He took the first set in a leg‑by‑leg battle where every leg went 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 capitalised, breaking Anderson before closing out the match. Zonneveld spoke about the significance of his performance: "Especially in this tournament, it is one of the biggest things in my whole career.
I have achieved many things Pro Tour‑wise and Euro Tour‑wise 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 format, with matches played as best of five sets (first to three), adds a layer of intensity, as players must maintain focus across potentially rapid swings in momentum. The quarter‑finals are slated to begin at 7 p.m.
on Friday, with live coverage available on Sky Sports+ and Sky Sports Main Event. The event will continue daily, culminating in the final on Sunday, offering fans multiple opportunities to watch top‑level darts action. For the best viewing experience, organizers recommend using the Chrome browser to access the video player, ensuring compatibility and smoother streaming.