Welsh darts fans will have a lot to cheer about on Friday night in Leicester, where a pivotal clash between Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton will determine not only national bragging rights but also a coveted spot in the World Grand Prix semi‑finals. Both players are currently perched near the top of the PDC Order of Merit, with World No.4 Price holding a slim one‑point advantage over his compatriot. A victory for Price would extend his lead and reinforce his status as Wales' leading darts star, while a win for Clayton would not only propel him into the semi‑finals but also give him a chance to overtake the "Iceman" as the highest‑ranked Welshman, especially as he eyes qualification for the Grand Slam of Darts in November.
The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports+ and the Sky Sports Main Event channel, kicking off at 7 p.m. on Friday.
The evening’s programme also features Nathan Aspinall versus Ryan Joyce, Luke Humphries taking on Niels Zonneveld, and a showdown between Gian van Veen and James Wade. Viewers are advised to use the Chrome browser for the best video experience. Price currently leads the head‑to‑head record against Clayton 30‑15, and he secured a recent win in the semi‑finals of the World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam, beating Clayton 11‑7. However, the tables turned in the 2021 World Grand Prix final when Clayton delivered a dominant 5‑1 victory, leaving Price "smashed up" as he described it.
The two have also shared success in the World Cup, winning the title together for Wales in 2020 and again in 2023. Speaking ahead of the match, Price acknowledged Clayton’s potential, saying, "I know how good Jonny can play, I know how bad he can play. I know how good and how bad I can play. I just need to take my opportunities.
If I can start well, score in between and put Jonny under pressure, I think I will come through but it's going to be a real tough one." He added, "It’s special for Wales regardless of who wins the game. We’ll have a Welshman in the semi‑final of another massive major." Clayton responded with his trademark banter, noting the friendly rivalry between the two: "There’s banter between me and Gezzy. Every time he gets to Welsh No 1, he sends me a flag with a No 1 on it.
We’re good friends, world number 4 and 5. You can’t fault that from Wales!" In the earlier rounds, Clayton edged past Krzysztof Ratajski 2‑1 in a match that Price jokingly called "lucky" for the Polish player, before delivering a series of high‑checkout finishes exceeding 140 points, including three in the opening set, to defeat the rising Dutchman Wessel Nijman 3‑1. Price, meanwhile, has yet to lose a set in this tournament. He opened with a 2‑0 sweep of Sebastian Bialecki, followed by a 3‑0 demolition of Ross Smith, avenging a recent loss to "Smudger" in the World Series final in the Netherlands.
The all‑Welsh encounter is just one part of a packed Friday schedule. Luke Humphries, the second seed, will face Niels Zonneveld, who entered the event as the lowest‑ranked remaining player at world No.35 after upsetting Josh Rock and Gary Anderson.
Humphries, a 2023 Grand Prix champion, is eager for a second title and stressed the importance of respecting every opponent: "One thing this tournament teaches you is not to take anyone for granted. If I think because Niels is whatever ranking he is that I’m going to win the game easy, I will fail.
He’s playing good darts and could be the Mike De Decker story. I will treat him with the respect I would give every player, the respect he deserves." Humphries also reflected on the significance of winning his first major since the 2025 Premier League, noting that a triumph would feel especially sweet after a year without major silverware: "When you have experienced that achievement of winning a lot and then it all goes away for 12 months, when you get that experience of winning again it feels even sweeter.
I have worked really hard over the last 12 months and not got the rewards so winning would do me good, boost my confidence. Because I’m not picking up one or two majors a year, people think you are not as good as you used to be but I feel I am playing better than ever. I still feel there is another level in me.
I’m just trying to find where that comes from." On the other side of the draw, Ryan Joyce, an unheralded contender alongside Zonneveld, will look to capitalize on his proficiency on double 16. Joyce, who reached the semi‑finals in 2024 before being knocked out by Humphries, sees the double‑in, double‑out format of the Grand Prix as his best shot at a major title. He recently impressed by hitting eight 180s in a quarter‑final victory over Nathan Aspinall, who had previously dispatched Luke Woodhouse.
Joyce also shared a quirky anecdote about seeking advice from an AI chatbot, claiming it offered tips that resonated with his own professional instincts, giving him a small morale boost. Aspinall, however, remains confident that Joyce’s hopes will fade if he cannot replicate his scoring power: "Joyce is unreal on his double 16 but he can’t score like me – and he knows that. If I score like I did [in round two], he’s not going to beat me, simple as that." Fans can follow all the quarter‑final action live on Sky Sports+ and the Sky Sports Main Event channel from 7 p.m.
on Friday, with daily coverage continuing through to the final on Sunday. For those looking for flexible viewing options, Sky Sports offers streaming deals, including a no‑contract option with NOW.