Luke Humphries delivered a markedly stronger performance in the recent World Grand Prix, showcasing his exceptional finishing ability and a flawless 10‑dart leg that propelled him to a decisive 3‑0 victory over Jermaine Wattimena, earning a place in the tournament's quarter‑finals. Humphries, who entered the event as the favourite after witnessing defending champion Luke Littler’s surprising defeat to Luke Woodhouse on opening night, had previously struggled with a modest average of 80 and a low 26 percent success rate on his closing doubles in a lackluster 2‑0 win against Dave Chisnall. However, in this latest match he turned his form around dramatically, posting an average of 94.11 and converting 64 percent of his finishing doubles, with a striking 74 percent success rate on his opening doubles, repeatedly targeting double 16 early in each leg.
The Dutchman Wattimena, despite his efforts, missed the correct double twice in the first set, allowing Humphries to seize the momentum. Early in the third set, Humphries capped his dominance with a perfect 10‑dart finish, a rare feat that underscored his sharpness under pressure. After the match, Humphries expressed confidence, noting, "I have a good chance of winning this. I'm a bit up and down at the moment, but if I can smooth that out, I’ll be very hard to beat.
It wasn’t my best performance, but it was far better than Tuesday’s. I think I hit my first three darts every time, and when you’re doing that, it takes a top‑class effort to beat you." In other quarter‑final qualifiers, James Wade and Niels Zonneveld each recorded 3‑1 wins over Stephen Bunting and Gary Anderson, respectively, while Gian Van Veen edged past Ryan Searle in a gripping 3‑2 encounter that went to a deciding set. Wade, the sixth seed, delivered a masterclass in opening play, launching his match against Bunting with a 160 finish five times, a display of scoring power that set the tone for his eighth appearance in a World Grand Prix quarter‑final. Wade reflected on the challenges of the double‑start format, saying, "I’m grateful because winning with a double start is extremely tough.
We can all pretend to be relaxed, but it’s actually hellish, hard work. I don’t feel I’m at my best, but I have to raise my game against better opponents. I have many gears to shift – talk is cheap, and I’m full of cheap talk!" Searle, who hit the tournament’s highest checkout of the week with a 167, initially broke Van Veen’s hold in the fourth set with a 100 finish, only to be broken back immediately in the deciding leg. Van Veen, after falling behind 2‑0 in the penultimate set, rallied to level the match at 2‑2 before dominating the final set 3‑0 to claim victory.
He admitted that a momentary lapse in the first round, where he missed double 16, had unsettled him, but he ultimately felt his overall scoring was solid, despite a few missed darts at crucial junctures. "When I was down 2‑1 in sets, I thought, ‘oh no, this isn’t how I want to go out.’ Double 16 was a bother today, but it worked out in the end. I was happy with my scoring, missed a couple of darts at key moments, but I got the job done," he said.
Zonneveld continued his impressive run by eliminating Anderson after a convincing opening‑round win over Josh Rock. He started his match against Anderson by taking the first set, a set where every leg was won against the throw. Anderson’s start was disastrous; he hit a single one, suffered two bounce‑outs, and later missed a bullseye for the leg, resulting in another bounce‑out in the fourth set.
Zonneveld capitalized on these errors, breaking Anderson’s throw before sealing the match in the following leg. The Dutchman spoke about the significance of this tournament in his career, stating, "This event is one of the biggest things in my whole career.
I’ve achieved a lot on the Pro Tour and Euro Tour, but not on the main stage, except once at the World Series Finals. I’ve become a dad, so less sleep and everything, but I feel back in rhythm again." The quarter‑finals are set to commence at 7 p.m., with matches played to the best of five sets. Fans can watch the live action on Sky Sports+ and Sky Sports Main Event, with daily coverage continuing through to the final on Sunday.
The tournament’s double‑start format adds an extra layer of difficulty, demanding precision both at the start and finish of each leg, a challenge that the remaining competitors will need to master if they hope to progress further. As the field narrows, the intensity will only increase, and the players who can combine high scoring with clinical finishing will be the ones to watch as they vie for the coveted Grand Prix title.