Gerwyn Price secured a place in an all‑Welsh quarter‑final encounter with his World Cup teammate Jonny Clayton after dispatching Ross Smith in straight sets at the World Grand Prix in Leicester. The victory came after Price’s opening‑round triumph over Sebastian Białecki, and he managed to keep the leg count low, conceding only four legs in the match against Smith at the Mattioli Arena.
Although Smith posted the highest average of the first round, Price still emerged as the stronger player, limiting Smith to just three sets and clinching the win 3‑0. This performance guarantees a Friday evening showdown with Clayton, who also advanced comfortably and will now face his compatriot in what promises to be a tightly contested duel. Price entered the tournament as one of the favourites, especially after the surprising early elimination of teenage sensation Luke Littler. In his first‑round match, Price displayed his usual clinical scoring, but his average against Smith dipped to 101.61, roughly ten points lower than his opening night figure.
He recovered from an early break of throw, hitting a 13‑dart finish to level the score and then winning the opening set in a deciding leg. The world No.
4 continued his comeback by taking an 86 checkout to seal the second set and an 80 finish early in the third. Smith answered with a 116 checkout that gave him a brief lead, but Price ultimately closed out the match with a decisive double 18. Reflecting on his performance, Price told Sky Sports, "I don't think it was a great game and I don't think we played brilliant. What we did do in patches was start well and finish well, but the bits in between were a little bit rubbish." He added that Clayton is under pressure to secure a Grand Slam spot and hoped his opponent would not rely on luck in the next round.
Jonny Clayton, the other Welsh contender, opened his match against Dutch player Wessel Nijman with a spectacular display of high‑scoring finishes. He recorded three consecutive ton‑plus checkouts, beginning with a 112 finish, then a 116 to hold throw, and finally a 125 bullseye finish, which gave him a clean 3‑0 lead. Clayton’s average of 93.08, combined with his impressive finishing, allowed him to overcome the 12th seed and move into the quarter‑finals.
Nijman fought back in the second set, narrowing the gap with a 90 checkout and taking the set in a final‑leg decider. However, Clayton quickly regained momentum in the third set, hitting another bullseye to claim a 126 checkout and then stringing together four of the next six legs.
He finished the match with eight maximums and a series of high finishes, securing his third consecutive quarter‑final appearance at the event. "My scoring was good but, to be fair, Wessel missed a few chances on doubles and he gave me a few chances," Clayton said after the match. "The two bullseyes were good, the 126 was good and I have a big smile." In the other half of the draw, Ryan Joyce breezed past Danny Noppert with a straight‑sets victory, while Luke Woodhouse, who had stunned Littler in the first round, was eliminated after a 3‑0 defeat at the hands of Nathan Aspinall.
Aspinall, who posted a 96.27 average and hit eight 180s, dominated his match from the start. He broke Woodhouse’s throw early, secured a 135 checkout to take the first set, and then built a two‑set lead with a 104 finish.
After falling 2‑0, Aspinall rallied to win three consecutive legs, sealing his place in the quarter‑finals. "As long as I can handle the pressure, which I think I have shown in these two games in the key moments, I am going to be tough to beat this week," Aspinall told Sky Sports. "If it all comes together, I am one of the best players in the world.
Everybody knows that but I have to prove it." Aspinall’s next opponent will be Ryan Joyce, who delivered a dominant performance in his opening match, limiting Danny Noppert to just three legs and expressing frustration over the stage floorboards moving under his feet. The quarter‑finals are set to begin at 7 p.m., with the first player to win three sets advancing. Fans can watch the action live on Sky Sports+ and Sky Sports Main Event from 7 p.m.
on Thursday, with daily coverage continuing through to the final on Sunday. Those without a Sky subscription can also stream the tournament via NOW, which offers a contract‑free option and the latest Sky Sports deals.
Overall, the World Grand Prix continues to deliver high‑quality darts, with Welsh players Price and Clayton poised to battle for a coveted quarter‑final spot, while Aspinall and Joyce look to capitalize on their strong starts. The tournament’s blend of seasoned veterans and emerging talents ensures that the competition remains unpredictable and exciting, promising more dramatic moments as the event progresses toward its climax.