Gerwyn Price demonstrated his resilience in a nail‑biting final‑leg encounter at the World Grand Prix, edging out Jonny Clayton after surviving three match darts. The Welshman rallied from two sets down in a gripping all‑Welsh showdown at Leicester's Mattioli Arena, turning the tide by claiming six of the next seven legs to level the match before Clayton managed to edge ahead in a tense final set. Clayton missed a decisive match dart that would have sealed the set in straight legs, forcing the contest into a sudden‑death leg. In that decisive moment, Price again faltered, missing two more match‑winning darts, which allowed Clayton to slip back into the fray and ultimately hand the victory to his compatriot, securing a coveted semi‑final berth.
Price's next opponent will be Nathan Aspinall, who posted a staggering 105.15 average – the fourth‑highest ever recorded in a World Grand Prix match and the best ever in a quarter‑final – during his straight‑sets demolition of Ryan Joyce. Aspinall's performance was complemented by two other quarter‑finals that provided plenty of narrative intrigue. Meanwhile, James Wade delivered a dominant display against third‑seed Gian van Veen, dropping only a single leg in a one‑sided 3‑0 victory. In the other quarter‑final, Luke Humphries – now the favorite after Luke Littler's shocking early exit – continued his flawless run, yet to lose a set, after comfortably dispatching Niels Zonneveld 3‑0.
A year after surrendering a two‑set lead and bowing out in a deciding leg to Littler, Price orchestrated his own comeback, booking his fifth World Grand Prix semi‑final in seven years. Clayton had opened the match with impressive 110 and 117 checkouts and survived set darts to claim the first leg in a sudden‑death scenario.
He then took the next leg in straight fashion, but Price responded emphatically, breaking with an 11‑dart leg and holding with a 12‑dart finish to claim the third set. Price's average surged above 107 in that set, and he cruised through the fourth, setting up a final‑leg showdown. Despite losing the first two legs of the decider and missing several opportunities, Price held his nerve and secured a memorable win.
"I know what it's like to be in front and losing, but I feel like I was the better player all the way through the game," Price told Sky Sports. "I'm just glad I got over the winning line.
I thought I was dead and buried, but I never gave up." On the other side of the draw, Aspinall blitzed through his opening set in just 42 darts, finishing with a 110 checkout and immediately taking a fourth straight leg to start the second set. Ryan Joyce was forced to produce a stunning 153 checkout just to stay in the match.
Aspinall then nailed a 112 finish to close the second set and broke early in the third, moving ever closer to victory. After Joyce missed two set darts, Aspinall wrapped up the contest with a smooth 75 checkout, sealing a convincing win. "I'm really happy with that performance," Aspinall said afterward. "My starting, my finishing, my 180s – it's probably one of my best performances ever on stage for my whole career.
I feel like I can win this tournament, and I feel like I'm ready to win another major again. There's no reason why I can't and I'd love to win the trophy on Sunday." Van Veen had predicted before the match that Wade might be the favorite, and the Dutchman lived up to that expectation, delivering a sub‑par performance as 'The Machine' surged into the last four for the first time since 2014. Wade surged ahead by winning each of the first eight legs, denying Van Veen any chance at a double until the third set, where he finally converted on his fourth attempt to claim his sole leg of the match. The sixth seed then held his throw on the top of the next leg to complete a 3‑0 triumph.
"I was really fortunate Gian played like he did," Wade reflected. "He was pretty poor and I capitalised on that and bashed him up. Tonight, I felt more up for it.
When I'm feeling up for it, I've done alright." Wade's next challenge will be against 2023 champion Luke Humphries, who continues to chase the form he desires despite a string of straight‑sets victories over Dave Chisnall and Jermaine Wattimena, and now a third straight 3‑0 win without dropping a set. Zonneveld missed a set dart that could have leveled his match with Humphries, who then built a two‑set cushion.
Although the world No. 2 converted only 31 percent of his doubles, he delivered a series of clutch finishes in tightly contested legs to secure his 3‑0 win. "It's one of those performances where you aren't thrilled, but you win 3‑0," Humphries admitted.
"Hopefully tomorrow is a lot better because if it isn't, I won't be here on Sunday. If I score the way I know I can, then it will be a tough night for James. If I don't, it's going to be a tough night for myself." The quarter‑finals set the stage for an exciting semi‑final lineup, with matches scheduled from 8 p.m., first to five sets. Fans can watch day six of the World Grand Prix live on Sky Sports+ from 8 p.m.
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