Luke Humphries delivered a markedly upgraded performance in the World Grand Prix, showcasing his lethal double‑finishing ability and a flawless ten‑dart leg to dispatch Jermaine Wattimena 3‑0 and secure a place in the tournament's quarter‑finals. The Englishman, who entered the event as one of the favourites after defending champion Luke Littler suffered a surprising loss to Luke Woodhouse on opening night, demonstrated a dramatic turnaround from his earlier showing where he averaged just 80 and hit only 26 % of his finishing doubles in a modest 2‑0 victory over Dave Chisnall.
In the latest round, Humphries elevated his game dramatically, posting an average of 94.11 and converting an impressive 64 % of his doubles. Even more striking was his opening‑double success rate of 74 %, as he repeatedly targeted double 16 at the start of legs, putting relentless pressure on his opponent. Early in the third set, Humphries nailed a perfect ten‑dart finish, a rare feat that underscored his sharpness and confidence. Wattimena, by contrast, faltered twice by hitting the wrong double in the opening set, allowing Humphries to build an unassailable lead.
After the match, Humphries remained cautiously optimistic. "I’ve got a good chance of winning this," he said.
"At the moment I’m a bit up and down, but if I can smooth that out I’ll be very tough to beat. It wasn’t my best performance, but it was certainly better than Tuesday’s. I think I was in the zone with my first three darts each leg.
When you’re playing at that level, it takes a top‑class display to beat you." His remarks highlighted both his belief in his own potential and his awareness of the fine margins that separate victory from defeat in a double‑start format. Other notable results from the round included 3‑1 wins for James Wade and Niels Zonneveld, who eliminated Stephen Bunting and Gary Anderson respectively. Wade, the sixth seed, produced a masterclass in opening play, hitting a 160 finish five times during his match against Bunting and securing his eighth World Grand Prix quarter‑final appearance. "I’m so grateful because winning with a double start is incredibly tough," Wade admitted.
"We can all pretend we’re relaxed, but it’s actually hellish, a lot of hard work. I don’t feel I’m at my best yet, but I have to raise my game against better opponents. I have more gears to shift – talk is cheap, and I’m full of cheap talk!" His candid comments reflected both the pressure of the format and his determination to keep improving. In a thrilling five‑set showdown, Gian Van Veen survived a deciding‑set nail‑biter to edge out Ryan Searle 3‑2.
Searle had earlier recorded the highest checkout of the week – a 167 – and even broke Van Veen’s hold with a 100 finish in the fourth set. However, he was immediately broken in the subsequent leg, and Van Veen rallied to dominate the final set 3‑0, clinching the match. Van Veen reflected on his performance, saying, "When I was down 2‑1 in sets I thought, ‘Oh no, this isn’t how I want to finish.’ Double 16 served me well early on, but it bothered me later. Still, my scoring was solid and I missed only a couple of darts at crucial moments.
In the end I got the job done." Meanwhile, Zonneveld continued his impressive run by dispatching Anderson after a convincing opening‑round win over Josh Rock. He started his match against the seasoned Anderson by taking the first set, where every leg went against the throw – a testament to his aggressive start. Anderson’s night was marred by a disastrous beginning, hitting a single one and then suffering two bounce‑outs, followed by another bounce‑out in the fourth set while aiming for a match‑winning bullseye.
Zonneveld capitalised, breaking Anderson’s throw before sealing the victory in the next leg. The Dutchman spoke about the significance of the tournament for his career: "This event is one of the biggest milestones for me. 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.
Becoming a dad has meant less sleep, but I feel back in rhythm now." The quarter‑finals are set to kick off at 7 p.m., with the first player to win three sets progressing. Fans can watch the action live on Sky Sports+ and Sky Sports Main Event, with daily coverage continuing through to the final on Sunday. The tournament promises more high‑stakes drama, as the remaining competitors vie for the coveted title in a format that rewards precision on both the scoring and finishing ends of the board.