Gerwyn Price pulled off a remarkable comeback in a nail‑biting final‑leg showdown against Jonny Clayton at the World Grand Prix, while James Wade delivered a dominant performance to eliminate third‑seed Gian van Veen in Leicester, securing a place for Luke Humphries in the semi‑finals. The Welsh duel between Price and Clayton unfolded at the Mattioli Arena, where Price found himself two sets down early on. Undeterred, he rallied by taking six of the next seven legs, leveling the match and forcing a tense final set.
Clayton, who had the opportunity to close the match in straight legs, missed a decisive match dart, allowing Price to drag the encounter into a sudden‑death leg. In that ultimate leg, Price again faltered, missing two match‑winning darts, but his resilience paid off as he finally broke through to claim the victory and a coveted semi‑final berth.
Price's opponent in the next round 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 average ever posted in a quarter‑final of the event. Aspinall achieved that figure while cruising to a straight‑sets win over Ryan Joyce, a match that also featured its own compelling narratives.
Meanwhile, Wade's encounter with van Veen was almost a formality. Wade surged ahead by winning the first eight legs, refusing to give the Dutchman even a single dart at double until the third set. Van Veen finally managed a leg in the third set after four attempts, but Wade quickly re‑asserted his dominance, sealing a 3‑0 victory and becoming the first player to reach the last four since 2014. "I was really fortunate Gian played like he did," Wade explained to Sky Sports.
"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." A year after losing a quarter‑final after squandering a two‑set lead against Luke Littler, Price demonstrated his own fighting spirit, booking his fifth World Grand Prix semi‑final in seven years. Clayton initially surged ahead, hitting 110 and 117 checkouts and taking the opening leg in the final set. However, Price responded with an 11‑dart break and a 12‑dart hold to take the third set, averaging over 107.
He then breezed through the fourth set, setting the stage for the decisive leg. Despite missing two match darts, Price held his nerve as Clayton missed opportunities of his own, ultimately sealing 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." Aspinall's quarter‑final performance was equally impressive. He raced through the opening set in just 42 darts, finishing with a 110 checkout, and then continued his on‑fire form by taking a 112 finish in the second set.
Ryan Joyce fought back, producing a spectacular 153 checkout to stay in the match, but Aspinall's relentless scoring and clinical finishing proved too much. He closed the match with a 75 checkout, securing a convincing win.
"I'm really happy with that performance," Aspinall said after the match. "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’s sub‑par showing confirmed that view.
Wade's relentless pressure prevented van Veen from finding any rhythm, and the Dutchman managed only a single leg before the sixth seed sealed a clean 3‑0 victory. Looking ahead, Wade will meet 2023 champion Luke Humphries, who has yet to lose a set in this tournament, having dispatched Dave Chisnall and Jermaine Wattimena in straight sets.
Humphries, world number two, converted just 31% of his doubles against Niels Zonneveld but compensated with clutch finishes in tight legs, ultimately cruising to a 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 tournament continues with the semi‑finals slated for 8 p.m. on Saturday, with live coverage on Sky Sports+ and Sky Sports Main Event. Fans can also stream the action via NOW with no‑contract deals.
The excitement builds as the remaining contenders vie for the coveted trophy, promising more high‑quality darts and dramatic moments as the World Grand Prix reaches its climax.