Welsh darts enthusiasts have a lot to look forward to on Friday night in Leicester, where a crucial clash between Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton will determine not only national bragging rights but also a coveted spot in the semi‑finals of the World Grand Prix. Both players are currently perched near the top of the PDC Order of Merit, with Price holding the fourth spot and a slim one‑point advantage over his compatriot. A victory for Price would extend his lead and reinforce his status as Wales' leading man, while a win for Clayton would see him overtake the "Iceman" and become the country's highest‑ranked player, especially important as Clayton seeks qualification for the Grand Slam of Darts later in November. The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sports+ and the main Sky Sports channel from 7 p.m., alongside a full programme that includes Nathan Aspinall versus Ryan Joyce, Luke Humphries against Niels Zonneveld, and Gian van Veen taking on James Wade.
Viewers are advised to use the Chrome browser for the best video experience. Historically, Price has enjoyed the upper hand in their head‑to‑head meetings, leading 30‑15 overall and having won their most recent encounter earlier this month with an 11‑7 triumph in the semi‑finals of the World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam. However, Clayton delivered a decisive 5‑1 victory over Price in the 2021 World Grand Prix final, a result that still haunts the Welsh champion.
The 41‑year‑old Price described that loss as being "smashed up" by his fellow countryman, who is affectionately nicknamed "The Ferret." Price, who has teamed with Clayton to claim the World Cup of Darts title in both 2020 and 2023, remains confident. He said, "I know how good Jonny can play, I know how bad he can play.
I know how good and how bad I can play. I just need to take my opportunities. If I can start well, score in between and put Jonny under pressure, I think I will come through but it's going to be a real tough one. It's special for Wales regardless of who wins the game.
We're going to have a Welshman in the semi‑final of another massive major." Clayton, ever the good‑natured rival, added, "There's banter between me and Gezzy. Every time he gets to Welsh No 1, he sends me a flag with a No 1 on it.
We're good friends, world number 4 and 5. You can't fault that from Wales!" He entered the tournament by edging past Krzysztof Ratajski 2‑1 in the first round—a match Price joked was a bit of luck for his compatriot—before delivering four‑ton plus finishes and beating the rising Dutchman Wessel Nijman 3‑1. Price, meanwhile, has not dropped a set so far. He dispatched Sebastian Bialecki 2‑0 and then overwhelmed Ross Smith 3‑0, avenging a recent loss to "Smudger" in the World Series of Darts final in the Netherlands.
The all‑Welsh duel will be the highlight of a busy Friday schedule that also features Luke Humphries versus Niels Zonneveld, James Wade versus Gian van Veen, and Nathan Aspinall versus Ryan Joyce. Humphries, the second seed and a former Grand Prix champion, will face the lowest‑ranked remaining participant, world No 35 Niels Zonneveld.
Humphries, who hopes to add a second Grand Prix title after his 2023 win, warned against underestimating his opponent: "One thing this tournament teaches you is not to take anyone for granted. If I think because Niels is whatever ranking he is that I'm going to win the game easy, I will fail. He's playing good darts and could be the Mike De Decker story. I will treat him with the respect I would give every player, the respect he deserves." Speaking about what a further major would mean after his first big win since the 2025 Premier League, Humphries reflected, "When you have experienced that achievement of winning a lot and then it all goes away for 12 months, when you get that experience of winning again it feels even sweeter.
I have worked really hard over the last 12 months and not got the rewards so winning would do me good, boost my confidence. Because I'm not picking up one or two majors a year, people think you are not as good as you used to be but I feel I am playing better than ever. I still feel there is another level in me.
I'm just trying to find where that comes from." On the other side of the draw, Ryan Joyce is regarded as an underdog alongside Zonneveld. Joyce's recent form includes a dominant display in the last‑eight where he hit eight 180s in his victory over Nathan Aspinall, who had previously dispatched Luke Woodhouse. Joyce is particularly comfortable on double 16, a skill that could serve him well in this double‑in, double‑out format, which he believes offers his best shot at a major title after reaching the semi‑finals in 2024. In a surprising twist, Joyce revealed he consulted an AI language model for mental preparation, saying, "I thought, 'I'll put ChatGPT on and say I've got a big game coming up.
Have you got any tips on how I can handle it better?' The AI gave me a list of things to do, and I realized I was already doing most of them. It gave me a little boost, so I'll just continue with what I'm doing.
I don't need anybody's help. I'm just going to do it myself." Aspinall, however, remains skeptical of Joyce's chances, noting, "Joyce is unreal on his double 16 but he can't score like me – and he knows that. If I score like I did [in round two], he's not going to beat me, simple as that." Fans can catch all the action live on Sky Sports+ and the main Sky Sports channel from 7 p.m. on Friday, with daily coverage continuing through to the final on Sunday.
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