Gerwyn Price demonstrated his trademark resilience by surviving three match darts and ultimately overcoming Jonny Clayton in a nail‑biting final‑leg showdown at the World Grand Prix. Meanwhile, James Wade delivered a commanding performance, eliminating third‑seed Gian van Veen in Leicester and securing a place in the semi‑finals where he will meet 2023 champion Luke Humphries. The Price‑Clayton encounter unfolded as a classic all‑Welsh battle inside the Mattioli Arena. After falling two sets behind, Price rallied spectacularly, capturing six of the next seven legs to level the match.
The tension escalated when Clayton, who had already taken the opening set, missed a match dart that would have sealed the third set in straight legs. This miss forced the contest into a decisive final set. In that climactic leg, Price again had two opportunities to finish the match, but both darts fell short, allowing his compatriot to snatch the victory and a coveted semi‑final berth. Speaking to Sky Sports after the win, Price reflected on his mental fortitude: "I know what it feels like to be ahead and then see it slip away, but I believed I was the better player throughout.
I never gave up, even when I thought I was dead‑and‑buried. I'm just glad I crossed the line." His comeback mirrors a similar scenario a year earlier, when he squandered a two‑set lead against Luke Littler and was knocked out in a deciding leg.
This time, however, Price turned the tables, booking his fifth World Grand Prix semi‑final in seven years. The match statistics underline Price's quality. He averaged over 107 in the third set, cruising through the fourth set before the match was forced into a decider. Clayton, on his part, produced impressive checkouts of 110 and 117 early on, but his inability to convert crucial match darts proved costly.
Price’s relentless pressure, highlighted by an 11‑dart break and a 12‑dart hold in the third set, ultimately tipped the balance in his favour. On the other side of the draw, Nathan Aspinall produced a masterclass performance against Ryan Joyce, posting a 105.15 three‑dart average – the fourth highest ever recorded at the World Grand Prix and the best ever in a quarter‑final of the event. Aspinall’s opening set was completed in just 42 darts, and he followed it with a 110 checkout to claim the second leg.
Joyce responded with a spectacular 153 finish to stay in the match, but Aspinall’s consistency shone through. He hit a 112 finish to close the second set, broke early in the third, and sealed the encounter with a 75 checkout, winning in straight sets.
Aspinall, who has not reached a World Grand Prix semi‑final since 2022, expressed satisfaction with his performance: "I'm really happy with that. My starting, my finishing, my 180s – it was probably one of the best nights of my career on stage.
I feel like I can win this tournament and I'm ready to add another major to my résumé. There's no reason I can't win the trophy on Sunday." His confidence adds another compelling storyline to the tournament’s later stages. James Wade’s quarter‑final against Gian van Veen was a showcase of dominance.
Wade stormed ahead, winning the first eight legs without conceding a single dart at double to his opponent. Van Veen did not get a chance to throw at a double until the third set, where he finally broke Wade’s momentum with a fourth‑attempt checkout, securing his only leg of the match. Wade, however, responded immediately, taking the next leg and then holding his throw to complete a 3‑0 sweep – his first appearance in the last four since 2014. Wade praised his own form and commented on Van Veen’s off‑day: "I was really fortunate Gian played the way he did.
He was pretty poor and I capitalised on that and bashed him up. Tonight I felt more up for it, and when I'm feeling up for it I do alright." His victory sets up a quarter‑final clash with Luke Humphries, the 2023 champion, who has continued his impressive run by not dropping a set in his recent matches.
Humphries entered the quarter‑final after straight‑sets victories over Dave Chisnall and Jermaine Wattimena. In his most recent match, he faced Niels Zonneveld, who missed a set dart that could have leveled the score. Humphries then built a two‑set cushion, despite converting only 31 % of his doubles. He compensated with a series of clutch finishes in tight legs, ultimately delivering a 3‑0 win.
Reflecting on his performance, Humphries told Sky Sports: "It’s one of those performances where you aren’t thrilled, but you win 3‑0. 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, it will be a tough night for James. If I don’t, it will be a tough night for me." His pragmatic outlook underscores the fine margins that separate victory from defeat at this elite level.
The semi‑final line‑up now features Gerwyn Price versus Nathan Aspinall, and James Wade against Luke Humphries. All four players have displayed a blend of high scoring, clinical finishing, and mental resilience, setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the World Grand Prix.
Fans can continue to follow the action live on Sky Sports+ from 8 p.m. on Saturday, with additional coverage on Sky Sports Main Event from 8.30 p.m. The tournament will run daily through the final on Sunday, and viewers can also stream via NOW with the latest Sky Sports deals, without the need for a long‑term contract.