Gerwyn Price engineered an all‑Welsh quarter‑final encounter with Jonny Clayton after dispatching Ross Smith in straight sets at the World Grand Prix, while fellow competitors Ryan Joyce and Nathan Aspinall also secured their places in the Leicester quarter‑finals. Entering the tournament as one of the favourites following Luke Littler's surprising early departure, Price built on his opening‑round triumph over Sebastian Białecki by allowing only four legs to fall against Smith at the Mattioli Arena. Although Smith posted the highest first‑round average, Price’s efficient 3‑0 victory, conceding just four legs, guaranteed a Friday evening showdown with his World Cup of Darts teammate, Clayton. Clayton began his match with a flurry of high‑scoring finishes, recording three consecutive ton‑plus checkouts and four in total as he edged past Wessel Nijman 3‑1.
His 93.08 average, combined with clinical finishing, propelled the 12th seed forward. Ryan Joyce breezed into the last eight by beating Danny Noppert in straight sets, while Luke Woodhouse – who had stunned Littler in round one – was eliminated after a 3‑0 loss to Nathan Aspinall in a one‑sided affair.
Price posted a 101.61 average on Monday night, but his figure dipped by more than ten points against Smith. After an early break, he responded with a 13‑dart finish to level the set, ultimately taking the opening set in a deciding leg.
The world No. 4 then hit an 86 finish to claim the second set and followed with an 80 checkout early in the third.
Smith replied with a 116 finish to break and pull ahead, but Price sealed the match by hitting double 18. "I don’t think it was a great game and I don’t think we played brilliantly," Price told Sky Sports. "We started well and finished well in patches, but the middle part was a bit rubbish. I know he [Clayton] is chasing a Grand Slam spot, so the pressure is on him.
He got lucky in the first round – hopefully he doesn’t get lucky again." Clayton opened his match by winning the first set in straight legs, stringing together three ton‑plus finishes. He broke early with a 112 checkout, followed by a 116 to hold his throw, and then a 125 bullseye finish. Nijman fought back, taking the second set with a 90 finish in a deciding leg, but Clayton reclaimed the lead by starting the third set with a 126 bullseye finish. The Englishman, who recorded eight 180s and displayed impressive checkout percentages, then claimed four of the next six legs, securing his quarter‑final berth for the third year running.
"My scoring was good but, to be fair, Wessel missed a few doubles and gave me chances," Clayton said. "The two bullseyes were great, the 126 was nice and I have a big smile." Woodhouse, who had halted Littler’s title defence, saw his own campaign end at the hands of Aspinall.
After losing the first four legs, Aspinall hit a 135 finish to break throw. Averaging 96.27 and hitting eight 180s, Aspinall immediately broke back and took out 104 to establish a two‑set lead. He then won three consecutive legs from 2‑0 down in the next set to cement his place in the quarter‑finals.
"As long as I can handle the pressure, which I think I have shown in these two games at the key moments, I am going to be tough to beat this week," Aspinall told Sky Sports. "If everything comes together, I am one of the best players in the world. Everyone knows that but I have to prove it." Aspinall’s next opponent will be Ryan Joyce, who dominated his opening match of the evening, limiting Danny Noppert to just three legs and expressing frustration over the stage floorboards shifting. The quarter‑finals begin at 7 p.m., first to three sets.
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