James Wade and Nathan Aspinall have both produced statements of intent that will undoubtedly make their upcoming semi‑final opponents sit up and take notice as the World Grand Prix rolls into its thrilling Saturday night schedule. Aspinall, in particular, flirted with a new tournament‑record average as he swept past Ryan Joyce 3‑0, posting a 105.15 three‑dart average – the fourth‑highest ever recorded in the event’s history and the best ever achieved in a quarter‑final match.
Wade, on the other hand, barely missed a single leg, brutally "bashing up" world number two Gian van Veen in a contest that lasted just over twenty minutes. Sky Sports analyst Wayne Mardle summed up Wade’s performance succinctly: "That really was a performance to remember from Wade.
From start to finish, he was absolutely devastating. World class." Three‑time world champion John Part echoed that sentiment, noting, "James isn’t just looking like a great dart thrower; he looks like a winner.
I have a lot of faith in James managing the other players, and that’s what winners do – they see what they have to work with and work against it. At the start of the match James saw his opponent struggling and put his foot down to get the job done.
I think he’s a legitimate title contender here." Wade’s next hurdle will be former world number one Luke Humphries, who reached the last four despite a rather unconvincing 3‑0 quarter‑final win over debutant Neils Zonneveld. Humphries matched Aspinall’s average at 85.91, but it was his clutch finishing that made the difference, allowing the 2023 champion to secure his fourth consecutive final‑four appearance. After the match Humphries admitted to Sky Sports, "I’m really disappointed.
I felt really good in practice, but I came out here tonight and it didn’t feel great, to be honest. It kind of felt like I was the second‑best player for the first two sets, but I got away with it. It’s one of those performances where you’re not thrilled, but I won 3‑0.
Hopefully tomorrow night is a lot better, because if it isn’t I won’t be here on Sunday." He added, "James [Wade] is a tough task in itself. He’s a tough player to play against. If I score the way I know I can, then it will be a tough night for James.
If I don’t, it’ll be a tough night for me." On the opposite side of the draw, Aspinall will meet the in‑form Price in the other semi‑final after the Iceman rallied from two sets down to edge Jonny Clayton in an all‑Welsh encounter, surviving three match darts before clinching the victory. Aspinall, however, appears especially confident heading into what will be a repeat of the 2022 semi‑final – a match he won before falling short to Michael van Gerwen in the final that year. His most recent major triumph came at the 2023 World Matchplay, but he is eager to add another trophy to his cabinet.
Speaking to Sky Sports after his dazzling quarter‑final win, Aspinall said, "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. I’m absolutely buzzing. All day I’ve felt so relaxed.
I turned up tonight and felt so focused. I’m really happy with that performance – my starting, my finishing, my 180s – it’s probably one of the best performances ever on stage for my whole career." Both players now have a clear path to the final, but the stakes are high.
Wade’s ruthless efficiency and Humphries’ experience set up a classic clash of styles, while Aspinall’s aggressive scoring and Price’s resilience promise a tightly contested semi‑final. Fans can tune in from 8 p.m. on Saturday to watch day six of the World Grand Prix live on Sky Sports+ or on Sky Sports Main Event from 8:30 p.m., with daily coverage continuing through to the Sunday final. For those without a contract, the latest Sky Sports deals or NOW streaming options provide alternative ways to catch the action.