An absolute thriller, historic stats and a stacked semi-final line-up: what stood out in the World Grand Prix quarter-finals
PDC
At the World Grand Prix we have reached the semi-finals. Before the last four return to the stage, we take one final look back at the quarter-finals.
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There was plenty to unpack. Ann all-Welsh clash turned into a duel we won’t forget in a hurry. And then there was Nathan Aspinall, who delivered a headline performance and battled his way into the last four in impressive fashion.
Price rises from the dead
It was the tie many had circled beforehand, and the Welsh clash between Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton did not disappoint. It wasn’t the highest-quality match of this World Grand Prix — Clayton was marooned in the high-80 average, while Price nudged just above 90 — but the tension more than made up for it.
Both Welshmen have been waiting a while for another major title, and that surely played its part. Clayton’s last big win dates back to 2021, while Price has gone without a major since 2022. For Clayton the exit will sting. The Ferret raced 2-0 up in sets and looked set to close it out in the decider. He led 2-0 in legs, but couldn’t finish the job. A last-leg shoot-out was needed.
Gerwyn Price beat compatriot Jonny Clayton to reach the last four in Leicester
Clayton had three match darts but couldn’t convert. Price stood firm and ultimately made full use of his compatriot’s missed chances. The Iceman escaped a defeat that had looked more than plausible for long spells.
Price has been throwing superbly all year and, even if he won’t say it out loud, he craves another major. With Luke Littler’s shock early exit — a player who has often been a roadblock for the Welshman — the pressure on Price ramped up. That is why this hard-fought win over Clayton may give him the calm he needs.
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Price could have, and perhaps should have, been out. He isn’t, and that keeps his World Grand Prix title bid alive. From here, anything extra can be seen as a bonus for The Iceman.
Dutch disappointment
The Netherlands started the World Grand Prix with no fewer than eight players, but after the quarter-finals all Dutch participants are out. That is a let-down, especially given the strong Dutch presence at the start. At the same time, there are positives to take for several players.
Gian van Veen reached the semi-finals at both the World Masters and World Matchplay this year, yet it’s clear he currently isn’t at the level that took him to the World Darts Championship final earlier in the year. Since his kidney stone operation at the start of the year, things have seemed a touch less fluent for the 24-year-old. Van Veen is clearly searching for the peak form with which he surprised the elite.
That he continues to post strong results despite that search should boost his confidence ahead of the remaining majors this autumn. Van Veen is also set for another jump in the world rankings. If Luke Humphries does not win the World Grand Prix, the Dutchman will return to second on the PDC Order of Merit.
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Niels Zonneveld lost 3-0 to Luke Humphries
For Niels Zonneveld, reaching the quarter-finals was a career first. Triple Z also had chances against Humphries to turn the match. He should really have taken the opening set, but faltered at the key moments. After that, Humphries took full control and the Englishman was simply too strong.
Even so, Zonneveld can reflect positively on his World Grand Prix. He recorded his best ever major result and makes a sizeable move up the rankings. The 27-year-old now sits 29th and takes another important step towards the sport’s top tier.
| PDC major in the 2026 season | Dutch players in the last four | Dutch player(s) | Semi-final result |
| World Masters | 1 | Gian van Veen | Lost 5-0 to Luke Humphries |
| UK Open | 0 | — | — |
| Premier League Darts | 0 | — | — |
| World Matchplay | 2 | Dirk van Duijvenbode, Gian van Veen | Van Duijvenbode lost 17-5 to Luke Littler; Van Veen lost 17-10 to Gerwyn Price |
| World Grand Prix | 0 | — | — |
Aspinall makes history
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Anyone glancing at the scoreline between Nathan Aspinall and Ryan Joyce sees a routine 3–0 for “The Asp.” Yet that margin hardly tells the full story. Aspinall, who has battled dartitis for a while, turned back the clock and produced a resounding performance.
The 35-year-old Englishman posted an average of 105.15. That is the highest average ever recorded at the World Grand Prix in a match played over more than two sets. Across all matches in the tournament’s history, his effort ranks fourth. It is a striking statistic, especially given the difficult spell Aspinall has endured of late.
“The Asp” appears to be finding his best form at exactly the right time. The semi-finals bring Gerwyn Price, who is also in outstanding touch. On paper, that clash promises to be a blockbuster.
Neither player is known for a subdued stage presence. Expect heavy scoring, eye-catching finishes and, above all, plenty of decibels. If Aspinall and Price carry their quarter-final form into the semis, this could be one of the standout matches of this World Grand Prix.
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Top 10 highest averages at the World Grand Prix
| Average | Player | Year (+ round) | Opponent | Result |
| 106.47 | Gian van Veen (Netherlands) | 2025, 1st round | Luke Littler (England) | 0–2 |
| 106.45 | Alan Warriner (England) | 2001, 1st round | Andy Jenkins (England) | 2–0 |
| 105.58 | Luke Littler (England) | 2025, 1st round | Gian van Veen (Netherlands) | 2–0 |
| 105.15 | Nathan Aspinall (England) | 2026, quarter-final | Ryan Joyce (England) | 3–0 |
| 104.86 | Gary Anderson (Scotland) | 2013, 1st round | Jelle Klaasen (Netherlands) | 2–0 |
| 104.47 | Michael van Gerwen (Netherlands) | 2013, 1st round | John Part (Canada) | 2–0 |
| 103.09 | Michael van Gerwen (Netherlands) | 2016, quarter-final | Simon Whitlock (Australia) | 3–1 |
| 103.02 | Phil Taylor (England) | 2011, semi-final | Richie Burnett (Wales) | 5–2 |
| 102.85 | Dave Chisnall (England) | 2020, 1st round | Glen Durrant (England) | 2–0 |
| 102.48 | Phil Taylor (England) | 2010, 1st round | Brendan Dolan (Northern Ireland) | 2–0 |
“He's still standing”
James Wade has long walked on to “I’m Still Standing” by Elton John. It fits perfectly. After more than two decades at the elite level, “The Machine” is still there. He has been written off many times, yet time and again he reinvents himself and returns to the top.
Wade remains one of the steadiest performers in the upper tier. At almost every tournament he is a threat to go deep. Rarely with flashy or flamboyant play, but with a rock-solid style that has delivered success for years.
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While Wade was not known for sky-high averages earlier in his career, he has added extra scoring in recent years. That has shown again at this World Grand Prix. More than once we saw “The Machine” start a leg on double 20, then follow with two treble 20s. When Wade is in rhythm, he can exert heavy pressure with his scoring as well.
Wade speaks after.
And then there are the doubles. Wade has been one of the sport’s elite finishers for years, and he is underlining that again this week. The fact he has won this tournament twice before is anything but a coincidence.
His last World Grand Prix title, however, dates back to 2010. Fifteen years ago, then. It feels like an age, but anyone watching Wade this week knows a new title is far from impossible. Now 43, the Englishman is still standing. Perhaps this is the weekend he writes another chapter of history.
Major titles won by James Wade
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| Year | Major | Opponent in the final | Score |
| 2007 | World Matchplay | Terry Jenkins | 18-7 |
| 2007 | World Grand Prix | Terry Jenkins | 6-3 |
| 2008 | UK Open | Gary Mawson | 11-7 |
| 2009 | Premier League | Mervyn King | 13-8 |
| 2010 | World Grand Prix | Adrian Lewis | 6-3 |
| 2010 | Championship League | Phil Taylor | 6-5 |
| 2011 | UK Open | Wes Newton | 11-8 |
| 2014 | The Masters | Mervyn King | 11-10 |
| 2018 | European Championship | Simon Whitlock | 11-8 |
| 2018 | World Series of Darts Finals | Michael Smith | 11-10 |
| 2021 | UK Open | Luke Humphries | 11-5 |
Or will it be Humphries after all
We already covered Gerwyn Price, Nathan Aspinall, and James Wade, but the highest-ranked player in the last four is Luke Humphries. The world number two has quietly worked his way into the World Grand Prix semi-finals. While attention often shifted to other players and the early exit of defending champion Luke Littler, Humphries steadily kept winning his matches.
Strikingly, that means “Cool Hand Luke” is not being pushed forward as the outright favourite for the title. That is somewhat surprising, because when the Englishman is in top form, he is unquestionably one of the players who can dominate a major. His performances in recent years have proved that more than enough.
There was a spell when Humphries seemed almost certain to land big titles. The Englishman surged in remarkable fashion and racked up major trophies in quick succession. His breakthrough to the elite was followed by a string of imposing displays on the biggest stages. Humphries developed into a player who not only won matches, but also looked unflappable under pressure at the decisive moments.
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His last major title, however, dates back to May of last year. Back then, Humphries lifted the Premier League Darts trophy. Since then he has often gone deep at the big events, but another major win has eluded him. For a player of his calibre, that stands out.
That does not detract from the qualities of the 31-year-old Englishman. Humphries remains a superb player and is still firmly among the world’s elite. His position at number two in the rankings underlines that. He also has every weapon required to win a World Grand Prix. His scoring power is outstanding, and on the doubles he is usually highly reliable.
Even so, the aura of invincibility that surrounded him a few years ago seems to have faded. Opponents now step on stage believing Humphries can be beaten. Where his name once felt like a brutal draw for many, there is now more room for the belief that a win is possible.
That is precisely why this World Grand Prix offers Humphries a particularly intriguing chance to reconnect with a major title. Littler’s exit has thrown the race for the trophy wide open. The world number one is out, and with Price, Aspinall, and Wade on the other side of the draw, Humphries has a unique opportunity to add another big prize to his CV.
In the last four, Humphries also knows exactly what is at stake. Only two matches separate him from the World Grand Prix title. The semi-final is the next hurdle, and with a win the trophy suddenly feels within reach.
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Perhaps this is the moment when “Cool Hand Luke” makes his statement again. Humphries no longer needs to convince anyone of his class, but another major win would send a clear message. The Englishman is still world number two. At the World Grand Prix, he has the chance to prove it again on the biggest stage.
Luke Humphries’ results at PDC majors in the 2026 season
| Major | Result | Eliminated by |
| World Masters | Final | Luke Littler (5-6) |
| UK Open | Last 16 | Danny Noppert (6-10) |
| Premier League Darts | Final | Luke Littler (10-11) |
| World Matchplay | First round | Cameron Menzies (7-10) |
| World Grand Prix | Semi-final* | — |
Samuel GillChief Content Officer
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
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