Injury no problem? Luke Humphries hammers Jurjen van der Velde with 108 average, Gerwyn Price and Michael Smith also through

Luke Humphries is through to the Quarter-Finals of the Grand Slam of Darts despite being in pain. He is battling injury but managed to thrash debutant Jurjen van der Velde in a 10-3 win with wins also for Gerwyn Price, Michael Smith and Ricky Evans.

Humphries managed to average 108.5, hit seven 180's and 10/13 on the doubles despite being injured in what was a spellbinding display and likely put some egg on the face of those who thought perhaps Grand Slam debutant Van der Velde could pull off the upset against the injured 'Cool Hand Luke'.

He romped to the opening five legs without reply as he produced an insane average of 117.42 and 5/6 on the doubles to confound his pain as he seemingly wanted to get off the stage as quick as possible. The 2024 World Youth finalist did have a retort as he got off the mark to claim two out of three legs to sit 8-2 down.

But the whirlwind of this match meant that these were mere consolations as Humphries hit double 16 for 9-2 and then thumped in double 20 for a 13-darter to conclude it. Beware the injured dart player at your peril.
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Gerwyn Price stayed on the charge to a potential fourth Grand Slam title as he ended the charge of Martin Schindler. Only Lukas Wenig and Niko Springer remain German wise and they face each other so only one will be in the Quarter-Finals.

Price landed a 170 checkout en route to seeing off Schindler as he routed through 10-6. Usually a slow starter, he was at te races very early. He raced three legs clear with a 98.2 average and 66% on the doubles at 4-1 up. Schindler won a leg in which he bust 130 before punishing several missed darts at doubles from the Welshman to then close the gap to 6-4.

But Price stopped the rot hitting a 170 checkout and restored a two leg cushion at 7-5. Schindler hit double five for 7-6 down but Price hit a 12-darter which set him on the way as he broke from there to seal it 9-6 on double 18. He held throw from there on double 20 with an 11-darter.

Michael Smith has been through the ringer to say the least over the last 18 months but this win perhaps might be one of the most satisfying as he ended the night.

He saw off Chris Dobey 10-9 in a thrilling decider where both missed match dart after dart. 'Hollywood' will be kicking himself but after all the heartbreak and pain, these are the breaks a player like Smith needed and he got it in earnest as he sealed the win to move through to the last eight.

Dobey led early hitting double 20 to hold throw and he broke for 4-2 on double 11 for a 15-darter. He led from there until Smith broke back on double 16 for 5-4. Smith led as he broke again with an 86 checkout at 6-7 and then he held for 6-8.

The crazy run began though as Dobey hit double two with Smith unable to hold to go one away. Only to do so with Dobey unable to hit 82 and he made it 9-8 but again Smith couldn't hold and Dobey sent it the distance.

In the decider, it was very much the case that nobody wanted to win the match. Smith left 100 in case Dobey didn't hit 56 and he missed nine match darts as Smith himself was there with a hatful before he finally fell over the line at 10-9.

Ricky Evans started the night by winning through to his third major ranking final recovering from 8-5 down to edge past Luke Woodhouse in a decider 10-9 with 'Woody' seemingly ready to head through before his charge hit the brakes.

It was a below par start from Woodhouse which saw him average 88.4 in the first mini-session and it's Evans who hit the front hitting three 180's and a 93.7 average at 3-2 up.

It was Evans getting the joy more on Woodhouse's throw albeit without a break with both holding throw with Evans the more comfortable of the two. But there was a sting in the tail as Evans couldn't hit a 116 checkout and he left it handy on 56 but Woodhouse did too on double 20 from 138 and he pinned double 20 for a break and a 13-darter. He was sat 5-4 and held to go 6-4 up in the race to ten.

Woodhouse broke again as it looked very likely that he would reach the Quarter-Finals. He hit double four to go 8-5 up. Evans hit a 72 checkout to go 8-6 down and this started the revival as he broke after Woodhouse missed chances to hold and go 9-5 up.

Evans hit double two to go 8-7 down and right at the brink, Evans hit a 57 checkout to make it 9-9 and broke throw to send it suddenly into a decider. Evans hit a 76 checkout to seal the win with Woodhouse way back in a heartbreaking end for the Bewdley ace but one to save for the popular Rapid.