Luke Humphries ends return run of Michael Smith, Gerwyn Price dominates Ricky Evans as blockbuster Grand Slam of Darts semi-final set

The first semi-final is set at the Grand Slam of Darts as Luke Humphries will face off against Gerwyn Price after dominant wins for both 'Cool Hand Luke' and 'The Iceman' on Friday night in Wolverhampton.

Price is into a fourth semi-final at the Grand Slam of Darts after taking down Ricky Evans 16-9 with a 99.4 average as he aims to seal a fourth title this weekend and has his best chance in sometime to do so albeit he will have to get past Humphries to do so.
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Evans should've been in business a lot earlier than he was in the first tie as Price powered 4-1 clear as despite four 180's from 'Rapid', he missed seven darts at doubles as Price powered three clear early on.

Price hit seven perfect darts in the seventh leg and took out double 20 for a 12-darter eventually as his average jumped to 101.5 and his lead did too. He went 5-2 up and hit a 14-darter on double 20. Price broke again going 7-3 up as despite dominating the 180 count, Evans had hit six at that point he couldn't hit a double and Price was solid on the outer ring on 43% as he sailed ahead.

Evans upped his maximum count to eight and he made it back-to-back legs as he made it 7-5 with a 101.5 average. Price though survived a mid match slump as he hit a 116 checkout for a 12-darter and to go 9-6 up. Price pinned double 20 to break and make it 10-6. and streaked away from there as he pinned 59 to go 12-7 up. He fluffed two darts at double 20 for a six-leg cushion as Evans hit double two to trail by four. Price hit double six to break throw though and moved to within one of the semi-finals. That proved to be the hammer blow as Price hit a 101 checkout to secure his semi-final spot.

While Luke Humphries ended the return run of Michael Smith winning nine out of the last ten legs to defeat 'Bully Boy' with a 16-8 win.

It was former champions facing off as the 2023 champion Humphries saw off the 2022 champion Smith with the World No.1 continuing to excel despite his injury fears earlier this week.

Smith finally got himself off the mark while only averaging 91 albeit after Humphries eased through the gears with a 105 average early on to go 4-1 up. Albeit Smith took out 97 with 19, double 19, double 20 to reduce the deficit with three 180's and a 92.5 average as he went 5-2 dow.

Smith attempted a no-look 180 towards the backend of the leg only for Humphries to hit double four for a 13-darter to remain four ahead with a 109.5 average to go 7-3 up.

But from the audacious to the poor as missed doubles from Humphries gifted Smith a route back into the match as he reduced the deficit to just one leg. A 138 checkout in the match saw the World Number One wrestled back the upper hand at the third interval 8-7.

But after the interval, Humphries turned the screw again. On return he broke again twice. He hit a 47 checkout to go 10-7 up and held throw in the next leg on double 16 before breaking again for 12-7 with an 87 checkout for a 12-darter.

Just when it looked like Humphries was going to surge towards the finishing line, Smith hit double 10 to go 12-8 down as he looked to go three down with a hold of throw on the return at the next interval.

On return, Humphries hit double six to go 13-8 up with another break and held throw from there on double nine with Smith only able to leave it handy over leaving a shot to seal the leg. An 88 checkout saw Humphries go one away with Smith missed a dart on 78. This saw the writing on the wall as Humphries hit an 11-darter for the win on double nine.