"We can really have something special on our hands" - John Part believes Luke Littler will be more focused in World Grand Prix clash against Gerwyn Price

Three-time World Champion John Part praised Gerwyn Price's attitude ahead of his World Grand Prix quarter-final tie against what he anticipates to be a more focused Luke Littler, with the pair set to meet in a highly anticipated clash.

The duo produced scintillating performances to dump out their respected opponents in last night matches. Littler demolished the reigning champion Mike De Decker, pinning a 170 to cap off a fabulous display. Price improved as his tie against World Cup winner Josh Rock progressed, utilising double 13 very effectively as he won eight consecutive legs to advance to a sixth Grand Prix quarter-final.

Ahead of this night's match, Part looked towards it with excitement, relieving The Iceman's burst of form against Rock as an encouraging sign. "I’m glad that Price ignited the way he did at the end of his match," Part said on Sky Sports. "It means we can really have something special on our hands tomorrow night.

Against De Decker, Littler was afforded the fortune to satisfy the crowd at times, at one point going directly for the bull with his first dart to finish the leg. However, Part believes that Littler will not be afforded the luxury of doing this against the former World Champion, stating that he will be fully focused on getting over the line.

"I think he’s going to want to maintain the dominance he’s established over Price," he said. "But at the same time, he’ll take it dart by dart, leg by leg. He won’t be coming up with trick shots or anything flashy — he’ll be entirely focused on getting the job done as well as he can. Sometimes that’s a different approach to what we’re used to, but I don’t think there’ll be any fooling around at all. He knows what Price can do — and he’ll have just seen it. If he was watching past the first set, then he’ll have seen exactly what Price is capable of."

While the 18-year-old has played some ominous darts, Price's attitude going into the matchup has impressed Part, with the Welshman not fazed by the upcoming challenge of Littler.

"I liked what Gerwyn said — 'I’m playing well now.' That’s important, because when Luke started beating him, Luke was obviously playing well — he always seems to be," Part said. "But for Price, there was a time when he dipped a little. Maybe he wasn’t as dominant. Now, though, he looks like he’s playing well again — and if he believes that, then there’s no reason he won’t believe he can beat Luke again. He’s done it before — and done it convincingly, time after time.

"It’s a strange head-to-head to read between the two. I don’t know how much that history really matters — you have to look at how they’re both playing right now. We’ve seen incredible darts from Littler in his first match, and solid darts in the second — he did what he had to do. But certainly Price has risen to the occasion. He got out of a tough jam in the first round, and now he’s come back showing a level of play similar to what Littler produced in round one."