World Grand Prix Friday evening Round-Up | Wade and Humphries march into World Grand Prix semi-final clash as Price downs Clayton
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James Wade and Luke Humphries have booked their places in the semi-finals of the World Grand Prix after convincing quarter-final victories over Gian van Veen and Niels Zonneveld respectively.
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Wade produced a highly clinical display to sweep aside Van Veen 3-0, while Humphries also secured a straight-sets victory against Zonneveld after repeatedly capitalising on crucial missed opportunities from the Dutchman.
The pair join Nathan Aspinall and Gerwyn Price in the last four in Leicester.
Wade cruises past Van Veen in straight sets
James Wade produced a remarkably efficient performance to defeat Gian van Veen 3-0 and reach the semi-finals of the World Grand Prix.
While Van Veen struggled badly to find his usual level, Wade remained composed throughout and took full advantage of his opponent's difficulties. The Englishman ultimately needed just 81 average himself to complete a comfortable victory, with Van Veen managing only a single leg in the entire match in which he had an opportunity to finish.
Wade immediately established control in the opening set. Van Veen struggled to find the treble early on, allowing 'The Machine' to hold his own throw in 17 darts before taking the opening set without facing any serious resistance. Van Veen averaged just 66 in the first set.
Wade speaking after.
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The second set followed a similar pattern. Wade held his throw in 18 darts before punishing another poor leg from Van Veen with a 17-darter to move 2-0 ahead. Van Veen finally found himself on a double after 12 darts in the third leg, but he was unable to convert his opportunity.
Wade, meanwhile, produced the standout leg of the match, firing an 11-darter with a 62 finish to take his sixth consecutive leg and move within one set of victory.
There was no way back for Van Veen in the third set. Wade immediately broke in the opening leg and then held his throw to move to the brink of the semi-finals.
Van Veen finally found a finish in the ninth leg of the match, hitting double two with his fourth dart to keep his hopes alive. But Wade quickly put an end to any thoughts of a comeback, sealing the match with a 13-darter to complete a 3-0 victory.
The result sees Wade reach the World Grand Prix semi-finals, continuing his impressive run in Leicester.
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Humphries takes advantage of key moments to defeat Zonneveld
Luke Humphries also secured his place in the last four with a 3-0 victory over Niels Zonneveld, although the Dutchman had opportunities to make the contest considerably closer.
'Cool Hand Luke' eventually proved more clinical when it mattered, particularly when Zonneveld missed important darts at double.
Both players needed some time to settle in the opening leg, with Zonneveld missing chances to open the match and Humphries also struggling to finish. The Englishman eventually held in 20 darts.
Zonneveld responded with an excellent 12-darter before moving into position to take the lead in the third leg. After 15 darts he was sitting on tops, but three missed darts allowed Humphries to escape with an 18-darter.
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Humphries then completed the opening set with a 17-darter to take a 1-0 lead.
The second set was similarly competitive. Humphries again held his throw in 20 darts before Zonneveld levelled the set. The Dutchman then had another opportunity in the third leg but missed several darts at double, allowing Humphries to move 2-1 ahead.
Zonneveld fought back to force a deciding leg, but another crucial miss followed. He missed one dart at tops for a 135 finish, and Humphries responded by taking out 75 to claim the set and move 2-0 ahead.
Humphries opened the third set with a 17-darter, but Zonneveld immediately responded with a 78 finish to level the set.
This time, however, Zonneveld could not create another opportunity in the third leg. Humphries took advantage to move to match point, and when Zonneveld missed two darts at double 11 to stay in the contest, the former world champion closed out the match.
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A 3-0 victory sends Humphries into the World Grand Prix semi-finals, where he will join Wade, Aspinall and Price.
Aspinall narrowly misses World Grand Prix record average
Nathan Aspinall came remarkably close to producing the highest average in World Grand Prix history during his quarter-final against Ryan Joyce.
Aspinall followed a 110 finish by taking the opening leg of the second set, before Joyce responded with a superb 153 checkout to level the set.
'The Asp' continued to pile on the pressure and produced a 112 finish for a 12-darter. Joyce refused to disappear, however, hitting double 18 to make it 2-2.
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Aspinall ultimately took the set with another 13-darter to move 2-0 ahead, with his average still sitting at an astonishing 109.78 at that stage.
The Englishman continued his high-level performance in the third set, opening with a 15-darter. A few missed darts at double then allowed Joyce to fight his way back into the set, but Aspinall responded with another 13-darter before eventually sealing the match with a 75 finish.
Those missed doubles in the final set prevented Aspinall from breaking the highest World Grand Prix average record.
Price completes remarkable comeback against Clayton
Gerwyn Price completed a dramatic comeback against Jonny Clayton to secure his place in the semi-finals.
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Both players struggled on the opening doubles, with Price missing six darts in the first leg before eventually taking it. Clayton responded with a spectacular 110 finish before following it with a 117 checkout to move 2-1 ahead.
Price fought back and was left on 38 after just nine darts in the deciding leg of the set. However, two missed darts at tops and double 12 allowed Clayton to steal the opening set.
Price continued to struggle in the second set. Although he won the opening leg, Clayton immediately levelled before taking the next two legs, including a 98 finish, to move 2-0 ahead in sets.
Price speaking after.
From the third set onwards, however, Price began to find his rhythm.
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He moved into a 2-0 lead before Clayton pulled a leg back, with Price then taking out 54 to reduce the deficit to 2-1 in sets.
Price continued to dominate in the fourth set, opening with a 64 finish before breaking Clayton to move 2-0 ahead. He completed the set 3-0 to force a deciding fifth set.
Clayton appeared to have regained control when he raced into a 2-0 lead, but Price refused to give up. After surviving his first match dart, 'The Iceman' pulled a leg back before hitting tops to force a deciding leg.
Clayton then had two more match darts to finish the contest, but neither found the target.
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Price took full advantage, completing the comeback to defeat his close friend 3-2 and book his place in the semi-finals.
The semi-final line-up is now complete: James Wade faces Luke Humphries, while Nathan Aspinall takes on Gerwyn Price.
Milly ThomsonLive Darts Blogger
Milly Thomson is an aspiring journalist with a deep-rooted passion for a wide range of sports, including football, darts, and cricket. She recently completed her university studies, earning a BA (Hons) in Football Business and Media—a degree that has given her a solid foundation in both the commercial and communications aspects of the sporting world.
Milly combines her academic background with her genuine enthusiasm for sports to produce engaging and insightful coverage across multiple disciplines. Her writing reflects a strong understanding of the games she follows, as well as a keen interest in the stories behind the athletes and events.
As she continues to grow in the field of journalism, Milly is committed to using her voice to inform, entertain, and connect with fellow sports fans. With a clear focus on developing her skills and expanding her portfolio, she is excited to contribute meaningful content to the wider sporting community.
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