James Wade and Nathan Aspinall put in statement performances that will have made their semi-final opponents take note ahead of a mouthwatering Saturday night line-up at the World Grand Prix.
Aspinall threatened to set a new tournament record average when storming to a 3-0 win over Ryan Joyce, his 105.15 mark ultimately landing as the fourth-highest in history and the best-ever in a quarter-final.
Wade, meanwhile, dropped only one leg as he, in his words, “bashed up” world No 2 Gian van Veen in a match that lasted little more than 20 minutes.
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James Wade felt Gian van Veen was ‘pretty poor’ in their World Grand Prix Darts quarter-final, so he ‘bashed him up’!
“That really was a performance to remember from Wade,” Sky Sports‘ Wayne Mardle said. “From start to finish, he was absolutely devastating. World Class.”
Three-time world champion John Part concurred with that assesment, saying: “James is not just looking like a great dart thrower to me, he’s looking like a winner.
“I really have a lot of faith in James managing the other players, and that’s what winners do. They see what they have to work with, and work against.
“At the start of the match, James saw his opponent struggling and put his foot down to get the job done.
“I think he’s a legitimate title contender here.”
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It’s not often you see both a fly and a spider grace the darts board on the same night, which is exactly what happened during the quarter-finals of the World Grand Prix Darts.
Humphries ‘disappointed’ despite clinching semi-final spot
Wade will face former world No 1 Luke Humphries in the final four, who was, by contrast, far from convincing despite the 3-0 scoreline from his quarter-final victory over debutant Neils Zonneveld.
Humphries averaged 85.91, the same as the Dutchmand, but his clutch doubling ultimately proved the difference as the 2023 champion reached the final four for a fourth-straight year.
Luke Humphries won 3-0 in his quarter-final against Neils Zonneveld despite being ‘dissapointed’ with how he played
Despite that, Humphries told Sky Sports afterwards: “I’m really disappointed. I felt really good in practice, but I came out here tonight and it didn’t feel great to be honest.
“It kind of felt like I was the second-best player for the first two sets, but I got away with it.
“It’s one of those performances where you’re not thrilled, but I won 3-0.
“Hopefully tomorrow night is a lot better, because if it isn’t I won’t be here on Sunday.”
Humphries added on his semi-final opponent: “James [Wade] is a tough task in itself. He’s a tough player to play against.
“If I score the way I know I can, then it will be a tough night for James. If I don’t, it’s going to be a tough night for myself.”
Aspinall thrilled by ‘one of carrer-best performances’
Aspinall will face Price in Saturday’s other semi-final after The Iceman came back from two sets down to beat Jonny Clayton in an all-Welsh affair, surving three match darts before edging the contest.
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Gerwyn Price snatched victory from the jaws of defeat as compatriot Jonny Clayton missed three match darts in their quarter-final of the World Grand Prix Darts
But it’s Aspinall who is feeling particularly bullish going into a repeat of the 2022 semi-final, which The Asp won as he finished runner-up to Michael van Gerwen that year.
Aspinall’s last major title came at the World Matchplay in 2023, but he’s ready to change that.
“I feel like I can win this tournament, and I feel like I’m ready to win another major again. There’s no reason why I can’t,” Aspinall told Sky Sports after his stunning quarter-final win over Joyce.
“I’m absolutely buzzing. All day I’ve felt so relaxed. I turned up tonight and felt so focussed.
“I’m really happy with that performance. My starting, my finishing, my 180s – it’s probably one of my best performances ever on stage for my whole career.”
Friday’s quarter-final results
- Nathan Aspinall 3-0 Ryan Joyce
- Gerwyn Price 3-2 Jonny Clayton
- Gian van Veen 0-3 James Wade
- Luke Humphries 3-0 Niels Zonneveld
Saturday’s semi-final schedule
From 8pm; first to five sets
- Nathan Aspinall vs Gerwyn Price
- James Wade vs Luke Humphries
Watch day six of the World Grand Prix live on Sky Sports+ from 8pm on Saturday and Sky Sports Main Event from 8.30pm, with coverage every day up to and including the final on Sunday. Latest Sky Sports deals or stream with no contract on NOW.
