World Grand Prix Darts: Luke Humphries and Gary Anderson book quarter-final places as Stephen Bunting crashes out at Leicester | Darts News
Luke Humphries advanced to the quarter-finals of the Boyle Sports World Grand Prix with a 3-1 victory over Krzysztof Ratajski, as Stephen Bunting crashed out at Leicester.
Humphries – the 2023 champion and last year's runner-up at Mattioli Arena – posted a 95.58 average and shot six maximums, but was visibly frustrated at various points in a topsy-turvy competition.
The world number 1 needed a final decider to open a two-set advantage and lost the next set to Ratajski, before Humphries broke out by pulling over two tons to close out the victory and build on his impressive record in the double-start event.
Luke Humphries seeks to reach World Grand Prix final for third consecutive final
Humphries now faces a last-16 tie against Scotland's Cameron Menzies on Friday, who beat former world champion Rob Cross 3-1 earlier in the evening, while fourth seed Bunting was also knocked out in the second round after losing to Danny Noppert by the same margin.
The final match saw Gary Anderson roll back the years to beat an ailing Joe Cullen in straight sets and book a quarter-final clash with Noppert, with the remaining four second round matches taking place on Thursday.
How Humphries survives stutter to book quarter-final place
The top seed cruised through the first set straight-legged, but wasted three darts to break the throw again in the first leg of the second, where Ratajski missed four darts from the set in a final decision before Humphries ripped off a disjointed leg on a double.
A straight-sets victory for Humphries looked a possibility when he opened with a 14-darter and completed his first 180 of the tournament in the next, only for Ratajski to hold the throw and then win the next two rounds to claim a set.
Humphries seeks to win the World Grand Prix for the second time in three years
Humphries' stutter continued when he needed three attempts on the outer ring to close out a 15-dart break early in the fourth set, but he shot a spectacular 132 in the next and responded to a Ratajski hold by securing victory with a brilliant 104.
“I was really frustrated with my score, because they just weren’t responding.,” Humphries admitted. “I got a little lucky in that second set, but then I started slowing down my throws and started hitting those triples.
“Credit to Krzysztof. He played really well tonight. He's such a solid player and he puts pressure on you every game.”
Humphries now faces Menzies, who survived two rounds of darts in his first set against Cross to win the final match before going through the second in straight legs.
Cross started the third with a 107 and dominated the set after his opponent missed five match darts to claim a 3-0 victory, but Menzies checked out 136 in the next match and recovered from three more missed match darts to seal victory at the ninth attempt.
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Cameron Menzies made a brilliant 136 in his match against Rob Cross, after missing five darts in the previous match.
Bunting revealed on social media that he suffered from a sore back during his loss to Noppert, where he fought back from two sets down to claim a clean score in the third set.
“The Bullet” followed a 68 with a sublime 125 to take the fourth set to a decisive stage, where Noppert pulled out 100 in a two-dart combo to book his first quarter-final berth at this event in four years.
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Stephen Bunting finds a brilliant 125 to temporarily keep his match alive against Danny Noppert – and celebrated in style!
Anderson qualifies for Leicester quarter-finals
A one-sided final match saw Cullen win just one set and post a 68.05 average in a 3-0 defeat to Anderson, who continues his impressive career by reaching a major PDC quarter-final for a 17th consecutive calendar year.
“Joe [Cullen] wasn't there tonight”, Anderson told Sky Sports. “Play against [James] Wade, he was really good. It was his departure tonight that cost him – if he had come a little earlier I think I would have been on the ropes.
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Gary Anderson discusses his straight sets victory over Joe Cullen and his hopes of challenging for World Grand Prix victory
“My score came at the end. My finishing seemed to come into play when I had a shot.
“It's getting harder and harder for me [to win events]. Same with Peter Wright and a few others, but we try. Darts are fun for me now. I want to win. I'll try [and win more trophies]”.
Who plays Thursday?
World No. 2 Luc Littler headlines night four action as he faces defending champion Mike De Deckerafter averaging 105 in a thrilling victory over Gian van Veen in his first match of the tournament.
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Highlights from the first round match between Luke Littler and Gian van Veen, where both men produced two of the three highest averages in tournament history
Three times finalist Gerwyn Prize plays Josh Rock and 2021 champion Johnny Clayton takes Luc Woodhousewhile finalist 2020 Dirk van Duijvenbode faces Daryl Gurney during the opening match of the evening.
Order of play (best of five sets)
Dirk van Duijvenbode vs. Daryl Gurney
Jonny Clayton vs. Luke Woodhouse
Luke Littler vs. Mike De Decker
Gerwyn Price vs. Josh Rock
The quarter-finals will take place on Friday, with the semi-finals on Saturday then being played in the best of nine sets. Sunday's final is a best-of-11 set, with the winner receiving the top prize of £120,000.
Watch day four of the Boyle Sports World Grand Prix live Sky Sports+ And Sky Sports main event starting at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, with coverage every day up to and including the Sunday final. Stream darts, football, golf, cricket and more contract-free with NOW.
2025-10-08 22:00:00
