WADE POWERS PAST PRICE, AS DE DECKER STUNS ANDERSON AND VAN DEN BERGH DOMINATES CHISNALL
James Wade, Mike De Decker, Joe Cullen and Dimitri Van den Bergh progressed at the 2024 BoyleSports World Grand Prix on Thursday, as the quarter-final line-up was confirmed in Leicester.
Day Four of the double-start showpiece saw the second round draw to a close at the Mattioli Arena, as two former World Champions crashed out on a dramatic night of action.
Wade booked his spot in a first quarter-final at the World Grand Prix since 2014, as he comfortably dispatched Gerwyn Price in straight sets.
Two-time champion Wade has had a torrid time over the last decade in the double-start competition, but produced a very accomplished performance to brush aside 2020 winner Price.
The opening stanza saw both players fired up, with Price letting out a huge roar as he levelled at 2-2 – only to see Wade respond in kind as he snatched the set on double ten.
From there, Wade was relentless – quickly racing to the second set to double his lead.
Despite missing ten darts to start the second leg in the third set, Wade still managed to clinch it to move to within a leg of the quarter-finals.
Price enjoyed a brief reprieve as he pinned a match-high 130 checkout on the bull to break back, but a shaky start to the fourth leg saw Wade quickly gain the advantage – sealing the victory on his favourite double ten after Price missed a dart at tops.
“I don’t enjoy playing against Gezzy,” reflected Wade, who lifted the title in 2007 and 2010.
“It’s tough playing against such a good friend. He’s one of the nicest people in darts, alongside Jonny Clayton.
“I was good enough [to get the win] tonight. There were enough opportunities given to me and I took them, so I’m really happy to be back in the quarter-finals.”
Wade will now face a quarter-final showdown against De Decker, with the Belgian dominating the opening game of the night against Gary Anderson.
In a lightning start, the 28-year-old raced to the opening set without reply.
Set two saw Anderson get his first two legs on the board, but De Decker sealed it in the decider against the throw with a brilliant 120 finish.
This was followed by a stunning 160 checkout in set three to move to within a leg of victory, and De Decker eventually sealed a superb victory in a deciding leg with a 74 checkout, as Anderson languished back on 405.
“I’m really really happy. I’ve always had a problem playing on stage, but this week it seems to be clicking,” said the Belgian.
“I did the right things at the right moments. The 120 finish in the second set was massive. I think that decided the game.”
“I just want to play well tomorrow now. I’m not going too look to far ahead, and hopefully I can perform like I did tonight.”
Elsewhere, Cullen reached a first TV quarter-final since last year’s World Grand Prix, as he came from behind to beat Daryl Gurney in five-set thriller.
2017 champion Gurney clinched the opening set 3-1, with Cullen then taking the second in a deciding leg.
Gurney again restored his lead as he took the third in straight legs, but then completely faltered in the fourth and fifth sets as Cullen stormed to victory without reply.
“I felt comfortable for most of the game. I didn’t doubt myself at any point,” stated Cullen.
“I’ve been struggling for the whole year, so I’ve been trying to rectify that by putting things in place and I think that showed tonight.
“I thought I showed great resilience and good fight, so bring on the quarter-finals!”
In the final game of the night, UK Open champion Van den Bergh saw off two-time runner-up Dave Chisnall 3-1 to book his place in the last eight.
Chisnall seized the early initiative, winning the first set 3-1. That lead was short lived however, as Van den Bergh clinched the second set without reply.
A stunning deciding leg in the third set from Van den Bergh saw him hit eight perfect darts on his way to taking a 2-1 lead, before he wrapped up victory in a scrappy fourth set.
The quarter-finals will now take place on a bumper Friday evening session in the East Midlands, with reigning champion Luke Humphries also up against 2021 winner Jonny Clayton, while Ryan Joyce takes on 2018 World Champion Rob Cross.
The BoyleSports World Grand Prix is being broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK, through the PDC’s worldwide broadcast partners including DAZN and Viaplay, and on PDCTV (excluding UK, Germany, Austria & Switzerland based subscribers).
2024 BoyleSports World Grand Prix
Thursday October 10
4x Second Round matches
Mike De Decker 3-0 Gary Anderson (3-0, 3-2, 3-2)
James Wade 3-0 Gerwyn Price (3-2, 3-1, 3-1)
Joe Cullen 3-2 Daryl Gurney (1-3, 3-2, 0-3, 3-0, 3-0)
Dimitri Van den Bergh 3-1 Dave Chisnall (1-3, 3-0, 3-2, 3-2)
Friday October 11 (1900 BST)
4x Quarter-Finals
Mike De Decker v James Wade
Rob Cross v Ryan Joyce
Luke Humphries v Jonny Clayton
Joe Cullen v Dimitri Van den Bergh
Format – Best of Five Sets
—–ENDS—–
Words: Lewis Wood-Thompson (PDC)
Images: Simon O’Connor/PDC
