Nathan Aspinall produced one of the finest displays in BOYLE Sports World Grand Prix history on Friday night, powering into the semi-finals with a clinical 3-0 victory over Ryan Joyce at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester.
The 2022 runner-up averaged a remarkable 105.15 – the highest in a best-of-five-sets match at the double-start event and the fourth highest overall in the tournament’s history – to continue his strong challenge for a third televised ranking title.
Aspinall was dominant from the outset, racing through the opening set in just 42 darts. Clinical 110 and 112 finishes helped him double his lead with a second-set average of 109.78, before Joyce mounted a spirited fightback in the third.
The Stockport star responded with legs of 13 and 14 darts to seal the win.
“I’m absolutely buzzing,” Aspinall said.
“I felt so relaxed and focused tonight. My starting was unbelievable; the amount of 152s I hit in those first two sets was ridiculous.
“I’m really happy with that performance. That’s probably one of the best performances I’ve ever produced in my career. I’ve been a lot more composed this week. I feel like I can win this tournament, and I feel like I’m ready to win another major again.”
Aspinall now faces Gerwyn Price in a repeat of their 2022 semi-final after the Welshman staged a dramatic comeback from 2-0 down against Jonny Clayton.
Clayton looked in control early, landing 110, 117 and 98 checkouts to take a two-set lead.
Price, however, responded with a blistering third set (averaging 107) and a clean sweep in the fourth to level the match. Clayton regained the initiative in the decider and led 2-0, but missed a match dart at double 16 and two further chances, allowing Price to complete the turnaround.
“Obviously, I feel for Jonny,” Price reflected. “I know what it’s like to be ahead and lose here, but I felt like I was the better player all the way through the game and I was quite unlucky to be 2-0 down.
“I just felt like I was gifting Jonny some opportunities, but that’s the way darts goes sometimes and I had to stick in there. I’m in some decent form. I thought I was dead and buried there but I never give up, and for two sets in that match I was pretty much unplayable.”
In the other half of the draw, Luke Humphries and James Wade both advanced with straight-sets wins and will meet in Saturday’s second semi-final.
Humphries, the 2023 champion, remains unbeaten in sets this week. He followed earlier whitewashes of Dave Chisnall and Jermaine Wattimena with a 3-0 success against Niels Zonneveld.
Both players posted identical averages, but Humphries’ superior doubling proved decisive as he reached a fourth consecutive World Grand Prix semi-final.
“It’s one of those performances where you aren’t thrilled, but you win 3-0,” Humphries admitted.
“Hopefully tomorrow is a lot better because if it isn’t, I won’t be here on Sunday.
“The way I’m practicing, I feel really good, it’s just not been coming out this week. Against James, I know I need it to come out, it’ll be a tough task.
” To make four World Grand Prix finals on the trot would be super special. There’s not many players that will ever do that, and James will know he’s got a tough game as well.”
Earlier, Wade produced a ruthless display to defeat Dutch number one Gian van Veen 3-0, winning eight consecutive legs at one stage. Van Veen did not have a dart at a double until the penultimate leg of the match as Wade averaged over 96 to reach his first World Grand Prix semi-final since 2014.
“I felt more up for it tonight,” Wade said. “I was really fortunate that Gian didn’t perform and I capitalised on that.
“When I lost to Gezzy last weekend, I was tired and sluggish, but when I’ve been up for it in recent times, I’ve done alright. I’ve been feeling different in the last two months. Probably the last time I felt like this it was 2008 or 2009.”
The BOYLE Sports World Grand Prix continues live on Sky Sports in the UK, via PDC’s international broadcast partners including DAZN and Viaplay, and on PDCTV (excluding UK, Germany, Austria and Switzerland).
Friday Results
Nathan Aspinall 3-0 Ryan Joyce (3-0, 3-2, 3-2)
Gerwyn Price 3-2 Jonny Clayton (2-3, 1-3, 3-1, 3-0, 3-2)
James Wade 3-0 Gian van Veen (3-0, 3-0, 3-1)
Luke Humphries 3-0 Niels Zonneveld (3-1, 3-2, 3-1)
Saturday’s Semi-Finals (from 20:00 BST)
Nathan Aspinall v Gerwyn Price
Luke Humphries v James Wade
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