Gerwyn Price had to battle back from two sets down to defeat fellow Welshman Jonny Clayton in a deciding leg thriller on quarter final night at the 2026 World Grand Prix in Leicester.

The two World Cup teammates, who met in the final of this competition in 2021, produced a game full of darting drama, in which The Ferret missed three match darts to allow The Iceman into the semi finals of the competition. Price will take on Nathan Aspinall, who hit the highest average in a five set game in the competition’s history, winning 3-0 against Ryan Joyce.

In the other section of the draw, world number two Luke Humphries cruised to a 3-0 win against Niels Zonneveld to set up a showdown with James Wade. The Machine, a former two time winner of the World Grand Prix, comfortably defeated Gian Van Veen 3-0, dropping just one leg in the contest.

Price leaves it late as Aspinall stars

Price v Clayton was billed as the match of the night before a dart was thrown in Leicester. While the quality lacked in patches, the drama and tension in the match more than made up for it.

A tight and tense first set went to a deciding leg. Despite The Iceman going six into a nine, Clayton took out 60 to hold throw and go 1-0 up. Price won the opening leg of set two, before missing a dart at double five for a two leg lead. This allowed the Ferret to hit double 16 to level the set, and 31 darts later, he won it, taking out 98 to go 2-0 in front.

The Iceman came storming back into the contest, breaking in 17 darts in the first leg of set three, followed by two holds of throw to cut the deficit in half. 42 darts later, the former World Champion levelled the match, reeling off three straight legs to take set four.

The final set saw Clayton start off with a comfortable hold, before breaking in 15 darts to go within one. He then missed a match dart in leg three, as Price broke on double 10 to keep the contest alive, before holding in 21 darts to force a last leg decider, in which The Ferret missed two more match darts. This allowed Price to ping a 60 outshot to complete the astonishing comeback, and move into his first World Grand Prix semi final for three years.

Price will take on a red hot Nathan Aspinall tomorrow night, after The Asp followed a clean sweep win over Luke Woodhouse on Wednesday with another 3-0 win, this time over Ryan Joyce.The Asp made a blistering start to the contest, taking just 42 darts to wrap up the opening set. He then won the first leg of set two, before Joyce took out a stunning 153 with his first attempt at double in the match, levelling the second set.

The Asp countered with a 12 darter featuring a 112 checkout to regain the lead, and despite Relentless forcing a deciding leg, the former World Matchplay champion hit tops for a 2-0 lead in sets.

The third set also went to a decider, but when Joyce missed two to stay in the contest,. Aspinall pinged a 75 outshot to secure his spot in the final four. His average of 105.15 for the match is the highest ever in a five set game at the World Grand Prix.

Humphries and Wade ease into semis

Luke Humphries has still not dropped a set at this year’s World Grand Prix, coming through 3-0 against Niels Zonneveld in a game where Cool Hand found the big darts in key moments.

The first three legs were all breaks of throw, but despite missing six darts in leg four Humphries held to take the first set with a 17 darter on double eight. Zonneveld had a huge chance to break the Humphries throw in leg three of set two, but missed five darts to do so. The Dutchman forced a deciding leg, but missed tops for a 135 for the set, allowing Cool Hand to ping the same target for a 75 outshot and increase his advantage.

The start of set three followed the start of set one, with three breaks in the first three legs. It then ended the same way as set one, with Humphries holding in leg four in 17 darts, this time pinging double 10 to complete the win.

James Wade awaits the 2023 World Grand Prix champion in the second semi final, as he produced a clean sweep of his own to defeat World Darts Championship finalist Gian van Veen.

The Machine, victorious in 2007 and 2010, produced a masterclass in finishing against his young Dutch opponent, taking just 45 darts to win the opening set in which he barely broke sweat. After another 45 darts, he was 2-0 up, taking out 62 on double 10 to complete another set clean sweep. At this point, Wade was 6/10 on the outer ring, while van Veen had yet to get a dart at a double to win a leg.

Wade then broke at the start of set three, before holding to go within one. The Giant then won the third leg to avoid being swept in legs, but it made no difference to the destiny of the match, as The Machine hit tops for a 3-1 third set and a 3-0 match win, with his match average ending up 15 points higher than his opponent.

World Grand Prix Quarter Final Results

Friday 2 October

Nathan Aspinall 3-0 Ryan Joyce (3-0, 3-2, 3-2)

Gerwyn Price 3-2 Jonny Clayton (2-3, 1-3, 3-0, 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,

World Grand Prix Day Seven Schedule of Play

Saturday 3 October (2000 GMT)

Nathan Aspinall v Gerwyn Price

Luke Humphries v James Wade