Luke Humphries advanced to the quarter-finals of the Boyle Sports World Grand Prix with a 3-1 win over Krzysztof Ratajski as Stephen Bunting crashed out in Leicester.
Humphries, the 2023 champion and last year’s runner-up at Mattioli Arena, averaged 95.58 and hit a maximum of six, but was visibly frustrated at several points in the topsy-turvy contest.
The world number one needed a final decider to secure a two-set advantage before losing the next set to Ratajski. Humphries bounced back with a two-ton finish to round out the win and build on his impressive record in a double-start event.
Luke Humphries is aiming to advance to the finals for the third time in a row.
Humphries now faces a quarter-final against Scotland’s Cameron Menzies, who beat former world champion Rob Cross 3-1 on Friday evening, while fourth seed Bunting was also knocked out in the second round after losing by the same margin to Danny Noppert.
The final saw Gary Anderson turn back the years and beat the oddball Joe Cullen in straight sets to book a quarter-final against Noppert, with the remaining four second-round matches taking place on Thursday.
How Humphries overcame a stutter to reach the quarterfinals
The top seed got through the opening set at straight leg but wasted three darts to throw a break again in the first leg of the second. Here Ratajski missed four set darts in the final leg decider before Humphries took out a messy leg at double one.
Humphries’ straight-sets win looked promising when he opened with a 14-darter and then made his first 180 of the tournament, but Ratajski pressed the draw and then won the next two legs to take the set.
Humphries is aiming for his second World Grand Prix victory in three years.
Humphries’ stuttering finishing continued at the start of the fourth set when he needed three attempts from the outer ring to close a 15-dart break, but he fired a brilliant 132 checkout next and secured the win with a brilliant 104 finish with Ratajski holding.
“I was really frustrated with the scoring because they missed it.,” Humphreys admitted. “I got a little lucky in the second set, but then I slowed down and started hitting trebles.
“Credit to Krzysztof, he played really well tonight. He’s a really solid player and he’s putting pressure on all legs.”
Humphries now plays Menzies through the second leg on straight leg after surviving two sets of darts in the opening set against Cross to take the final leg.
Cross started the third match on 107 and went ahead a set after his opponent missed five match darts to win 3-0, but Menzies recovered after making a checkout of 136 in the next leg and missing three more match darts to seal victory at the ninth attempt.
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Cameron Menzies scored a brilliant 136 checkout against Rob Cross, who had missed five set darts in the previous leg.
Bunting revealed on social media that he was suffering from back pain during his loss to Noppert. Noppert battled back in the second set to score a clean sweep in the third.
‘The Bullet’ made 68 and was at 125 to decide the fourth set. Noppert hit 100 in a two-dart combo to advance to his first quarterfinals at the event in four years.
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Stephen Bunting celebrated in style after finding a brilliant 125 to temporarily keep his match against Danny Noppert!
Anderson advances to quarterfinals with Leicester
In a one-sided final match, Cullen won just one shot and averaged 68.05 during a 3-0 loss to Anderson. Anderson continues his impressive career by reaching the quarterfinals of a major ranking in the PDC for 17 consecutive years.
“Joe (Cullen) is not in attendance tonight.” anderson told Sky Sports. “He was really good against (James) Wade. His start tonight was a big loss for him. If he had kicked earlier I would have been in trouble.”
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Gary Anderson talks about his back-to-back win over Joe Cullen and his hopes of challenging for the World Grand Prix title.
“My score came last there. It felt like the finish went in the moment I shot.
“It’s getting harder and harder for me (to win events). It’s the same for Peter Wright and a few others, but we give it a try. Darts are fun for me now. I want to win. I’ll try (and win more trophies).”
Who plays on Thursday?
2nd in the world Luke Littler Headlining day four of action against the defending champions Mike the DeckerHe averaged 105 during his thrilling win over Gian van Veen in the tournament opener.
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Highlights from the opening round match between Luke Littler and Gian van Veen. The pair averaged two of three, the highest in tournament history.
3 time finalist Gerwin Price Plays Josh Rock and the 2021 Champion Johnny Clayton undertake Luke Woodhouse2020 Runner-up Dirk van Duijvenbode faces Are you Darryl? in the evening’s opening game.
Order of Play (Best of 5 Sets)
Dirk van Duyvenbode vs Darryl Gurney
Johnny Clayton vs Luke Woodhouse
Luke Littler vs Mike De Decker
Gerwin Price vs. Josh Rock
The quarterfinals take place on Friday, followed by the semifinals on Saturday, followed by the best of nine sets. Sunday’s final will be played in a best of 11 sets, with the winner receiving a first prize of £120,000.
Watch Day 4 of the Boyle Sports World Grand Prix live Sky Sports+ and Sky Sports Main Event We provide daily coverage from 7pm on Wednesday until the final on Sunday. Stream darts, soccer, golf, cricket and more with NOW without a contract.
