Luke Humphries put in a much-improved performance as his doubling ability and a 10-dart finish secured a 3-0 thrashing of Jermaine Wattimena and a place in the quarter-finals of the World Grand Prix.
There were 3-1 wins for James Wade and Niels Zonneveld over Stephen Bunting and Gary Anderson, while Gian Van Veen managed a decisive strike with Ryan Searle to triumph 3-2.
Humphries – favorite for the title after defending champion Luke Littler’s shock loss to Luke Woodhouse on the opening night – averaged just 80 and hit 26 per cent on doubles in closing in a hard-fought 2-0 win over Dave Chisnall on Tuesday night.
Two nights later, the 2023 champion and 2024 and 2025 runner-up averaged 94.11 and secured a double completion percentage of 64, although his starting double percentage of 74 was the most eye-catching statistic as he hit 16 doubles early in matches.
‘Cool Hand’ – who will face Wattimena’s Dutchman Zonneveld in the last eight on Friday – hit his 10-game early in the third set, while Wattimena twice double-faulted in the opening set.
Humphries said afterwards: “I’ve got a good chance to win this. I’m a bit up and down at the moment but if I can fix that I’ll be hard to beat.
“It wasn’t the best performance, but it was a good performance. It was much better than Tuesday.
“I think I went in every time with my first three arrows. When you’re doing stuff like that, it’s going to take a good performance to beat you.”
Wade: Double start is ‘hell’
Wade, meanwhile, produced a rookie masterclass to reach his eighth World Grand Prix quarter-final, hitting an opening knock of 160 five times during his 3-1 win over Bunting.
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James Wade regularly started the matches with 160 against Stephen Bunting
The sixth seed dropped his standards in the third set but was electric in the remaining three as he set up a meeting with Van Veen.
Wade said: “I’m very grateful as it’s so difficult to win with a double start. We can play well and pretend we’re relaxed but it’s awful, it’s a hell of a job, really hard.
“I don’t feel close to my best, but I have to play better against better players. I have a lot more gear to do – but talk is free.
“And I’m full of free words!”
Van Veen wins thriller to secure Wade showdown
Elsewhere, Searle – who landed a 167 cash, the highest of the week – jumped for the match against Van Veen after breaking the Dutchman with a 100 finish in the fourth set, only to be broken straight away in the deciding leg.
Van Veen, who had led 2-0 in the penultimate set before clawing back to 2-2, then made it 3-0 in the final set.
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Ryan Searle scored an excellent finish with 167 on the bull during his loss to Gian van Veen at the Mattioli Arena.
The third seed said: “When I was 2-1 down in the set, I said, ‘oh no, I don’t want to go out like that.’
“As much as double 16 went for me in the first round, it bothered me today. But in the end it worked out really well.
“I was pretty happy with my score, but I missed a few arrows at a crucial moment. Luckily I got the job done.”
Anderson falls out as Zonneveld’s run continues
Van Veen’s compatriot Zonneveld followed up his first-round victory over Josh Rock by shutting out Anderson, starting by winning a first set in which every leg went against the shot.
Anderson made a terrible start to the match, hitting a single and then suffering two bounces, while he was the victim of another bounce in the third set as he aimed for a bullseye to win the leg.
Zonneveld was then broken before closing out the win in the next game.
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Gary Anderson sees the humorous side as he misses a deuce, followed by two jumps, in his first three darts
The 28-year-old said: “Especially in this tournament, it’s one of the biggest things in my whole career.
“I’ve accomplished a lot on the ProTour and the Euro Tour, but not on the main stage, only once in the World Series Finals. I’ve been a dad so less sleep and all, but I feel back in the groove.”
Thursday’s second round results
- Niels Zonneveld 3-1 Gary Anderson
- James Wade 3-1 Stephen Bunting
- Luke Humphries 3-0 Jermaine Wattimena
- Gian van Veen 3-2 Ryan Searle
Friday’s quarter-final matches
From 19:00; first up to three groups
- Nathan Aspinall vs Ryan Joyce
- Gerwyn Price vs Jonny Clayton
- Luke Humphries vs Niels Zonneveld
- Gian van Veen vs James Wade
Watch the quarter-finals of the World Grand Prix live Sky Sports+ AND Sky Sports’ main event from 19:00 on Friday. There is live coverage of the tournament every day up to and including Sunday’s final. The latest Sky Sports offers OR transmission without contract with TANI.
