Luke Humphries is thru to the World Grand Prix semi-finals after a nervy 3-1 victory over Jonny Clayton in Leicester, on an evening James Wade and Rob Cross have been knocked out.
World No 1 Humphries is heading in the right direction to defend his World Grand Prix title to proceed his outstanding final 12 months, which has included triumphs on the Grand Slam of Darts, Gamers Championship Finals, World Championships, World Cup and World Matchplay.
The 29-year-old will face Ryan Joyce within the final 4, after he surprised former world champion Cross 3-2.
There can be an all-Belgian conflict within the different semi-final as Mike De Decker beat Wade 3-0 to play Dimitri Van den Bergh, who obtained the higher of Joe Cullen.
De Decker and Van den Bergh will play the primary semi-final at 8.30pm on Saturday, stay on Sky Sports activities Major Occasion and Sky Sports activities+, earlier than Humphries faces Joyce.
Nervous Humphries avoids transient Clayton fightback
Regardless of passing up set darts within the third leg of the opening set, Humphries nonetheless managed to say the set however Clayton broke his opponent initially of the second and went on to stage the match.
Welshman Clayton broke Humphries early within the second set, because the world champion missed various pictures at double to take the opening leg, with Clayton then holding throw to maneuver to 2-0, levelling the match up in units when exhibiting nerve to carry once more for 3-1.
The Ferret broke Humphries once more within the second leg of the third set, however missed two set darts. Humphries punished him with a sensational 146 checkout, which shifted the momentum of the match.
Humphries got here again to win the set and gained the fourth set on a deciding leg to recover from the road.
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Defending champion Luke Humphries defeats Jonny Clayton to progress to the semi-finals of the World Grand Prix Darts.
“That’s probably the most nervous I’ve felt in a long time. It’s hard playing your friends,” Humphries instructed Sky Sports activities Darts.
“I felt nervous the whole game and that’s not like me, really not like me. I think there was an opportunity to win again and maybe I tried too hard.
“Jonny was unfortunate. He may have gained the third set however that 146 modified every little thing. A very powerful recreation.
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Humphries hit a vital 146 checkout to save lots of the third set in opposition to Clayton of their World Grand Prix quarter-final
“Usually the deeper I go and the more pressure that happens, I feel better and get better. There were just moments in the game, I felt like I was trying too hard. In the second set, I missed four darts to win the first leg.
“I really feel actually good and my recreation is in an excellent place. I will not take no negatives from a recreation I’ve gained, you’ll be able to’t be down your self, and I’ll go into tomorrow in a assured temper.”
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Humphries stated he felt he was ‘attempting too laborious’ to return by means of a tough match in opposition to Clayton
It seemed like Humphries would play Cross however the former world champion threw away a one set lead and a dart to win the second set.
Joyce dominated the third set however a spectacular 110 checkout from Cross despatched the quarter-final to a deciding set.
Cross obtained the decisive break within the third leg to go 2-1 up, then held throw to succeed in his second televised semi-final.
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Ryan Joyce held his nerve and sealed a 3-2 victory over Rob Cross to succeed in his first World Grand Prix semi-final
De Decker stuns Wade
De Decker has arguably been enjoying one of the best darts of any participant this week in Leicester and he produced when it mattered most to see off two-time World Grand Prix champion Wade.
Each set went to a deciding leg however De Decker gained all of them in a high-quality match.
“If you hit doubles you win. That’s the winning formula! I maybe look relaxed but I’m really nervous but it’s going well and at the right moment I’m doing the right things,” De Decker instructed Sky Sports activities Darts.
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Belgium’s De Decker says his secret is hitting the doubles
“I’m happy, everything is going well and onto the next round. Me and Dimitri are good friends, so if I don’t win [the tournament] I hope he does.”
UK Open champion Van den Bergh was removed from his finest however got here again from a set down in opposition to Cullen and located some type because the match went on to point out why he loves the large stage.
Each Belgians can be enjoying within the semi-finals of the World Grand Prix for the primary time on Saturday.
Watch the World Grand Prix semi-finals in Leicester on Saturday at 8.30pm on Sky Sports activities Major Occasion and Sky Sports activities+. Stream the darts and extra with a NOW Sports activities Month Membership – No contract, cancel anytime
