Luke Humphries moved into the quarterfinals of the Boyle Sports World Grand Prix with a 3-1 win over Krzysztof Ratajski as Stephen Bunting crashed in Leicester.
Humphries -2023 champion and last year’s Runner -Up at the Matrioli Arena -published an average of 95.58 and fired six maximum, but was visibly frustrated at different points in a Topsy -Turvy competition.
World # 1 needed a final leg decision to open a two-set benefit and lost the next set to RaAjski before Humphries burst out by shooting two ton-plus finish to close victory and build on his impressive record in the double start event.
Humphries is now facing a last eight meeting on Friday with Scotland’s Cameron Menzies, who beat former world champion Rob Cross 3-1 earlier in the evening, while the fourth seed bunting also suffered another round of exit after losing to Danny Nopst with the same margin.
The last match saw Gary Anderson roll the years back to beat an out-of-black Joe Cullen in straight sets and book a quarter-final clash with Noppert, where the remaining four second round matches are held on Thursday.
How Humphries survive Stutter to book quarterfinals
The top seed drove through the opening set in straight legs, but spread three darts to break the thrown again in the first stage of the second, where Ratajski missed four sets of darts in a final-leg decision before Humphries caught a fragile leg of double one.
An equal victory for Humphries saw an option when he opened with a 14-darter and produced his first 180 of the tournament in the next, only for Ratajski to hold and then win the next two legs to demand a set.
Humphries are looking to win the World Grand Prix for the second time in three years
Humphries’ stuttering finishing continued as he needed three attempts at the outer ring to close a 15-dart break at the start of the fourth set, but he fired a spectacular 132 box in the next one and responded to a rata ski team by securing victory with a brilliant 104 finish.
“I was really frustrated with my score because they just didn’t fall in“ Humphries admitted. “I was a little lucky in the second set, but then I started to slow down my throw and I started hitting these treble.
“Credit to Krzysztof. He played really well tonight. He’s such a solid player and he puts you under pressure in each leg.”
Humphries now plays Menzies, who survived two sets of darts in his opening set against cross to take it in the last leg before he breezing through the other in straight legs.
Cross started the third with a 107 finish and angled the set after his opponent missed five Kampdart to complete a 3-0 victory, but Menzie’s spiking a 136 checkout in the next leg and recovering after missing three more combat darts to seal victory at the ninth attempt.
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Cameron Menzies produced a brilliant 136 checkout in his match with Rob Cross, after missing five sets of darts in the previous leg
Bunting revealed on social media that he was suffering from a tender back during his defeat to Noppert, where he fought back from two sets to demand a clean coward in the third set.
‘The Bullet’ followed a 68 finish with a sublime 125 checkout to take the fourth set to a crucial leg where Noppert took 100 in a two-dart combo to book his first quarterfinals at this four-year event.
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Stephen Bunting finds a brilliant 125 to temporarily keep his fight alive against Danny Nopsert – and celebrated in style!
Anderson runs to Leicester quarterfinals
A one-sided last match saw Cullen only win one leg and place an average of 68.05 during a 3-0 loss to Anderson, who continues his impressive career by reaching a larger ranking quarter final on PDC for a 17 year in a row calendar year.
“Joe [Cullen] wasn’t at it tonight, “Anderson told Sky Sports. “To play against [James] Wade, he was really good. His start tonight is what cost him – if he had kicked in a little earlier, I think I would have been on the ropes.
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Gary Anderson is discussing his equal victory over Joe Cullen and his hopes of challenging to the World Grand Prix Victory
“My scoring eventually came there. My finishing seemed to go in when I got a shot.
“It gets harder and harder for me [to win events]. Same with Peter Wright and a few others, but we try it. Darts is a merry to me now. I will win. I will try [and win more trophies]”
Who is playing on Thursday?
World No. 2 Luke Littler Headlines Night Four’s action when he takes the defending champion Mike they deckerAfter firing a 105 average during an exciting victory against Gian van Veen in his tournament opener.
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Highlights in opening round match between Luke Littler and Gian van Veen, where the couple produced two of the three highest average in the history of the tournament
Three-time finalist Gerwyn Price Playing Josh Rock and 2021 Champion Jonny Clayton Takes on Luke Woodhousewhile 2020 runner-up Dirk van Duijvenbode faces Daryl Gurney In tonight’s opening match.
Order of games (best of five sets)
Dirk van Duijvenbode vs Daryl Gurney
Jonny Clayton Vs Luke Woodhouse
Luke littler vs mike de decker
Gerwyn Price vs Josh Rock
The quarterfinals will take place on Friday, with the semi -finals on Saturday and then played over the best of nine sets. Sunday’s final is the best of 11 sets where the winner receives the first prize of £ 120,000.
View Day Four of Boyle Sports World Grand Prix Live at Sky Sports+ and Sky Sports Main Event From 1 p.m. 19 on Wednesday with cover every day up to and including the final on Sunday. Stream darts, football, golf, cricket and more contract free with now.