By William Thomas
Here is 180UK’s full recap of the World Darts Grand Prix Quarter-Finals.
Gary Anderson v Danny Noppert
The Flying Scotsman Gary Anderson took on high scoring Danny Noppert to kick off the night. Danny Noppert currently has the most 180s of the tournament, hitting an impressive 13 180s in the last two games. Danny Noppert broke throw in the first leg as his steady led him to take out 52 with ease. The freeze followed that with an identical 52 checkout to go two ahead in the set.
Noppert threw an almighty nine darts before hitting a double in the next leg giving Anderson all the time in the world to hit double 20. The Freeze looked destined to win the fourth leg of the set but three missed darts at double gave Anderson the chance to punish on 88 and punish he did. Anderson took the opening set with an outrageous 158 checkout in the fifth leg of the set as Noppert was waiting on 53.
In the opening leg of set two Noppert took advantage of a near miss of 83 as Anderson grazed the wire of the bull to allow Noppert to take the first leg. Anderson levelled the set breaking back the throw in a tense game so far. Both players looked like they were taking turns as Noppert answered back – he checked out 54 to go ahead in the set. Noppert won his first two consecutive legs of the game in the fourth leg to bag his first set of the match.
Anderson won the first leg pretty comfortably in the third set, as Noppert struggled to get going. Noppert answered back in an emphatic fashion though, hitting double 18 to checkout 158 – getting a 100+ checkout of his own. Despite Anderson already missing three missed darts on double four he was able to finish on his fourth attempt to go ahead in the set. Both players were hitting 180s for fun in the fourth set as Noppert held his throw to take it to a fifth leg decider. Noppert broke Anderson’s throw hitting 78 with an under pressure last dart to go 2-1 up in the match.
The Freeze took another step closer to the semi-final in the opening leg hitting double six to go two away from the match. Noppert’s second 180 of the match put him in a comfortable position checkout 56. The Dutchman is on the brink of the semi-finals. Anderson forced the fifth leg with an under pressure 86 checkout. Anderson has nerves of steel. The fifth leg was very tense, but the Freeze lived up to his name checking out 92 to win the match after Anderson threatened a 110 finish. (3-1).
Dirk van Duijvenbode v Jonny Clayton
Dirk won the opening leg with ease as Clayton struggled to hit a double to get going. Clayton must of passed his double missing disease to van Duijvenbode. As the Titans’ six missed doubles to get underway gifted the Ferret to go level in the set. Clayton broke
the throw of the dutchman in just 14 darts to go ahead of the next leg. The Welshman won his third consecutive leg with similar ease to go ahead in the match. This was the first time van Duijvenbode went a set behind in the tournament.
Clayton looked fired up in the opening leg of the set as he bagged the leg with a beautiful 118 checkout. The dutchman’s near miss at 108 allowed the Ferret to win his fifth consecutive leg, putting Dirk on the brink of going two sets behind. The 2021 Grand Prix champion further added to the Titans’ misery. He raced two sets ahead, hitting a mind blowing 130 checkouts on the bull.
Clayton looked keen to wrap the match up hitting his second 180 in the opening leg of third set. The Welshman’s held his nerve hitting double eight on his last dart to go a leg ahead. The Titan looked like he was finally going to stop the rot hitting two 180s in the second leg. Clayton had other things in mind though hitting a frightening 112 checkout to really hurt Dirk. It just wasn’t van Duijvenbode’s night as he missed three missed darts at a double. This left Clayton to capitalise and checkout 90 to win the match a dominant performance. (0-3)
Luke Littler v Gerwyn Price
Gerwyn Price stuck with his luck double 13 again to start the opening leg in a match which promised fireworks. Price roared into the next leg after he hit double ten with his last dart in hand. Littler answered back emphatically with two 180s and an impressive 14 dart finish. Despite missing five darts at a double the Welshman was allowed to hit a double two to go a leg ahead. Price clinched the fourth leg to go a set ahead in the match and boy did he let Littler know about it.
Price afforded more opportunities to hit double five as he bagged the dart on his seventh attempt. Littler was unusually finding a hard time to hammer the doubles missing two throws at double ten to gift Price his second leg of the set. The 2020 World champion pinned double 20 for a second leg in a row in the third leg to go two sets ahead.
Littler took an end to the end to the rot opening the first leg with checking out 49. After Price failed to hit a double in seven darts, the reigning World Champion bagged his sixth 180 and check out 80 in rapid fashion. Littler averaged 107 in the third set as he whitewashed the Welshman pinning another double sixteen to go just one set behind.
Price pinched the first leg of the fourth set breaking the Littler throw after the Nuke bust 92. Price put himself one away from the semi-final after hitting a 110 finish with Littler taking ten darts to get underway. Littler refused to give up with a magical 154 finish whilst Price was waiting on 60. Price missed three huge match darts, giving the Nuke a lifeline in the match and the set, as he hit double two to go to a fifth leg decider. Luke
Liittler has raised his game as he levelling with a double 15 finish and leaving Price dumbfounded.
After Littler blundered on 60, Price replicated on 68 gifting the Nuke the first leg. This was the first time Littler was in front of the game. Littler roared into a two-leg lead with a 56 checkout to put him one away from the semi-final. Price replicated the roar in comedic fashion as he bagged double tops to go behind in the set. What a game. Price hit 156 after Littler took nine darts to get underway to go to a fifth leg decider in the final leg. After one of the most intense legs of the game Littler fires with a 152 checkout to win the game with Price left on 96. What a finish. What a player. What a game. (3-2).
Luke Humphries v Cameron Menzies
Luke Humphries looked like ensuring a much calmer game than the last. The World No 1 opened the first two legs in impressive fashion averaging 118. Menzies was left hopeless as Cool hand bagged the third leg checking out 65 to go a set ahead.
Menzies picked up his opening leg of the match and put an end to the rot. The Scotsman bagged double 16 after nailing his first 180 of the match. Humphries rescued the second leg with his last dart in hand hitting double five to go level in the set. The 2024 World champion gifted Menzies the lead in the next leg after failing to hit a double in seven throws. Cammy wasn’t letting up their as he clinched double ten in a terrific set for the Scotsman. It was all level going into the third set.
Menzies carried on his impressive form from the second set bagging an almighty 160 finish to go ahead for the first time in the match. Cool hand regained his composure in the second leg to hold his throw and put an end to the rot. Humphries wasn’t letting up as he went ahead in the set to punish the Scotsman’s poor throws at double. After earning the chance to take it to a fifth set decider Menzies wasn’t at the task. Cammy missed three darts at double, before Humphries capitalised to back ahead in sets.
Normal order resumed as Humphries took control of the opening leg to go one ahead in the set. Humphries pushed himself just one away from the semi-final with an efficient double twelve finish. After Menzies threatened with a near miss on 121, Humphries showed his quality and put an end to the game. The 2024 World Grand Prix champion earned his place in the semi final to face Danny Noppert.