By Harry Eddolls
Semi-final action lit up the stage tonight at the World Grand Prix in Leicester. Four players came, but only two could earn the right to return to the Mattioli Arena tomorrow to fight for the crown.
The first tie of the night saw 2023 champion Luke Humphries looking to reach a third straight Grand Prix final against Dutchman Danny Noppert.
The world number one wasted no time getting off the mark, roaring to the first set 3-0, with two ton-plus outs, a 155 in leg two and a 108 in leg three.
The Freeze began the second set much better, holding in the first leg before roaring to the second leg with Humphries taking 11 darts to get in. He couldn’t keep it going however, and Cool Hand stormed back to win the next three legs to put himself 2-0 up and in control.
It just kept getting better for Humphries. He once again whitewashed a set, which helped him go 3-0 up and saw him coasting towards his third straight Grand Prix final.
The fourth set was to be a much closer affair. It began with a trade of breaks, before a trade of holds took it to a fifth leg. Noppert held his nerve to hold his throw in the decider, and finally get a leg on the board to remind the world number one that he wouldn’t have it all his own way.
The fifth set began with four straight breaks of throw to once again force a fifth leg. This time, it was Humphries who held his throw, to restore his three set advantage and put him within one of the match.
The next set began with a trade of holds in the first three legs, which left Noppert 2-1 up. The Freeze then found a break to win the set 3-1, and reduce the deficit to 4-2.
Set seven began with a trade of holds, before a big moment in leg three when Noppert broke throw to put himself within a leg of another set. He got the job done in little time, winning the next leg to bring himself firmly back into the contest at only one set behind.
Humphries needed to respond to Noppert’s resurgence, and he did so in the eighth set. He began by taking a 135 out for an all important break of throw, before consolidating in the next leg with another ton-plus out, this time a 110, to put him one away from the final. The Freeze tried to mount resistance, holding in leg three to make it 2-1 in the set. This was only delaying the inevitable though. Cool Hand would keep his cool on throw in the next leg, securing a 3-1 win in the set, and a 5-3 win in the match which saw him into his third straight final in this competition.
The other match for the crowd to savour was a clash between world champion Luke Littler, and 2021 Grand Prix champion Jonny Clayton. Clayton won the first leg of the match against throw, before Littler levelled in the second leg, producing a wonderful 161 out to break throw. Littler then ran away with the set. He held in leg three, nearly brushing Clayton who took 12 darts to get off, before breaking to give him the early advantage.
As with the previous set, The Ferret took the opening leg, this time with a nice 118 out. It was as good as it got in the set for the Welshman however, as Littler once again won three legs on the bounce, to double his advantage in the match.
The third set began with a third straight first leg win from Clayton, with the checkout once again getting better, this time a 154 from The Ferret to break throw. The run of breaks continued to three to leave the Welshman 2-1 up in the set. He made his advantage count in the fourth leg, hitting another ton-plus checkout, a 128, to take the set and half the deficit to 2-1.
Clayton continued his run of opening legs in the fourth set, which began a trade of holds that led to the set being locked at 2-2. The Ferret looked to be in commanding position in the decider, lying on 32 with Littler back on a difficult 140. Nothing is too difficult for the world champion however, as he took it out for a vital set win that returned his overall advantage in the match to two.
It would get even better for The Nuke, as he roared through the fifth set without reply, to put himself 4-1 up and within a set of yet another major final.
The world champion wouldn’t let up, as he whitewashed a second set in a row. This was enough to get him over the line to a 5-1 victory, and set up yet another major final meeting against the world number one Luke Humphries, which is sure to be a thrilling encounter when they face off for the title tomorrow.