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Boylesports World Grand Prix 2024 | Quarter-Finals Preview and Order of Play

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Boylesports World Grand Prix 2024 | Semi-Finals Preview and Order of Play

Mike De Decker dispatches James Wade to reach World Grand Prix semi-finals as Joyce sees off Cross

Jamie Shaw in World Grand Prix 12 Oct 2024

De Decker defeats Wade (Photo by Simon O’Connor/PDC)

Mike De Decker and Ryan Joyce continued their remarkable runs at the World Grand Prix by dumping out James Wade and Rob Cross respectively to reach the semi-finals.

A dramatic night of quarter-final action at Leicester’s Mattioli Arena saw the event’s final four players confirmed – with De Decker and Joyce joined by reigning champion Luke Humphries and Dimitri van den Bergh.

De Decker won through to his first televised semi-final in style with a superb straight sets win over two-time champion Wade in Friday’s opening tie.

All three sets went to a deciding leg in a high-quality contest, but it was the emerging Belgian who prevailed to continue his ground-breaking run.

Wade finished 106 and 105 for a pair of 12-darters as he led in set one, but De Decker followed up two 14-dart legs by taking out 66 in the set’s decider to edge in front.

The Belgian also won the second set’s deciding leg with a brilliant 122 checkout for a 12-darter of his own, and held throw to move to the brink of victory at 2-1 in set three.

Wade pinned tops for a 13-darter to keep his hopes alive, but De Decker was again first to a finish in the deciding leg, and double four sealed his progression to the last four.

“I’m buzzing – really, really happy,” said De Decker. “I’ve been doing it on the floor tournaments for the last two years and I’m bringing it to stage tournaments now.

“I maybe look relaxed but I’m really nervous. It’s going well and at the right moments I’m doing the right things. Everything is going well.”

Reigning champion Humphries saw off 2021 winner Jonny Clayton 3-1, but overcame some nervy moments after the Welshman took a two-leg lead in the third set.

A huge 149 checkout from Humphries saved the set, and he took he next two legs to move into a crucial 2-1 lead in the tie.

Clayton hit back from two legs down in set four, but was unable to pressure the world number one in the deciding leg as Humphries pinned double four to close out the win.

“That’s probably the most nervous I’ve felt in a long, long time,” admitted Humphries. “It’s really not like me, but maybe I’m trying too hard.

“It was a really tough game. Jonny was unlucky there – he probably could have had the third set but that 146 changed everything.

“I feel really good and my game’s in a good place so I won’t take any negatives; I’ve won and that’s it. I’ll go into tomorrow in a confident mood – I know I can do it when it matters most.”

Humphries now plays Joyce in Saturday’s semi-finals after the Tyneside thrower followed up a straight sets win over Gary Anderson by knocking out two-time winner James Wade by the same scoreline.

Joyce displayed clinical accuracy on double 16 during a superb 3-2 win over number four seed Cross to reach just his second major semi-final.

Cross made a superb start with a 14-darter and wrapped up the opening set with an 11-dart leg, only to see Joyce edge set two in a deciding leg and then land a 135 finish on his way to taking the third by a 3-1 margin.

Joyce took out a superb bull-bull-double 16 combination on 132 to open the fourth set, and tops loved him a leg away from victory before Cross took out 81 and 110 to tie the contest.

Cross also led in the decisive fifth set, but Joyce levelled and then punished misses from his opponent in the next two legs to capitalise and move into the last four.

Joyce finished 12 doubles from 19 attempts in a clinical display on the outer ring, and admitted: “It was a crazy match to play in – it’s a great feeling to win.

“The match was topsy-turvy and every time I felt like I got ahead, Rob would throw a great leg. He’s a class player.

“I always felt like this is the competition for me. I’ve played darts for so many years and I don’t feel under pressure.”

Humphries had defeated Joyce in his previous televised semi-final, at the 2023 Players Championship Finals, and he added: “Luke is not just a good player, he’s maybe a generational player – but over this format I feel I can equal him and I’m going to try my best.”

The other semi-final will be the first all-Belgian last four clash in a PDC major after UK Open champion Van den Bergh and emerging star De Decker continued their best-ever World Grand Prix runs.

Van den Bergh came from a set down as he overcame some early wayward opening doubling in denying Joe Cullen a second successive semi-final in Leicester.

Cullen took the opening set in a deciding leg, with Van den Bergh finishing 118 in leg two but being punished for missing starting doubles in his opening two visits of leg five.

Van den Bergh then broke in the fourth leg of set two as a superb 11-darter saw him level the game as the Belgian found his range on the outer ring.

He took the third set 3-1, aided by a 13-darter and a 90 finish on the bull, and repeated the feat in set four – taking out 109 for a 12-darter in leg three – as he booked a spot in the semis.

“My timing was key tonight but Joe didn’t show how good he can be and in a few moments I stepped up,” said Van den Bergh, who landed seven 180s.

“I wasn’t feeling at my best but tomorrow I’m in the semi-finals and I’m going to give my opponent a game.

“Mike is on fire, he’s doing strong stuff on a consistent basis and I need to be on top of my game – but I think I’ve give myself a boost.

“We’ve known each other a long time and we know that at the minute we’re carrying the flag for Belgium, and I’m so proud of him and me. It’s brilliant and I’m loving it.”

World Grand Prix 2024 Day Five Results

Friday October 11

Quarter-Finals

James Wade 0-3 Mike De Decker
Rob Cross 2-3 Ryan Joyce
Luke Humphries 3-1 Jonny Clayton
Joe Cullen 1-3 Dimitri van den Bergh

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Mike De Decker dispatches James Wade to reach World Grand Prix semi-finals as Joyce sees off Cross

World Grand Prix 2024 Day Five Results

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