Littler sets up Price quarter-final clash after dethroning De Decker

Luke Littler set up a blockbuster World Grand Prix quarter-final showdown with Gerwyn Price after beating Mike De Decker 3-0 on Thursday.

The World champion dethroned the reigning World Grand Prix champion in the pick of the matches at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester, where he hit a magnificent 170 checkout.

Littler had won all six of his previous clashes with De Decker, and averaged just under 100 during the opening set, hitting 15 and 13-darters along the way.

The reigning champion was aiming to become only the third player to successfully defend his World Grand Prix title, after Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen.

However, he had no answer for Littler, who won six of the next seven legs with checkouts of 95 and 91, before reeling in the Big Fish to complete a commanding win.

“Mike definitely wasn’t at his best tonight, so I had to jump on it early on,” the world number two said. “My starting doubles were very good once again, and knocking out any reigning champion is a big achievement.

“Now, it’s onto the quarter-finals. Hopefully I can go all the way, but you cannot afford to look too far ahead.”

Next up for him is 2020 champion Price, who also reeled off three sets without reply against Josh Rock.

It was a repeat of their World Matchplay quarter-final, which Rock won 16-11, but the Iceman took early control of this clash, with 14 and 11-darters putting him 2-0 to the good.

A 10-darter followed in the next set as Price booked his place in the last eight of this event for the sixth time.

“I just looked at the averages and I thought I played better than that!” he said.

“I’m playing well. I probably need to up my scoring game because Luke is scoring really well, but if I put him under pressure, then it will be a good game.

“Luke is playing fantastic darts. I cannot take that away from him, but I’m here to win, and I’m not scared of anybody!”

Dirk van Duijvenbode, a runner-up five years ago, progressed to the quarter-finals with a 3-0 win over 2017 champion Daryl Gurney.

The Dutchman, who had lost four of the five previous meetings between the players, reeled off the first eight legs. Though Gurney stopped the rot to force a fifth leg in the third set, the Titan sealed victory with a stunning 158 checkout for a 12-darter.

“Usually when I play Daryl, he always finds ways to beat me,” Van Duijvenbode said. “Today, he had three or four chances to hit ton-plus finishes, but he was not doing it, so I did!

“I got a bit nervous at the end because I could see him coming back, but to produce that 12-darter made me very happy.”

His reward is a showdown with Jonny Clayton, after the 2021 champion defeated Luke Woodhouse 3-1.

After the first two sets were shared, Clayton hit 13 and 14-darters in the third set for a 2-1 lead.

Another 14-darter followed in the final set for the Ferret, who won six of the last eight legs to seal his quarter-final spot.

“We both struggled at times. Luke gave me chances, and when that happens, you have to take them,” Clayton said.

“Obviously I’m happy to win, but I need to get back on that practice board ready for tomorrow, and I will need a better performance than that.

“Dirk is playing well, but I know what I have to do, and that’s all that counts.”

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BOYLE Sports World Grand Prix 2025 Results

Thursday October 9

Second Round

Dirk van Duijvenbode 3-0 Daryl Gurney
Jonny Clayton 3-1 Luke Woodhouse
Luke Littler 3-0 Mike De Decker
Gerwyn Price 3-0 Josh Rock