Menzies dispatches Cross to reach World Grand Prix quarter-finals as Anderson thrashes Cullen
Cameron Menzies progressed to the quarter-finals of the World Grand Prix for the first time with victory over Rob Cross in Leicester on Wednesday, as Gary Anderson thrashed Joe Cullen.
The Scottish duo were among the first quartet to advance to the quarter-finals of the double-start showpiece at the Mattioli Arena.
Despite squandering five darts at doubles for a straight-sets success, Menzies regained his composure in the closing stages to back up his impressive first round win over Chris Dobey with victory over another big-name scalp.
The enigmatic Scotsman fired in six 180s and a 136 checkout en route to reaching only his second televised ranking quarter-final.
“I just kept trying to believe,” said Menzies. “The missed match darts weren’t really badly thrown. They were all on the wire.
“Sometimes you just have to fight, be positive and believe in yourself, and I’m so buzzing to win.”
Elsewhere, Anderson and Danny Noppert will lock horns in Friday’s quarter-finals, after overcoming Cullen and Stephen Bunting in their respective second round ties.
Anderson raced through with an emphatic straight-sets win over an out sorts Cullen – who endured a nightmare on the outer ring.
“My scoring wasn’t great tonight, but my finishing was good when it needed to be,” admitted Anderson, after advancing to his first World Grand Prix quarter-final in five years.
“It’s been a while – I was almost 50 years old the last time I made the quarter-finals here!
“It’s getting harder and harder, but we aren’t going to give up, and I still want to win.”
Noppert, meanwhile, produced a superb display of power-scoring to account for world number four Bunting, firing in nine maximums as he wrapped up a 3-1 success.
The Dutch number two punished Bunting’s missed doubles to establish early command, before defying a skin-saving 125 checkout from ‘The Bullet’ to prevail with a clinical 100 finish.
“I’m really happy with this win. Stephen came back well, but I managed to stay focused on my own game,” said Noppert – semi-finalist in 2021.
“I started well tonight. My starting doubles were better than my first game. The double top worked today and it saved me a lot!”
Luke Humphries made it 11 wins from his last 12 World Grand Prix matches as he overcame Krzysztof Ratajski 3-1.
The 2023 champion pinned each of his opening six darts at a starting double, and his sustained brilliance on the outer ring catapulted him into a commanding two-set lead.
Ratajski had squandered four darts to level the contest at one apiece in a dramatic second set, though the Polish number one responded superbly in the third to halve the deficit.
However, Humphries found his range in the latter stages, following up an imperious 134 checkout with a match-winning 104 finish to set up a quarter-final clash with Menzies.
“I was really frustrated with my scoring, because they just weren’t dropping in,” admitted Humphries.
“I got a little bit lucky in that second set, but then I started to slow my throw down and I started to hit those trebles.
“Credit to Krzysztof. He played really well tonight. He’s such a solid player and he puts you under pressure in every single leg.”
BOYLE Sports World Grand Prix 2025 Day Three Results
Wednesday October 8
Second Round
Cameron Menzies 3-1 Rob Cross
Stephen Bunting 1-3 Danny Noppert
Luke Humphries 3-1 Krzysztof Ratajski
Joe Cullen 0-3 Gary Anderson
