Gerwyn Price booked a 3‑0 win over Ross Smith, guaranteeing an all‑Welsh quarter‑final against Jonny Clayton at the World Grand Prix, while Ryan Joyce and Nathan Aspinall also moved on in Leicester.
After a tight opening‑round triumph over Sebastian Białecki, Price—now a tournament favourite following Luke Littler’s shock exit—let just four legs slip as he dispatched Smith at the Mattioli Arena.
Although Smith posted the highest first‑round average, the 2020 champion edged him 3‑0, dropping only four legs and earning a Friday night clash with World Cup teammate Clayton.
Clayton opened with three back‑to‑back ton‑plus checkouts, finishing with four in total to seal a 3‑1 win over Wessel Nijman, his 93.08 average and clinical finishing out‑scoring the 12th seed.
Ryan Joyce cruised past Danny Noppert in straight sets, while Luke Woodhouse—who had stunned Littler—was thrashed 3‑0 by Nathan Aspinall.
Price averaged 101.61 on Monday, yet his figure dipped over ten points against Smith; after an early break and a 13‑dart finish, he clinched the opening set in a deciding leg.
The world No.4 hit an 86 finish to take the second set, then an 80 checkout early in the third before Smith answered with a 116 to break, but Price sealed the match on double 18.
‘He’s after a Grand Slam spot, so the pressure’s on,’ Price said. ‘He got lucky in round one—let’s hope he doesn’t rely on luck again.’
Clayton seized the first set in straight legs, opening with three ton‑plus finishes, then a 112 checkout, a 116 hold, and capped it with a 125 bullseye finish.
Nijman answered Clayton’s leg loss with a 90 finish to snatch the second set in a deciding leg, before ‘The Ferret’ reclaimed lead by hitting a bullseye and a 126 checkout to start the third.
Posting eight maximums and sharp finishing, Clayton then claimed four of the next six legs, securing his third straight quarter‑final appearance. For my money, Clayton’s consistency makes him a dark horse.
Woodhouse ended Littler’s title defence on Monday, only to see his own run halted by Aspinall, who broke throw after four straight legs and then hit a 135 finish.
Aspinall, averaging 96.27 with eight 180s, broke back immediately, took a 104 checkout to build a two‑set lead, and then ran three straight legs from 2‑0 down to lock in his quarter‑final spot.
Next up, Aspinall meets Joyce, who dominated his opening match as Noppert managed just three legs and seemed irritated by the moving floorboards.
Wednesday’s second‑round results
- Danny Noppert 0‑3 Ryan Joyce
- Jonny Clayton 3‑1 Wessel Nijman
- Gerwyn Price 3‑0 Ross Smith
- Luke Woodhouse 0‑3 Nathan Aspinall
Thursday’s second‑round fixtures
From 7pm; first to three sets
- Niels Zonneveld vs Gary Anderson
- James Wade vs Stephen Bunting
- Luke Humphries vs Jermaine Wattimena
- Gian van Veen vs Ryan Searle