Who will claim Wales’ bragging rights and a semi‑final spot when Gerwyn Price meets Jonny Clayton in Leicester on Friday night?
World No 4 Price sits a place ahead of Clayton on the PDC Order of Merit and will widen the gap if he wins.
Should Clayton, still fighting for a Grand Slam berth, triumph and then lift the title on Sunday, he’ll overtake the Iceman as Wales’ top‑ranked player.
Price leads their head‑to‑head 30‑15 and edged his last meeting 11‑7 in the World Series Finals semi in Amsterdam.
But the 41‑year‑old was “smashed up” by The Ferret in the 2021 Grand Prix final, with Clayton cruising to a 5‑1 win.
Price, a two‑time World Cup winner with Clayton, admitted: “I know how good Jonny can play, I know how bad he can play. I know how good and how bad I can play.”
It would be nice to have another major under my belt. I’m always chasing, I never give up. I always say, ‘if I don’t win today, I’ll try again tomorrow’. When I’m on that stage, I love every second of it, and that’s all that counts. I think when the day comes that I don’t enjoy it, then I’m in trouble.
I just need to take my chances. If I start strong, keep the scoring steady and put Jonny under pressure, I think I’ll get through, but it’ll be a tough match.
It’s special for Wales no matter who wins. We’ll have a Welshman in the semi‑final of another massive major.
Clayton added: “There’s banter between me and Gezzy. Every time he reaches Welsh No 1, he sends me a flag with a No 1 on it. We’re good friends, world numbers 4 and 5. You can’t fault that from Wales!”
Clayton scraped past Krzysztof Ratajski 2‑1 – Price joked his countryman got “lucky” – then hit four‑ton plus finishes, including three in the first set, to beat Wessel Nijman 3‑1.
Price hasn’t dropped a set yet, sweeping Sebastian Bialecki 2‑0 and then thumping Ross Smith 3‑0 as revenge for his recent loss to ‘Smudger’ in the Netherlands final.
Friday’s schedule also features Humphries vs Zonneveld, Wade vs van Veen and Aspinall vs Joyce.
‘If I think I am going to win easy, I will fail’
Zonneveld, who has eliminated Josh Rock and Gary Anderson, is the lowest‑ranked remaining player at world No 35, but second seed Humphries won’t overlook the Dutchman after his upset loss to unseeded Mike De Decker in the 2024 final.
Humphries, eyeing a second Grand Prix crown after his 2023 win, said: “One thing this tournament teaches you is not to take anyone for granted. If I assume I’ll beat Niels because of his ranking, I’ll fail.”
“He’s playing good darts and could become the next Mike De Decker story. I’ll treat him with the respect every player deserves,” he added.
On winning his first major since the 2025 Premier League – his eighth overall – Humphries noted: “When you’ve tasted success and then gone a year without it, winning again feels even sweeter.”
“I’ve worked hard these past twelve months without the rewards, so a victory would boost my confidence,” he said.
“Because I’m not picking up one or two majors a year, people think I’m past my peak, but I feel I’m playing better than ever. I sense another level in me; I’m just trying to find where it comes from.”
‘ChatGPT tells Joyce he is on the right track’
Joyce, an unassuming outsider like Zonneveld, faces long odds, especially after his last‑eight opponent Aspinall hit eight 180s on Wednesday in his rout of Luke Woodhouse.
Joyce, a double‑16 specialist, sees this double‑in, double‑out format as his best shot at a major – the Geordie reached the semi‑finals in 2024 before Humphries brushed him aside.
‘Relentless’, who has already beaten Michael van Gerwen and Danny Noppert, says AI confirmed he’s on the right track.
He explained: “I was bored one night and thought, ‘I’ll ask ChatGPT for tips before my big game.’
“The program listed things I already do, which reminded me I’ve taught myself these habits over years as a pro.”
“That gave me a small boost, but I’ll keep doing what works. I don’t need anyone’s help; I’ll handle it myself.”
Aspinall warns that Joyce’s hopes will crumble if he repeats his Woodhouse performance.
“Joyce is brilliant on double 16 but he can’t score like me – and he knows that. If I score like I did in round two, he won’t beat me, simple as that,” Aspinall asserted.