World Grand Prix Darts: Luke Littler beats Gerwyn Price in epic first leg to book semi-final with Johnny Clayton at Leicester | Arrows News

Luke Littler has reached the semi-finals of the Boyle Sports World Grand Prix after he produced a stunning comeback to stun Gerwyn Price in a final-round thriller in Leicester.

The tournament candidate succeeded in passing the first two matches without losing a set, but he suffered early during the strong confrontation that was held on Friday at Mattioli Stadium, where Price led by two sets, while Littler struggled in the doubles.

Littler responded by winning the next set in two straight games although he looked on the verge of defeat when Price moved within touching distance of victory, but the world number two fired at 154 and extended the contest.

Price missed three darts during the fourth set, as ‘The Nuke’ held on and broke the next set to take the match to a fifth set, with momentum moving Littler’s way after he took a 2-0 lead in the decider.

A 15-dart catch by Price was followed by a dramatic 156 exit to push the match into the final stretch, with both players struggling to get going in the double-start format, before Littler wrapped up an epic 152-point win.

Littler will now face off in a semi-final clash with Johnny Clayton, who was down with just one leg during a straight sets defeat of Dirk van Duyvenbode earlier in the evening, with Luke Humphries and Danny Noppert the others to qualify after an impressive evening.

Neubert came back from a set down to beat Gary Anderson 3-1, while world number one Humphreys – the 2023 champion and 2024 runner-up – defeated Cameron Menzies by the same margin to move one step closer to a third successive final.

Littler was stunned by a “strange” win while Price was “devastated”.

Both players averaged under 85 during a thrilling contest, although Littler fired a maximum of 10 shots and the pair delivered an additional four tons between them, and the teenager was happy to overcome his struggles on the outdoor circuit to book his place in the semi-finals.

“Very, very strange,” Littler said He told Sky Sports About his performance. “I wasn’t happy about being 2-0 down. I was almost finished in the first two sets every time. I gave away six goals to darts in the first leg, and I was like, ‘You can’t do that.’ The sore throat was definitely worth it.

“I just thought ‘it’s now or never’ after being down 2-0. I had to get down to business. Find those threes and not stay at the wire. I changed it up to get the double 16. Everyone knows it was the double 16 that won me the World Series.”

Price did not speak to the media after his defeat but responded to the loss on social media, where he described Littler as playing “great in spots” and questioned whether top teams should play in neutral venues.

“Wow, I’m devastated,” Price said on his Instagram story. “That’s why we need to play in major tournaments in neutral venues/countries. Luke was great at the right time in the end, but I lost it again.”

Can Littler face Humphreys?

Humphreys needed just 43 arrows to take the opening set but found himself briefly trailing soon after, as Menzies won the second set and started the third with a stunning 160.

“Cool Hand” found improvement winning each of the next six matches and finishing with the victory, leaving Humphries – who posted a 91.5 average – en route to another televised final against Littler.

Speaking about Littler’s win over Price, Humphries added: “I had to sit down. It was a great match but maybe not to the level they can deliver. It was just a good match.

“Sometimes average doesn’t have the best games. Hopefully you’ll see me and Luke (Litler) here on Sunday.”

How did Nobert and Clayton reach the Leicester semi-finals?

Nobert started the night’s opener with a 13-dart break but missed three darts to win the set 3-1, as Anderson followed up to finish on 88 points with a sensational 158 to clinch the first set in the first leg.

The Dutchman hit back to win the second and scored 156 points on his way to winning the third, before replying to Andersson’s 86 on target point to seal the win in another decider in the first leg.

Clayton’s one-sided victory included opening the second set with a 118-point finish and closing with a 130-point finish, before the Welshman sealed sweeping wins with 112 and 90 points in successive sets.

Clayton: “I knew if I didn’t give my best, it would be close.” He told Sky Sports. “Dirk is a great character and player. I’m going through the games. I’ve done my job and that’s all that matters.”

What will happen on Saturday?

Littler will now play Clayton in the semifinals, while Nobert will play Humphreys.

The semi-finals are played over the best of nine groups before Sunday’s final is a best-of-11 affair, with the World Grand Prix champion taking home the £120,000 top prize.

Who will win the Boyle Sports World Grand Prix? Watch all weekend live on Sky Sports. Live coverage continues on Saturday from 8pm on Sky Sports+ and 8.30pm on Sky Sports Main Event. Stream darts, football, golf, cricket and more without a contract with NOW.