World Grand Prix Darts 2024 LIVE RESULTS: Wade THRASHES Price, Humphries and Cross breeze into quarter-finals

Wade's epic rant

James Wade launched into a three-minute rant at the World Grand Prix on Thursday after his win over Gerwyn Price.

During his post-match press conference, the Machine made it clear he believes Luke Humphries is one of the top three World Champions ever.

Agreeing with Gary Anderson that Cool Hand is often overlooked by the media, he said: “Me and Gary Anderson don’t get on very well at times.

“But what I will say, you are all missing the biggest trick in the world.

“I would believe that Luke Humphries is probably the second or third best World Champion we’ve ever had.

“We’ve had World Champions, Gary is one of them, Adrian Lewis, we’ve had lots of them.

“Luke Humphries has won almost everything after the World Championship and before it.

“I believe that you are failing a little bit. We’ve never had a World Champion like it.

“The last World Champion we had as good as him, maybe Michael (Van Gerwen) but before that was Phil Taylor."

Odds for World Grand Prix winner

James Wade has been slashed to third favourite to win the World Grand Prix after beating Gerwyn Price to reach the last eight.

The Machine is behind Luke Humphries and Rob Cross in the running, according to event sponsor BoyleSports.

Here are the odds for the eight quarter-finalists:

• Luke Humphries - 11/10
• Rob Cross - 11/2
• James Wade - 13/2
• Dimitri Van den Bergh - 7/1
• Mike De Decker - 9/1
• Joe Cullen - 10/1
• Jonny Clayton - 16/1
• Ryan Joyce - 22/1

Tonight’s quarter-final line-up

This evening’s last eight action from Leicester is due to start at around 7.10pm.

Ryan Joyce vs Rob Cross
Joe Cullen vs Dimitri Van den Bergh
Mike De Decker vs James Wade
Luke Humphries vs Jonny Clayton

De Decker 'really really happy' with upset

Mike De Decker set up a clash with James Wade in the last eight by shocking Gary Anderson 3-0 in the second round.

The Belgian said afterwards: “I’m really really happy. I’ve always had a problem playing on stage, but this week it seems to be clicking.

“I did the right things at the right moments. The 120 finish in the second set was massive. I think that decided the game.”

“I just want to play well tomorrow (Friday) now. I’m not going too look to far ahead, and hopefully I can perform like I did tonight.”

Wade did not 'enjoy' win

James Wade has admitted he "don't enjoy" playing his pal Gerwyn Price after beating him at the World Grand Prix.

The Machine secured a 3-0 win on Thursday to set up a quarter-final clash with Mike De Decker tonight.

Speaking afterwards, Wade admitted: "I don’t enjoy playing against Gezzy,

"It’s tough playing against such a good friend. He’s one of the nicest people in darts, alongside Jonny Clayton.

"I was good enough tonight. There were enough opportunities given to me and I took them, so I’m really happy to be back in the quarter-finals."

Littler snubs event

Away from the World Grand Prix, Luke Littler has .

The Nuke won the title last year by beating Gian van Veen in the final.

This year's event begins with the early rounds in Wigan on Monday.

However, the 17-year-old, who can play in the tournament until 2031, has pulled out.

Grand Prix format

Tonight's quarter-finals will see the matches remain the best of five sets in a race to three.

However, they will increase across the final two days of the tournament this weekend.

The event is also the only "double in" tournament on the PDC circuit.

• Quarter-finals - Best of five sets
• Semi-finals - Best of nine sets
• Final - Best of 11 sets

Tonight's quarter-final line-up

This evening's last eight action from Leicester is due to start at around 7.10pm.

Ryan Joyce vs Rob Cross
Joe Cullen vs Dimitri Van den Bergh
Mike De Decker vs James Wade
Luke Humphries vs Jonny Clayton

Anderson blasts back at retirement question

Legend Gary Anderson reacted angrily when asked by the media if retirement in the "very near future" was still possible.

The Flying Scotsman, 53, dispatched World No 1 Luke Humphries in a recent Players Championship 24 clash.

But when questioned on his future, he replied:"This is what happens when you work for TV and press, you've not got a frigging clue.

"I'll stop [playing darts] when I want to stop. You've not got a clue, honestly. You just think what you see, what you get. You've not got a clue! People have lives."

Saving fly-hate Ryan

Ryan Joyce says he'd consider professional help for his fear of flying - if he made it into massive events in the Southern Hemisphere.

The 39-year-old, aka Relentless, faces fellow Englishman Rob Cross in today's quarter-finals as he eyes a second successive World GP upset win

Joyce stunned Nathan Aspinall 3-2 in sets last night.But despite being an oche ace on the rise, he's revealed a hatred of another kind of flights.

However, it's an issue he might tackle head on - if it could boost his career.

Joyce said:"You're talking about something that's completely new to me. I've never been in the position before.

"So just like anything in life, whatever comes at you, you deal with it on the day when it happens. I haven't actually planned anything or thought about it yet.

"If I ever did get to the point where I was picked for a World Series event, for example in America or Australia, it is something that I would have to consider."

Wade chasing hat-trick

No darts lover will be surprised by who tops the list for most World Grand prix titles.

Phil Taylor, the 16-time world champ, lifted the crown 11 times.

Next comes Michael van Gerwen on six, most recently in 2022.

Just one past winner remains in this year's event, now at the quarter-final stage.

That's Englishman James Wade, who is chasing a hat-trick after triumphs in 2007 and 2010.

There are four other previous winners.

They are Daryl Gurney (2017), who exited yesterday, Robert Thornton (2015), Colin Lloyd (2004) and Alan Warriner (2001).

'Pay should be well above par'

Barry Hearn claims darts and snooker stars shout out-earn golfers.

The Matchroom president reckons oche aces like Luke Littler and table talents like Judd Trump have growing commercial value – aided by their sports thriving in Asia.

Hearn still plays prominent roles in the Professional Darts Corporation and World Snooker Tour.

Each sport has a £500,000 top prize at its World Championship – but that sum has now been matched at the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters.

The 76-year-old told The Barry Hearn Show: “The Middle East has now decided... that snooker is actually very popular in the Middle East. It’s had a rebirth.

"Of course with Saudi, the amount of money they’re putting in, the rebirth is not a minor happening, it’s a major event.

“For my mind, and I’ve got nothing against golf, but I want to see darts and snooker have bigger prize money than golf because I believe it’s worth more money than golf in today’s commercial world.”

Here's what's at stake

This is what's up for grabs here in Leicester:

• Winner – £120,000
• Runner-up – £60,000
• Semi-finalist – £40,000
• Quarter-finalist – £25,000
• Second Round losers – £15,000
• First Round losers – £7,500
• Total – £600,000

'I might have lost that 2 months ago'

Joe Cullen nicked a 3-2 comeback win over Daryl Gurney - then claimed the Northern Irishman would probably have beaten him 3-1 two months ago

Cullen said: "I felt comfortable out there most of the time.

"Daryl struggled a bit with darts, but I'm just happy to win anyway I can.

"I didn't doubt myself any of the way through."

But the Englishman added: "I've been struggling a bit for the whole year.

"I've been doing little things to change.

"I think I showed resilience. Maybe a couple of months ago Daryl would have won that match 3-1."