Luke Humphries Defeats Pietreczko, Reaches Last Eight

Luke Humphries the reigning champion advanced to the quarter-finals of the World Grand Prix in Leicester after defeating Germany’s Ricardo Pietreczko 3-1. The 29-year-old world number one secured the win by producing a crucial 180 to set up a 130 checkout, clinching the third set and maintaining control of the match. Humphries celebrated his first TV ranking title by defeating Gerwyn Price in last year’s final and continued his title defense after coming back from a set down in his first-round match against Stephen Bunting.

Rob Cross, who knocked out pre-tournament favorite Luke Littler in the opening round, reached the last eight for the first time with a 3-1 victory over Martin Schindler. Meanwhile, Jonny Clayton the 2021 World Grand Prix winner, came from behind to beat Ross Smith 3-1. However, 2022 runner-up Nathan Aspinall suffered a close 3-2 loss to Ryan Joyce and got eliminated.

The tournament has seen several surprise exits with Luke Littler, Michael van Gerwen and Michael Smith all losing in the first round. Luke Humphries will now face Clayton in the quarter-finals as the competition intensifies. Second-round action wraps up on Thursday with Gary Anderson, fresh off a victory over world number two Michael Smith taking on Mike de Decker.

Other matchups include Wales’ 2020 champion Gerwyn Price facing two-time winner James Wade, Northern Ireland’s 2017 champion Daryl Gurney against Joe Cullen and two-time runner-up Dave Chisnall going head-to-head with Dimitri van den Bergh. All quarter-finals will take place on Friday with the tournament set to conclude over the weekend.