If there is one darts tournament in Leicester which is practically unmissable, it’s the BOYLE Sports World Grand Prix.
There are no surprises for some that have reached the quarter-finals, including the world #1 and #2.
Although, there have been some surprising exits such as Michael van Gerwen and Damon Heta, who were both knocked out in the first round.
Here are all the last eight matchups and how those quarter-finalists have made it to this position.
Danny Noppert vs Gary Anderson
Noppert has been an unpredictable player to make it this far after only earning a tournament average of 85.75.
‘The Freeze’ began with a 2-0 win over fellow Dutchman, Jermaine Wattimena, to make it to the next stage.
The 2022 UK Open winner then faced the world #4 ranked, Stephen Bunting, and defeated ‘The Bullet’ 3-1 in a hard-fought battle.
The furthest that Noppert has come in a World Grand Prix is the semi-finals back in 2021, hoping to achieve that same record tonight.
Anderson has been reviving himself and contesting in the big major tournaments, especially in this one.
The former World Champion progressed to the second round when he defeated Raymond van Barneveld 2-1.
‘The Flying Scotsman’ then cruised his way to victory with a 3-0 win against Joe Cullen, booking himself a place in the quarter-finals.
With all the achievements and milestones that Anderson has earned, the 54-year-old is yet to have won the World Grand Prix in his darting career as this could be the ultimate opportunity.
Dirk van Duijvenbode vs Jonny Clayton
Out of all the players you could guess to reach the last eight, van Duijvenbode would certainly not have been one of them.
‘The Titan’ was responsible for knocking out van Gerwen in the first round, defeating one of the greatest players 2-0.
The Dutchman then placed dominance in the second stage with a 3-0 triumph over Daryl Gurney to really make him noticed in the tournament.
If there is an underdog tale to be written, van Duijvenbode will be telling the story of his unforgettable title glory.
Clayton has been on a mission since his World Masters final loss earlier this year, hoping to take home a trophy and a big cash prize this year.
The 2021 World Grand Prix Champion took out Andrew Gilding in the first round, winning 2-0 despite it being a close match.
‘The Ferret’ was then challenged by Luke Woodhouse and after an awful second set, the 51-year-old maintained his composure to win 3-1.
With Clayton being the world #6 in the PDC rankings, you would expect him to go far as he enters another matchup as the favourite.
Luke Littler vs Gerwyn Price
At no surprise, Littler has been taking the headlines with his two impressive performances in this tournament.
‘The Nuke’ first faced Gian van Veen, winning 2-0 despite his opponent having the highest average in World Grand Prix history with 106.47.
The 2025 World Championship and Matchplay winner then defeated the defending champion of the tournament, Mike De Decker, 3-0 as he produced another unbeatable performance.
While Littler has yet to win a World Grand Prix, it seems like this year could be the one due to his current run of form.
Price has been another darts player expected to go far in this tournament, despite having no premier event trophy since 2022.
‘The Iceman’ locked horns with Ryan Searle in a close, contested match to win 2-1 in the first round.
The 40-year-old then showed dominance with a comfortable 3-0 win against Josh Rock to book a place in the last eight.
Price is in a familiar position to facing Littler, and if he defeats the Warrington darts player, many viewers will believe he can win the tournament.
Luke Humphries vs Cameron Menzies
Another player that you always expect to do well in these major events is Humphries and it’s fair to say that he hasn’t been disappointing to watch.
‘Cool Hand Luke’ first battled Nathan Aspinall where he did enough to reach the second stage after a 2-0 win.
The Reading-born Darts player then defeated Krzysztof Ratajski in a closer game than people expected, triumphant in a 3-1 victory.
The 2023 World Grand Prix winner was just short in last year’s final, hoping to claim hard-earned redemption.
Menzies has certainly shined in this tournament, claiming his best position in a World Grand Prix with some very credible wins.
The Scotsman first tested Chris Dobey and managed to secure a 2-0 win, despite a very close second set.
‘Cammy’ went on to face Rob Cross in the second round, earning a 3-1 victory and a matchup against the world #1.
This may be unfamiliar territory for Menzies, but after defeating two of this year’s Premier League players, the 36-year-old stands a good chance in the World Grand Prix.
The Sports Buff ⚽️ ⚾️ 🏈 
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