Image source, Getty Images
- author, Sam Drury
- role, BBC Sports Reporter
-
Top seed Luke Humphreys overcame a tough battle with Stephen Bunting to reach the quarter-finals of the World Matchplay.
The world champion twice went for a break down but each time he fought back quickly to finish strongly to secure an 11-7 victory.
Humphries finished with an average of 102.34 but was outdone by Masters champion Bunting, who hit six 180s but was left to rue some costly errors in the doubles.
But while Humphreys overcame a minor crisis, Gerwyn Price and Nathan Aspinall became the latest senior players to be eliminated.
Price, the fourth seed, lost 11-9 to a spirited Ross Smith in a thrilling second round match in Blackpool.
Smith, the 13th seed, recorded 13 top points and overcame an 8-6 deficit to book a spot in the quarterfinals.
Meanwhile, James Wade defeated Aspinall 11-8 to reach his first Match Play quarter-final since 2019.
Wade quickly led 4-0 and although Aspinall quickly got the ball back, the world number five was growing increasingly frustrated by his own inconsistency.
Wade, who won the 2007 World Match Play, becoming the tournament’s youngest ever champion at age 24, moved one step closer to claiming another title.
Dimitri van den Bergh also reached the final with an 11-5 win over Jonny Clayton.
World Matchplay Second Round Schedule and Order of Play
Krzysztof Ratajski vs. Andrew Gilding
Michael van Gerwen vs Joe Cullen
Michael Smith vs Chris Dobey