John Henderson continues to defy his pre-tournament odds of 500/1 as he beat Raymond van Barneveld to reach the World Grand Prix semi-finals while Mensur Suljovic produced more brilliance. We have a full round-up of Thursday's action as well as match-by-match statistics and updated Sky Bet odds.
Big John blew the PDC's double-start major wide open on Sunday when he stunned defending champion and world number one Michael van Gerwen but even then he was still regarded a huge outsider at 80/1 for glory.
After playing superbly to beat Alan Norris from a set down, Henderson was rated a 3/1 chance to defeat van Barneveld and 25/1 to lift the trophy.
The 44-year-old Highlander, who has previously only reached two other major quarter-finals and never won any PDC title, once again lost the opening set as he struggled early on but came storming back to claim another huge Dutch scalp.
Henderson's highlight moment was a bullseye finish to take out 88 in the deciding leg of the third set which knocked the stuffing out of Barney, who then meekly allowed his opponent to move 2-0 up in the fourth.
The Dutchman, who was highly fancied to win his first major since the 2014 Premier League, did fight back to force a decider but wasn't able to have an attempt at a double as Henderson nailed tops for a famous win.
Big John Henderson
— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) October 5, 2017
was 500/1 to win the #WorldGrandPrix before he beat MVG - now he leads Barney 2-1 in the QFs 🎯!pic.twitter.com/14PJ555Axe
He will be underdog once again (23/10) when he meets crowd favourite Daryl Gurney, who won a deciding leg to beat Robert Thornton 3-2 in a thriller, while he's 8/1 to lift the trophy.
The Northern Irishman was never behind in sets but twice 2015 champion Thornton fought back to level the match at 1-1 and 2-2 despite struggling on his finishing doubles throughout before holding his nerve on double tops in the fifth set to take the match all the way.
Gurney raced away with it, however, with solid visits of 146, 97, 60 and 140 before completing a match winning 15-darter by taking out 58.
Mensur Suljovic produced yet more sensational darts as he defeated tournament favourite Peter Wright 3-1 to reach the semi-finals for the second time in his just his third appearance here.
The popular Austrian, who now heads the betting at 11/8 with Sky Bet, is on a real hot streak of form having won 21 of his last 23 matches dating back to the start of his successful Champions League of Darts campaign while he also won Saturday's Players Championship event in Dublin.
Snakebite was one of his victims en route to his maiden televised title in Cardiff last month but it looked like the Scotsman could well gain revenge when taking the first set after Suljovic missed eight darts at a double to go 1-0 up himself.
The world number six, who will move up to fourth in the PDC rankings if he claims the biggest title of his career on Saturday, bounced back in emphatic fashion by winning the next two sets 3-0, helped by checkouts of 99 (with two double tops), 97 and a brilliant 135.
The 45-year-old maintained his relentless momentum to go 2-0 up in the fourth set and although Wright found some form to force a deciding leg, a stunning 141 checkout sealed Suljovic's semi-final spot.
Mensur Suljovic taking the darts world by storm! 🎯🔥
— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) October 5, 2017
He's now won 21 of his last 23 matches!
pic.twitter.com/rQcNA30mix
Suljovic will next meet Simon Whitlock, who progressed through to his first World Grand Prix semi-final with a surprisingly easy 3-0 victory over Benito van de Pas.
His Dutch opponent had been supremely impressive during his own whitewash victory over Gerwyn Price last time out but couldn't get anywhere near the same levels, winning just two legs and missing seven other attempts at finishing doubles.
Whitlock, who will now be playing in his first TV ranking semi-final since the 2014 World Matchplay thrilled the Dublin crowd with a spectacular 120 checkout thanks to a pair of bullseyes on his way to winning the second set and never looked back.
Meanwhile there's some magic darts being thrown by a Wizard in Dublin 🎯#lovethedarts #WorldGrandPrix pic.twitter.com/o6nPQXRzZs
— Sporting Life (@SportingLife) October 5, 2017
World Grand Prix: Sky Bet odds
Thursday's World Grand Prix results & statistics
Seedings in brackets
Simon Whitlock 3-0 Benito van de Pas
- Three-dart averages
Whitlock: 86.98
Van de Pas: 76.88 - 180s
Whitlock: 1
Van de Pas: 1 - 100+ checkouts
Whitlock: 120
Van de Pas: N/A (Highest: 40) - Finishing checkout percentage
Whitlock: 39.13% (9/23)
Van de Pas: 22.22% (2/9)
John Henderson 3-1 Raymond van Barneveld (8)
- Three-dart averages
Henderson: 81.83
Van Barneveld: 83.33 - 180s
Henderson: 1
Van Barneveld: 3 - 100+ checkouts
Henderson:N/A (Highest: 88)
Van Barneveld: N/A (Highest: 98) - Finishing checkout percentage
Henderson: 35.71% (10/28)
Van Barneveld: 53.33% (8/15)
Mensur Suljovic (6) 3-1 Peter Wright (3)
- Three-dart averages
Suljovic: 90.89
Wright: 91.74 - 180s
Suljovic: 3
Wright: 2 - 100+ checkouts
Suljovic: 141, 135, 122
Wright: N/A (Highest: 48) - Finishing checkout percentage
Suljovic: 39.29% (11/28)
Wright: 29.41% (5/17)
Robert Thornton 2-3 Daryl Gurney
- Three-dart averages
Thornton: 82.1
Gurney: 86.47 - 180s
Thornton:3
Gurney: 4 - 100+ checkouts
Thornton: 116, 103
Gurney: N/A (Highest: 96) - Finishing checkout percentage
Thornton: 29.73% (11/37)
Gurney:34.21% (13/38)
Click here for the full tournament schedule & results
Friday's World Grand Prix Schedule
Sky Bet odds in brackets
Semi-Finals (Best of 7 sets)
TV Channel: Sky Sports Main Event (1900 BST)
