Luke Humphries is on course to defend his World Grand Prix title after producing a masterclass to demolish Ryan Joyce 5-0 in their semi-final in Leicester.
World champion Humphries won 15 legs and lost only three at the Mattioli Arena and on Sunday will face Mike De Decker, who became the first Belgian to reach a World Grand Prix final by beating compatriot Dimitri Van Den Bergh.
Newcastle’s Joyce, who beat fourth seed Rob Cross 3-2 in his quarter-final, did little wrong throughout the match, but lost the first three legs and soon trailed 2-0 after Humphries took the second set 3-2.
Joyce won his first leg to trail 2-1 in the third set, but Humphries made a 144 checkout in the next to forge into a 3-0 lead and then hit a 146-finish at the start of the fourth set before making it 4-0.
A 110 checkout followed for Humphries in the fifth set – his fourth of the match – and he quickly closed out the match with a 60 per cent checkout success and a 100.30 average.
Humphries said: “It was a performance that was needed. Ryan was brilliant there.”
When asked if it was one of his best-ever performances, the world number one added: “It felt that way. Ryan played very well, but I am capable of these big performances.
“I know these big performances can happen in big moments and I believe in myself to produce them.”
Earlier in the evening, De Decker upset fellow Belgian Van Den Bergh in a convincing 5-2 win.
De Decker, who beat Damon Heta, Gary Anderson and James Wade in the previous rounds, will now climb into the world’s top 30.
He overcame his nerves after failing to win a leg in the opening set to lead 3-1 and 4-2 and went on to make 120 and 150 checkouts, while throwing nine 180s.
Van Den Bergh produced a 170 checkout in the fourth set, but struggled with the double start and his fellow countryman made him pay.
World Grand Prix: Daily schedule & results
Monday October 7 (6pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
First Round (Best of three sets)
- Josh Rock 0-2 Ryan Joyce
- Brendan Dolan 0-2 Martin Schindler
- Jonny Clayton 2-0 Ritchie Edhouse
- Nathan Aspinall 2-1 Ryan Searle
- Raymond van Barneveld 1-2 Ricardo Pietreczko
- Luke Humphries 2-1 Stephen Bunting
- Rob Cross 2-1 Luke Littler
- Gian van Veen 0-2 Ross Smith
Tuesday October 8 (6pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
First Round (Best of three sets)
- Dave Chisnall 2-0 Cameron Menzies
- Luke Woodhouse 1-2 Dimitri Van den Bergh
- Mike De Decker 2-1 Damon Heta
- Peter Wright 1-2 James Wade
- Gerwyn Price 2-1 Danny Noppert
- Michael Smith 1-2 Gary Anderson
- Michael van Gerwen 0-2 Daryl Gurney
- Chris Dobey 1-2 Joe Cullen
Wednesday October 9 (7pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
Second Round (Best of five sets)
- Nathan Aspinall 2-3 Ryan Joyce
- Rob Cross 3-1 Martin Schindler
- Luke Humphries 3-1 Ricardo Pietreczko
- Jonny Clayton 3-1 Ross Smith
Thursday October 10 (7pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
Second Round (Best of five sets)
- Gary Anderson 0-3 Mike De Decker
- Gerwyn Price 0-3 James Wade
- Daryl Gurney 2-3 Joe Cullen
- Dave Chisnall 1-3 Dimitri Van den Bergh
Friday October 11 (7pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
Quarter-Finals (Best of five sets)
- Mike De Decker 3-0 James Wade
- Rob Cross 2-3 Ryan Joyce
- Luke Humphries 3-1 Jonny Clayton
- Joe Cullen 1-3 Dimitri Van den Bergh
Saturday October 12 (7pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
Semi-Finals (Best of seven sets)
- Mike De Decker 5-2 Dimitri Van den Bergh
- Luke Humphries 5-0 Ryan Joyce
Sunday October 13 (7pm)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports
Final (Best of nine sets)
- Winner SF 1 v Winner SF 2
Darts: Related content
- 2024 PDC Darts Calendar
- 2024 Premier League Season
- What's easier, a nine-darter or a 147?
- Watch: Ranking the major winners in history
- Watch: Royal Rumble and other new tournament ideas
- Watch: How much do darts players earn?
- Watch: Is Luke Littler the next Phil Taylor?
- Watch: Building the perfect darts player
- Watch: How to become a darts professional
- 2024 World Darts draw, schedule & results
- 2024 World Darts Championship guide
- How legends would fare today
- Troubles and triumphs
- Tournament ideas for darts
- 'What If' moments in darts
- Agony of missed match darts
- Good, Bad, Ugly: Nicholson on darts shirts
- Referees in darts
- Calling the shots in darts
- Weird actions in darts
- Hidden talents in darts
- Superstitions in darts
- Routes to glory
- Paul Nicholson's five darts drills
- Paul Nicholson's five mental tips
- Paul Nicholson's five practice games
- Worst losers in darts
- World number ones in darts
- Best players never to be number one
- Five characters in darts
- Do averages lie?
- Greatest Tournaments Ever
- Paul Nicholson's Ally Pally tales
- Watch all the Ally Pally nine-darters
- Players everyone hates to face
- Players everyone loves to face
- How to make it as a pro?
- How much money do players earn?
- Greatest darts rivalries
- Rivalries to cherish
- Be canny with counting
- Phil Taylor's greatest display
- Greatest World Championship displays
- World Cup of Great Darts performances
- Sky Bet's darts odds
