World Matchplay Darts: Luke Humphries through but Gerwyn Price falls

Top seed Luke Humphries came through a stern test against Stephen Bunting to reach the World Matchplay quarter-finals.

The world champion twice went a break of throw down but hit back immediately each time before a strong finish took him to an 11-7 win.

Humphries ended with an average of 102.34 but was pushed hard by Masters champion Bunting, who hit six 180s but was left to rue some costly misses on the doubles.

But while Humphries survived his minor scare, Gerwyn Price and Nathan Aspinall were the latest high-ranking players to be knocked out.

Fourth seed Price lost 11-9 to an inspired Ross Smith in a thrilling second-round match in Blackpool.

Smith, the 13th seed, hit 13 maximums and came back from 8-6 down to book his place in the last eight.

Meanwhile, James Wade is through to his first Matchplay quarter-final since 2019 after an 11-8 win over Aspinall.

Wade quickly went up 4-0 and, although Aspinall soon got it back on throw, the world number five became increasingly frustrated by his own lack of consistency.

Victory takes Wade, who won the World Matchplay in 2007 to become the tournament’s youngest champion aged 24, a step closer to another title.

Dimitri Van den Bergh is also through after a 11-5 win over Jonny Clayton.

Luke Littler was eliminated by Michael van Gerwen in round one, while Peter Wright and Dave Chisnall also fell at the first hurdle at Winter Gardens.