✨ Check out this must-read post from BBC Sport 📖
📂 Category:
✅ Main takeaway:
Top seed Luke Humphries beat Nathan Aspinall to book his place in the knockout stages of the Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton.
England’s Humphreys averaged 102.62 in an impressive display, maintaining his perfect 100% record to top Group One.
Michael Smith, who defeated American Alex Spielman 5-2, qualified in second place.
It means an early exit for Aspinall, who can consider himself unfortunate to have faced Humphreys – who hit nine fours on Sunday – at this kind of level, given his 100.01 average and five 180s might have often been enough to beat a different opponent.
Humphries, the now former world champion, will face Dutchman Jurgen van der Velde in the second round, which begins on Wednesday.
He will face 2023 world champion Chris Dobie and his English compatriot Smith in the next round after finishing first in Group Two with a 5-1 victory over Martin Lookman, despite his average of only 81.
Wales’ player Gerwyn Price also qualified safely after his 5-1 victory over Swiss Stefan Belmont, which made him lead Group D after Ricky Evans lost 5-2 to his English compatriot James Wade.
Meanwhile, Stephen Ponting, who had already been eliminated, suffered a third defeat in the first leg as he lost 5-4 to third set winner Luke Woodhouse.
German Martin Schindler qualified after defeating Filipino Alexis Tuilo 5-2.
The final group matches in the bottom half of the draw will be played on Tuesday with world champion Luke Littler already through to the second round.
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