World number one Luke Humphries demonstrated his class and clinical finishing as he secured a 16-8 victory over Michael Smith to advance to the semi-finals of the Grand Slam of Darts 2025. The 30-year-old Englishman overcame a spirited fightback from Smith to prove once again why he is one of the top players on the PDC circuit.

Humphries raced to a commanding 4-0 lead in the early stages of the best-of-31-leg match. However, Smith, showing his resilience as a former world finalist, battled back to level the score at 7-7, raising hopes of a potential upset. Despite the pressure, Humphries quickly regained control, winning nine of the next ten legs with ruthless efficiency and sealing his spot in the last four.

After the match, Humphries hinted at a potential strategic shift in his playing schedule for 2026. He revealed he is considering skipping the Players Championship Tour, a grueling midweek circuit comprising 34 days of floor competitions across venues including Wigan, Leicester, Milton Keynes, and Hildesheim in Germany, culminating in a finals weekend at Minehead.

“The tour is so busy, and you have to prioritise what you want to do,” Humphries explained. “I might just give it a go at the start of the year and see how it goes. If it doesn’t work out, maybe I’ll just focus on other events.”

Humphries’ performance against Smith was exceptional, with an impressive average of 104.98 and a checkout percentage of 44.4%, highlighting his precision under pressure.

In the semi-finals, Humphries will face fellow PDC star Gerwyn Price, who defeated England’s Ricky Evans 16-9 to secure his own spot in the last four. The remaining quarter-finals are set to take place at the WV Active Aldersley Centre in Wolverhampton, with world champion Luke Littler going up against Northern Ireland’s Josh Rock, and Germany’s Lukas Wenig taking on Dutchman Danny Noppert.

As the tournament progresses, Humphries looks poised to defend his 2023 Grand Slam of Darts title and further cement his reputation as one of the premier players in professional darts. Fans around the world will be eagerly anticipating the semi-finals, with the stage set for thrilling encounters between some of the game’s top stars.

Related Topics: PDC Darts, Luke Humphries, Michael Smith, Grand Slam of Darts 2025, Gerwyn Price, Luke Littler, Josh Rock, Lukas Wenig, Danny Noppert