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Luke Humphries lost 4–2 to John Henderson at Edinburgh’s Corn Exchange, a night after his defeat by Gian van Veen in Dundee. Ross Smith also impressed at the MDA Events exhibition, averaging 112.30 against former World Cup of Darts winner Henderson, before beating Van Veen in the closing match.
Henderson averaged more than 102 against Humphries’s 100.39, throwing three maximums to the Englishman’s one. The Scot took out 153 and produced an 11-dart leg, while Humphries’s highest finish was 76 and his quickest leg took 14 darts.
The result reversed their Dundee meeting, which Humphries had won 3–0 before losing 6–2 to Van Veen. Humphries also recorded a whitewash in Edinburgh, beating Robert Thornton 3–0.
The reigning World Grand Prix champion heads towards the Grand Slam of Darts having finished runner-up to Luke Littler in last year’s tournament. His Grand Prix victory secured his return to Wolverhampton.'
Smith beat Henderson 3–1 with a 112.30 average, hitting five maximums across the four legs and producing a 10-darter.
He closed the Edinburgh show with a 6–3 victory over Van Veen, adding to his two wins in Dundee. There, Smith had beaten Thornton 3–1 and Henderson 4–1.
Former Celtic and Scotland midfielder Scott Brown also challenged Smith, with the footballer starting on 501 while Smith had to clear 1001. Smith won the single-leg encounter despite that 500-point handicap.
His Edinburgh appearances came less than three weeks after his European Championship triumph. Smith has also won the World Series of Darts Finals this season. Van Veen qualified for the Grand Slam through his run to the World Championship final.
The Grand Slam takes place at Aldersley Leisure Village in Wolverhampton from 14–22 November. Littler will defend the title, with a £200,000 first prize on offer.