Luke Humphries admitted that his game must reach a higher level if he hopes to defend his World Grand Prix crown and confessed that he would have liked to see defending champion Luke Littler stay in the tournament longer. The 2023 champion, who has also finished runner‑up in the last two editions of the double‑start major, delivered a rather flat performance in his straight‑sets win over Dave Chisnall at the Mattioli Arena.
The world No.2 managed to hit fewer than 27 percent of his checkout attempts and posted an average of 80.41 – his lowest figure at this event since the 2022 edition. Nonetheless, he felt a measure of relief at escaping the fate that befell both Littler and Michael van Gerwen, who were both knocked out in the opening round. "That was arguably one of the worst outings I've ever had on the World Grand Prix stage," Humphries said after the match.
"I never felt comfortable throughout the whole thing. The doubles weren’t clicking from the start, my scoring was sub‑par and I got the impression that Chizzy wasn’t playing at his best either." He added, "It wasn’t a good performance, but I’m still in the tournament and when I face Jermaine Wattimena on Thursday I hope you won’t see a repeat of this." With Littler’s surprise defeat to Luke Woodhouse, Humphries now finds himself the favourite to lift the trophy. Yet the Englishman also revealed that Littler’s early departure adds a new layer of pressure because the world No.1 is no longer a possible opponent.
"I hate it when he loses because it immediately puts the spotlight on me. Everyone starts saying ‘this is yours to win’, and that kind of narrative can be a burden," Humphries explained.
"I love the idea of meeting him in a final – I want to beat him, not lose to him – but his presence in the draw actually eases my mind. If he’s still around I can think of a back‑door route to the final rather than carrying the whole weight on my shoulders." Humphries’ 2023 triumph was his first PDC‑ranked televised title and sparked a dominant run that carried him to the end of the season.
Since then, however, the player nicknamed ‘Cool Hand’ has endured a string of near‑misses, finishing runner‑up in several major events after winning both the World Masters and the Premier League the previous year. "I feel like I deserve a major title – I’ve been in six or seven finals and come away empty‑handed," he said.
"In the Premier League final and the World Masters final I posted averages over 105 and still lost, which is tough to swallow. When you’re up against anyone else in the world, you’re likely to win, but when you face a phenom like Luke Littler, he can take you out. I know I deserve a big win, but sometimes life doesn’t hand you what you think you’ve earned." He continued, "The onus is on me to win four more matches and raise my level dramatically.
If I repeat the same level of play, I’ll be lucky just to reach the quarter‑finals or semis." During his progression to the last 16, Humphries sparked curiosity on social media after appearing on stage with a noticeable scab on his head. He clarified that the blemish had no impact on his game.
"I wanted to spin a dramatic story about battling five opponents and coming out on top, but the truth is less exciting," he laughed. "I filmed Bullseye on Tuesday, woke up Wednesday with a massive rash on the side of my head, and it kept getting worse until it scabbed over. My best guess is that the makeup and creams used for TV shows caused an allergic reaction. I haven’t seen a doctor yet, but it looks like a simple allergy to the products they put on my face and head, and I’m otherwise fine." Humphries’ candid comments highlight both the mental and physical challenges he faces as the tournament progresses.
The pressure of being the new favorite, the disappointment of seeing a peer exit early, and the unexpected skin irritation all combine to test his resilience. Yet he remains determined to improve his checkout percentage, boost his scoring average, and deliver a performance that matches the expectations of fans and pundits alike. The World Grand Prix continues to be broadcast live on Sky Sports throughout the week, with daily coverage leading up to the final on Sunday.
Viewers can also stream the event via NOW without a contract, ensuring that fans worldwide can follow Humphries’ quest for a second title and see whether he can turn his self‑criticised performance into a championship‑winning run.