Luke Humphries admitted that he must raise his level if he hopes to defend his World Grand Prix crown and win a second title, and he also confessed that he would have liked to see defending champion Luke Littler stay in the tournament longer. Humphries, who captured the 2023 edition and finished runner‑up in the two previous years, delivered a rather uninspired display 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 2022 – although he was relieved not to join the ranks of Littler and Michael van Gerwen, both of whom suffered first‑round defeats. "That was probably one of the worst performances I've ever given on the World Grand Prix stage," Humphries said after the match.

"I never felt comfortable throughout the whole encounter. The doubles weren’t clicking from the start, my scoring was terrible, and I could tell Dave wasn’t at his best either." He added, "It wasn’t a good showing, but I’m through to the next round and when I face Jermaine Wattimena on Thursday I hope you won’t see a repeat of that performance." With defending champion Luke Littler knocked out by Luke Woodhouse in a surprise upset, Humphries now finds himself the odds‑on favourite for the trophy. Yet he admitted that the absence of the world No.

1 adds a new layer of pressure. "I hate it when he loses because it instantly puts the spotlight on me. Everyone starts saying ‘this is yours to win’, and that kind of pressure can be a double‑edged sword," he explained. "I actually enjoy the idea of meeting him in a final – I’d love to beat him there – but I don’t want to lose to him either.

When he’s out, the expectation on me skyrockets, and sometimes that doesn’t help my game." Humphries went on to say that he would prefer Littler to stay in the draw, "so I could sneak through to the final without the whole weight of the tournament on my shoulders." He described the situation as a "back‑door" route that would allow him to focus on his own darts rather than the external narrative surrounding the title. His 2023 victory marked his first PDC‑ranked televised title and sparked a dominant run that carried him to the end of the season. Since then, however, the "Cool Hand" moniker has been attached to a series of near‑misses. He has finished runner‑up in several major events after winning the World Masters and the Premier League last year.

"I feel like I deserve a major title – I’ve lost in six or seven finals now," Humphries said. "I played a 105 average in both the Premier League final and the World Masters final and still came up short. It’s tough to swallow." He reflected on the difficulty of beating a prodigy like Luke Littler, noting, "If you play anyone else in the world, they probably won’t beat you, but when you face a phenom like Luke, he can turn the tables.

I know I deserve a major, but sometimes life doesn’t hand you what you think you’ve earned." Looking ahead, Humphries emphasized that the onus is on him to win four more matches and significantly improve his performance. "If I keep playing at the level I did today, I’ll be lucky to reach the quarter‑finals or semis.

I need to raise my game dramatically," he said. During the event, Humphries drew attention on social media when a noticeable scab appeared on his head.

He clarified that the blemish had no impact on his play. "I wanted to spin a dramatic story about fighting off five opponents and coming out on top, but the truth is less exciting," he joked. "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.

I think it was an allergic reaction to the makeup and creams used for TV appearances. I haven’t seen a doctor, but it looks like an allergic reaction to the products they put on my face and head.

I’m fully fine otherwise." Humphries’ candid remarks about the rash, the pressure of Littler’s exit, and his own sub‑par showing provide a window into the mental and physical challenges faced by top‑level darts players. As the tournament progresses, fans will be watching closely to see whether he can translate his self‑analysis into a stronger performance and ultimately claim a second World Grand Prix crown. 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 follow the action via NOW with a no‑contract streaming option.