Luke Humphries acknowledged that he must raise his game if he hopes to contend for a second World Grand Prix crown, and he confessed that he would have liked to see defending champion Luke Littler stay in the tournament longer. The 2023 champion, who has also been runner‑up in the past two editions of the double‑start event, delivered a rather underwhelming 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 the 2022 edition. Despite the sub‑par numbers, he was relieved not to join the ranks of Littler and Michael van Gerwen, who both fell in the opening round.
"That was probably one of the worst performances I've ever produced on a World Grand Prix stage," Humphries admitted after the match. "I never felt comfortable throughout the whole encounter. The doubles just wouldn't click at the start, my scoring was terrible, and I got the impression that Chizzy [Dave Chisnall] wasn't playing 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 this." With defending champion Luke Littler surprisingly knocked out by Luke Woodhouse, Humphries now finds himself the odds‑on favourite to lift the trophy.
Yet he admits that the absence of the world No. 1 adds a new layer of pressure.
"I hate it when he loses because it immediately puts the spotlight on me. Everyone starts saying, 'this is yours to win,' and all that sort of chatter," Humphries explained.
"I hate it because I would love to meet him in a final, to beat him there. I don't want to lose to him in a final, but I thrive on the idea of a final showdown – it fuels my ambition." He continued, "When Littler is out, I don't jump for joy. Instead, the weight of expectation settles on my shoulders and sometimes that can be a distraction. I'd rather he stay in the draw, be the favourite, and then I could try to sneak through to the final via the back door." Humphries' triumph in 2023 was his first PDC‑ranked televised title and sparked a dominant finish to that season.
Since then, however, the "Cool Hand" has endured a string of runner‑up finishes in major events after his World Masters and Premier League victories last year. "I feel like I deserve a major title – I've lost six or seven finals now," he said.
"I played a superb Premier League final and a World Masters final, both at 105 averages, and still came up short. Those losses are hard to swallow." He reflected on the difficulty of beating top talent, noting, "If you play anyone else on the circuit, they probably won't beat you, but when you face a phenom like Luke [Littler], he can turn the tables. I know I deserve a big win, but life doesn't always hand you what you think you merit." Humphries stressed the need for consistency: "I have to win another four matches and perform far better than I have lately.
If I repeat the same level, I'm lucky to make the quarters or semis." During his progression to the last 16, the former world champion sparked curiosity on social media after appearing on stage with a noticeable scab on his head. He clarified that the blemish was harmless and unrelated to his performance. "I wanted to spin an epic tale about battling five opponents and emerging unscathed, but the truth is far less dramatic," Humphries 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." He speculated that the reaction might be linked to makeup and creams used for television appearances: "When you do TV shows they put a lot of makeup on, all those creams, and I think I had an allergic reaction to something they applied. I haven't seen a doctor yet, but it looks like an allergic response to the products they used on my head and face. I'm completely fine otherwise." Looking ahead, Humphries will aim to tighten his doubles, improve his scoring consistency, and keep his checkout percentage up as the tournament advances. The pressure of being the new favourite, combined with his desire to finally claim a major title, will be the driving forces behind his next matches.
Fans can follow the World Grand Prix action throughout the week on Sky Sports, with daily coverage leading up to the final on Sunday. For those without a Sky subscription, the tournament is also available to stream on NOW without a contract, offering flexible viewing options for darts enthusiasts worldwide.