Luke Humphries is adamant that his historic achievement – becoming the first player to reach the World Grand Prix final for four consecutive years – will amount to nothing unless he can finally overcome Gerwyn Price in Leicester. The Englishman secured his place in the Sunday showdown at the Mattioli Arena by beating James Wade 5‑3, cementing a record‑breaking run in the double‑in tournament. Last year, Humphries suffered a 6‑1 defeat to teenage sensation Luke Littler in the final, and earlier in 2024 he was upset 6‑4 by Mike de Decker.
This time, however, he is determined to repeat the triumph he enjoyed in 2023, when he defeated Price – a former world champion – to lift the trophy. "It’s been one of those years where nothing has felt easy," Humphries told Sky Sports. "The previous seasons seemed smoother, but this one has been a real grind." He went on to explain the significance of his fourth straight final appearance: "Making four Grand Prix finals in a row is special – it’s a piece of history I’m proud of.
But unless I walk away with that trophy, the history means very little. I’m here to win. If I can lift the cup, I’ll look back on the record and think, ‘That was amazing.’" Humphries has endured a string of near‑misses in televised finals since his Premier League victory in May 2025.
He has been runner‑up at the European Championship, the Grand Slam of Darts, and this year’s Premier League final, all while chasing a return to the top step of the podium. "My form hasn’t always been the best, but the way I’ve bounced back shows I can still perform at a high level," he said. "I need to do it again tomorrow because I’ve let too many major finals slip away." He praised his own performance in the semi‑final, noting that his scoring and doubles were solid: "I think my scoring was decent and my finishing was good. It felt like the most controlled, consistent display I’ve had in a long time.
The last time I felt that level of control was probably the Premier League final against Luke Littler. It’s been a while since I felt that calm and didn’t worry about slipping." Regarding his opponent, Humphries added, "Price is playing well, but if I can replicate my performance, it’ll be a cracking game.
I’ll come back fresh on Sunday and I believe I can do even better." Gerwyn Price, the 2020 champion, is also making his fourth Grand Prix final appearance, his first since losing to Humphries in 2023. The Welshman navigated a semi‑final against Nathan Aspinall, winning 5‑2 despite a brief dispute with the crowd.
"Nathan was complaining about the crowd, but they were on his side," Price recounted. "I was 3‑0 up and told him, ‘they’re on your side, bud, just play darts.’ I was a bit upset because the crowd was backing him, and I told him I wasn’t happy.
We’re friends, but sometimes you have to let your darts go – when you’re losing, you’re losing." Price admitted frustration during the match: "I was frustrated most of the game – it was a poor, up‑and‑down performance. In patches I was playing well, and when my game is on, I can hit some of the best darts in the world. I’m here to win trophies and prize money, and now I’m heading into another final, the third in a row – happy days!" Commentator Wayne Mardle of Sky Sports weighed in, noting the psychological edge: "Humphries feels that his semi‑final was close to his best, and that confidence will help him.
I don’t think Price was particularly impressive tonight. I know he won, but Luke going into the final now will obviously fancy it." Mardle praised Humphries’ resilience: "It’s impressive how he had to raise his game in the two matches he needed to win, putting those earlier poor performances behind him. That shows growth. It’s easy to label Luke as inconsistent, but Price has shown similar swings.
In the opening round, Price was the star, playing fantastically, but he hasn’t reached those heights since – though that doesn’t mean he can’t again." Both players, according to Mardle, want to start the final aggressively: "What we all want is for both of them to come out guns blazing, so we can have a brilliant final. I just hope it works out that way." The climax of the World Grand Prix will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event from 8 p.m.
on Sunday, with streaming options available via NOW. Fans can expect a high‑stakes encounter between two of darts’ biggest names, each eager to turn their recent histories into championship glory.