Luke Humphries insists that his historic achievement of reaching a fourth straight World Grand Prix final will amount to nothing unless he can finally overcome Gerwyn Price in Leicester. The Englishman made a record by becoming the first player to book a final berth in four successive editions of the double‑in tournament, edging past James Wade 5‑3 to secure his place in the Sunday showdown at the Mattioli Arena. Humphries, known as "Cool Hand," was the runner‑up to teenage prodigy Luke Littler after a 6‑1 drubbing in the previous year and suffered an unexpected 6‑4 defeat to Mike de Decker in 2024.
This time around, he hopes to replicate his 2023 triumph over Price when the two former world champions meet again in the championship match. "It’s been one of those seasons where nothing feels easy," Humphries told Sky Sports. "A few years ago things seemed smoother, but this year has been a grind.
Making four Grand Prix finals in a row is something special – it’s a piece of history for me and I’m proud of it. But unless I lift that trophy, that history won’t mean much." He added, "I’m here to win. If I can take the trophy, I’ll look back at the record and think how amazing that is." Humphries has endured a string of near‑misses in televised finals since his Premier League victory in May 2025, including runner‑up spots at the European Championship, the Grand Slam of Darts in 2025, and this year’s Premier League final.
He is determined to break the pattern. "I haven’t been at my best for a while, but the way I’ve bounced back and performed lately is encouraging," he said.
"I need to do it again tomorrow because there are too many major finals I’ve let slip away." Reflecting on his recent form, Humphries noted, "I wasn’t far from my best. My scoring was solid and my doubles were on point. It felt like the most controlled, consistent performance 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 ages since I felt that calm and didn’t worry about slipping." He continued, "Price is playing well, but if I can repeat that level of play, it’ll be a cracking game and I hope it is.
I’ll come back fresh on Sunday and I believe I can do even better." 2020 World Champion Gerwyn Price has also booked his place in the final, marking his fourth Grand Prix final appearance and his first since losing to Humphries in 2023. The Welshman navigated a semi‑final against Nathan Aspinall, winning 5‑2 despite some tension with the crowd. "Nathan was complaining about the crowd, but they were on his side," Price told Sky Sports. "I was up 3‑0 and I said to him, ‘they’re on your side, bud, stop performing for the audience and just play darts.’ I was a bit annoyed because the crowd was backing him, and he was feeding off that energy.
We’re good friends, but sometimes you have to let your darts go – when you’re losing, you’re losing." Price admitted, "I was frustrated for about 90 percent of that match and that’s not good. It was a bit of a poor game, very up and down.
In patches I was playing well, and when my game is on, I’m throwing some of the best darts in the world. I’m here to win trophies and the prize money, and now I’m heading into another final – the third in a row – happy days!" Former professional Wayne Mardle, commenting for Sky Sports Darts, said, "Humphries feels that his recent display was close to his best and that gives him confidence.
I don’t think Price was particularly impressive tonight. I know he won, but Luke going into that final will definitely fancy his chances." Mardle added, "It’s impressive how Humphries has had to raise his game in the two matches he’s played and actually did – putting those poor performances behind him and not worrying about them shows growth. It’s easy to label Luke as inconsistent, but Price has had his own ups and downs. Who shone in the opening round?
It was Price. He played fantastically, but he hasn’t reached those heights since – that doesn’t mean he can’t again." He concluded, "What we all want is for both of them to come out guns blazing, so we can have a brilliant final on our hands – I just hope it works out that way." The World Grand Prix final between Gerwyn Price and Luke Humphries will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event from 8 p.m. on Sunday, with streaming options available via NOW. The match promises a high‑stakes clash between two of darts’ most compelling personalities, each eager to turn their recent form into a coveted title.
If Humphries can finally defeat Price, his historic run of four consecutive finals will be cemented with the ultimate reward – a trophy that validates his consistency and resilience. Conversely, a Price victory would mark his return to the pinnacle after a three‑year gap, reinforcing his reputation as a formidable champion. Either outcome will shape the narrative of the sport heading into the next season, highlighting the fine line between record‑making consistency and the hunger for championship glory.