Luke Humphries clinched his second World Grand Prix crown after mounting a remarkable comeback against Gerwyn Price, edging the Welshman 6-4 in a pulsating final at Leicester's Mattioli Arena. Humphries made history by becoming the first competitor to reach the Grand Prix final for four consecutive years, and he turned a 3-0 deficit into a dominant display, winning six of the next seven sets to secure his first major title of the season.
The Englishman posted an impressive 93.16 three‑dart average and hit ten 180s, while the match swung back and forth dramatically. Price started strongly, cruising through the opening set in just 34 darts and delivering a flawless 12‑dart leg before breaking Humphries with a ten‑dart finish.
Humphries managed to take a leg early in the second set but missed three darts at a double, allowing Price to extend his lead with 101 and 82 checkouts, establishing a two‑set advantage. In the third set, Price continued his dominance, breaking again with a 101 finish. Humphries responded with a 109 checkout to stay alive, but Price sealed the set in a deciding leg, putting the Englishman under serious pressure.
The turning point arrived in the fourth set when Humphries, facing a 130 bullseye finish from Price, answered with a crisp 105 checkout. That crucial double not only halted Price's momentum but also sparked a four‑set streak for Humphries, who capitalised on Price's missed set darts to win five consecutive legs and take the set 5-4.
Humphries' resurgence continued into the fifth and sixth sets. After a brief lull, he produced a flawless 11‑dart leg on his throw, breaking Price and then holding his own throw to close the fourth consecutive set on double 16. Price managed to level the match by breaking early in the eighth set and sweeping it, but Humphries stayed composed.
In the ninth set, Price briefly reclaimed the lead, yet squandered two set darts that could have secured the set, giving Humphries a golden opportunity. Seizing the moment, Humphries broke Price and then dazzled the crowd with an extraordinary ten‑dart finish, swinging the match decisively in his favour. He rode that wave into the tenth set, dispatching it in straight legs and finishing with an 11‑dart leg to seal the victory and claim the £150,000 top prize. The win marks Humphries as only the fourth player ever to capture multiple World Grand Prix titles.
Speaking after the match, Humphries reflected on the significance of the triumph: "This is really special, finally breaking my barren run in majors. The biggest shot of my career was that 180 followed by a 105 checkout in the fourth set – when Gezzy went 4-0 up it felt like the end, but at 3-1 I relaxed and fought back. I feel I deserved a major; maybe I didn’t play the best darts tonight, but I showed grit and determination.
Winning like this is sweeter than an easy victory, and I can’t wait to bring the trophy home for my son so he sees his dad not as a runner‑up." Price, who has not lifted a major since the 2022 World Series Finals in Amsterdam, expressed his disappointment: "I don’t want to win a major, do I?! Luke played brilliantly in the middle part of the game, but I squandered too many chances to apply pressure. It was a fantastic match and whoever took their opportunities won. I missed several crucial darts and I’m gutted to lose another final, but I’ll get over it – I’m bothered, but I’ll bounce back." Former champion Wayne Mardle of Sky Sports Darts praised Humphries' resilience: "Luke was in trouble, then a bit more, then even more – pulling himself out of that hole was an incredible effort.
The last two sets were his best. He was under the cosh for over an hour but never gave in. He stood up to everything Gezzy threw at him, which was a lot!
When you’ve won before, you have that belief: ‘I’m under pressure, but I know my game can win,’ rather than thinking you’re doomed. He played his game and he won." Mardle also noted Price's reaction: "Gezzy tightened up after a great start.
He says things in the heat of the moment, but you can see how much he wants it. You can’t play like that if you don’t care. It’s disheartening to be 3-0 up and not finish, but he’s lost enough finals to know nothing is guaranteed. He’s still young and will have many more chances – he knows he’s good enough." The European Tour season presses on with the Swiss Darts Trophy scheduled for 9‑11 October and the Dutch Darts Championship on 16‑18 October, followed by the European Championship in Dortmund from 22‑25 October.
The next televised major will be the Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton, running 14‑22 November on Sky Sports, and the season will culminate with the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace from 11 December to 3 January, where reigning champion Michael Littler will defend his title. Viewers can access the latest Sky Sports offers or stream without a contract for uninterrupted coverage.