Luke Humphries finally put an end to his frustrating streak of runner‑up finishes in televised major finals by delivering a dramatic comeback win over Gerwyn Price at the World Grand Prix. The Englishman, who had already made history by reaching his fourth consecutive final at the double‑start event, turned a 0‑3 deficit into a 6‑4 victory, claiming six of the next seven sets and securing the £150,000 top prize.
This triumph not only gave Humphries his first televised major title since the Winmau World Masters in February 2025, but also placed him among an elite group of only four players to have won the World Grand Prix more than once. The match unfolded at Leicester's Mattioli Arena, where Humphries displayed remarkable resilience. After falling behind three sets, he fought back with a series of high‑scoring visits and clinical finishing.
The turning point came in the deciding leg of the ninth set, when Humphries hit a crucial 105 checkout to avoid a 0‑4 whitewash and keep his hopes alive. Price, who had set a new tournament record with a 132.62 three‑dart average in the opening set, missed several set darts that would have given him a 5‑4 lead, allowing the momentum to swing dramatically. "I'm just happy to get one back," Humphries said after the match, reflecting on a year that saw him finish second at the World Grand Prix, the European Championship and the Grand Slam of Darts in 2025, followed by runner‑up spots at the Winmau World Masters and the Premier League at the start of 2026. "It's nice to have that run of losses in major finals off my back.
It feels really special – this really means the world to me. I needed this to give me a bit of confidence. It's been a torrid 15 or 18 months for me, losing so many major finals." He added, "I worked incredibly hard from 3‑0 down, showed a lot of grit and determination. These wins are sweeter than the ones you win with ease.
I felt like I didn't have much to give tonight, but I didn't want to lose 6‑0 and I wanted to give the fans something to be happy with. Suddenly I found myself up 4‑3. I'm looking forward to taking the trophy home to my son, so he can finally see his dad lift a trophy that isn't a runner‑up one!" Price, often called the "Ice Man," remains without a major title since his 2022 triumph, having suffered a third consecutive runner‑up finish at the World Grand Prix.
He also finished second at the World Matchplay to Luke Littler and at the World Series Finals to Ross Smith, while reaching three additional semi‑finals in major events this year. Despite the loss, Price praised Humphries' performance: "Luke played brilliantly in the middle part of the game, but I still squandered so many opportunities to put him under pressure. I felt it was a fantastic game – I thought I played brilliantly, and Luke played brilliantly." Sky Sports commentator Wayne Mardle highlighted the mental battle, noting, "Humphries was in trouble, then a bit more, then a bit more – so to get out of it was an incredible effort.
The last two sets were his best. He was under the cosh for more than an hour but didn't succumb. He stood up to everything Gezzy threw at him, which was a lot! When you have won before, which Luke has done many times and in many ways, there is that belief of, 'I'm under pressure, but let's just see as I know my game can win', rather than 'oh no, I am going to get beat'.
He played his game and he won." Mardle also commented on Price's situation: "Gezzy tightened up after a great start. He says things in the spur of the moment but the way he competes, he wants it.
You can't play like he did this evening if you don't care! It is disheartening and disappointing when you are 3‑0 up and don't win, but he has lost enough finals to know nothing is a given. He is still a young man and will get many more opportunities.
He knows he is good enough." Looking ahead, the European Tour continues with the Swiss Darts Trophy (9‑11 October) and the Dutch Darts Championship (16‑18 October), followed by the European Championship in Dortmund, Germany (22‑25 October). The next televised major on Sky Sports will be the Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton (14‑22 November), and the season will culminate with the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace (11 December‑3 January), where Luke Littler will defend his title.
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