Luke Humphries admitted that he needs to raise his game if he hopes to contend for a second World Grand Prix crown, and he confessed that he would have liked defending champion Luke Littler to stay in the tournament longer. Humphries, who captured the 2023 title and was runner‑up in the two previous editions of the double‑start event, delivered a rather uninspired performance 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 – the lowest figure he has recorded at this tournament since 2022. Nevertheless, he breathed a sigh of relief at escaping the fate that befell both Littler and Michael van Gerwen, who were both eliminated in the opening round. "That was probably one of the worst outings I've ever had on the World Grand Prix stage," Humphries said after the match.

"I never felt comfortable for the whole encounter. The doubles weren’t clicking from the start, my scoring was sub‑par and I got the impression that Chizzy [Dave Chisnall] wasn’t playing at his best either." He added, "It wasn’t a good performance, but I’m through and when I face Jermaine [Wattimena] on Thursday I hope you won’t see anything like that again!" With defending champion Luke Littler suffering a shocking defeat at the hands of Luke Woodhouse, Humphries now finds himself the favorite to lift the trophy.

However, he acknowledged that the removal of the world No. 1 from the field adds extra pressure.

"I hate it when he loses because it instantly puts the spotlight on me and everyone starts saying ‘this is yours to win’," Humphries explained. "I hate it because I love the idea of meeting him in a final – I want to beat him there, not lose to him. The prospect of a final against him gets me fired up.

When he’s out, I don’t celebrate; instead, the weight of expectation settles on my shoulders and sometimes that doesn’t help. I’d rather he stay in the draw as the favourite so I can try to sneak my way to the final behind him." Humphries’ 2023 triumph was his first PDC‑ranked televised title and sparked a dominant run that carried him to the end of the season. Since then, the player nicknamed “Cool Hand” has endured a series of runner‑up finishes in major events after his World Masters and Premier League victories last year. "I feel like I deserve a major – I’ve been in six or seven finals and lost them all," Humphries said.

"I played a fantastic Premier League final and a World Masters final – I posted a 105 average in the latter and still lost, which is hard to swallow. When you face anyone else on the circuit, you’re likely to come out on top, but when you go up against a phenom like Luke Littler, he can turn the tables. I know I deserve a title, but sometimes life doesn’t hand you what you think you’ve earned." He continued, "It’s up to me to win four more matches and raise my level dramatically.

If I repeat the same level of play, I’ll be lucky just to reach the quarter‑finals or semis." During the tournament, Humphries caused a stir on social media when he appeared on stage with a noticeable scab on his scalp. He reassured fans that the blemish had no impact on his performance as he advanced to the last‑16 stage. "I wanted to spin a dramatic story about battling five opponents and coming out on top, but the truth is far less exciting," he 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.

I suspect it was an allergic reaction to the makeup and creams used for TV appearances. I haven’t seen a doctor yet, but it looks like a simple allergic reaction to the products they put on my head and face, and I’m otherwise fine." Humphries also reflected on the mental side of the game, noting how the early exit of a top rival can shift the dynamics of a tournament. "When a player of Luke’s calibre is knocked out, the whole atmosphere changes. The crowd’s energy, the media narrative, even the players’ confidence levels all adjust.

It can be a double‑edged sword – it opens a door for you, but it also means you have to fill the void left by a marquee name, which can be intimidating." Looking ahead, Humphries is focused on staying consistent and avoiding the pitfalls that have seen him fall just short of major glory in recent months. He emphasized the importance of routine, practice, and mental resilience.

"I’m working on my checkout percentages, trying to be more efficient with my doubles, and I’m also doing a lot of work with my sports psychologist to keep the pressure in check," he said. "The goal is to turn those near‑misses into victories and finally add another major title to my résumé." Fans can continue to follow the World Grand Prix live on Sky Sports, with daily coverage leading up to the final on Sunday.

Those without a Sky subscription can stream the event via NOW with a no‑contract option.