Luke Humphries clinched his second World Grand Prix crown after engineering a dramatic comeback against Gerwyn Price, winning the final 6-4 in a match that will be remembered for its intensity and skill. Humphries, who has now become the first player ever to reach the World Grand Prix final for four consecutive years, found himself staring at a 3-0 deficit early on but then produced a stunning run of six sets out of the next seven to secure his first major title of the season.
The showdown took place at Leicester's Mattioli Arena, where the Englishman posted a solid 93.16 three‑dart average and hit ten 180s. Price, a former world champion, started the contest in commanding fashion, taking the opening set in just 34 darts and delivering a flawless 12‑dart finish on each side of the set, including a spectacular 10‑dart leg that broke Humphries' rhythm.
However, the tide began to turn in the fourth set when Humphries nailed a 105 checkout on a deciding leg, preventing the scoreline from slipping further out of his reach. That pivotal checkout ignited a surge of confidence. Humphries proceeded to win four consecutive sets, capitalising on a few missed set darts from Price.
After Price had built a 5‑4 lead, Humphries responded by taking five straight legs, sealing the match with a display of composure that left the crowd roaring. This victory marks the second time in four years that Humphries has bested Price in a World Grand Prix final, having previously won 5-2 in 2023, and it earns him the £150,000 winner’s share while extending the waiting period for the "Ice Man" to capture another televised major. The early stages of the match saw Price dominate. He threw a flawless first set, hitting a series of perfect darts and a 10‑dart finish that gave him a 2‑0 set lead.
Humphries managed to take a leg early in the second set but missed three darts that could have given him a break, allowing Price to respond with high‑scoring 101 and 82 checkouts to stretch his advantage to two sets. In the third set, Price continued his dominance, breaking Humphries again with a 101 outshot.
Humphries managed to salvage the set with a 109 finish, but Price ultimately claimed the set after a decisive final‑leg decider. The fourth set proved to be the turning point.
After Price hit a 130 checkout on the bull, Humphries answered with a 105 finish on the last leg, taking his first set and halting Price’s momentum. From there, Humphries built a string of four‑leg runs that saw him close out the fifth set and edge ahead in the sixth, where Price managed 99 and 94 finishes before Humphries broke back and secured the set. In the seventh set, Humphries delivered an 11‑dart leg on his throw and followed it with a break in the next leg, eventually wrapping up a fourth straight set on double 16. Price managed to level the match by breaking early in the eighth set and sweeping it, but Humphries responded in the ninth by breaking Price and then hitting an extraordinary 10‑dart finish to take the lead.
He then accelerated through the tenth set, winning all legs in straight fashion, and sealed the championship with an 11‑dart finish in the final set. After the match, Humphries became only the fourth player in history to claim multiple World Grand Prix titles. He reflected on his performance, saying, "This is really special, finally breaking my barren run in majors.
The biggest moment for me was that 180 followed by a 105 checkout in the fourth set – if Gezzy had gone up 4‑0 it would have been over. At 3‑1 I relaxed and let my game take over." He added, "I feel I deserved a major.
Maybe I didn’t play as well as Luke in the end, but I worked hard and showed grit. A win like this feels sweeter than an easy victory. I can’t wait to bring the trophy home for my son so he sees his dad as a champion, not a runner‑up." Runner‑up Gerwyn Price, still searching for his first major since the 2022 World Series Finals in Amsterdam, admitted 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 chances to put pressure on him.
I missed too many crucial darts. It’s a fantastic match and it comes down to who takes their opportunities.
I’m gutted to lose another final but I’ll get over it – I’m bothered!" Sky Sports Darts analyst Wayne Mardle praised Humphries' resilience: "Humphries was in trouble, then a bit more, then a bit more – to turn it around was incredible. The last two sets were his best.
He was under the cosh for more than an hour but didn’t fold. He stood up to everything Price threw at him, which was a lot! When you’ve won before, as Luke has many times, 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 commented on Price’s performance: "Gezzy tightened up after a great start. He says things in the heat of the moment, but the way he competes, he wants it. You can’t play like he did tonight if you don’t care! It’s disheartening to be 3‑0 up and not close it out, 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." Looking ahead, the European Tour continues with the Swiss Darts Trophy (9‑11 October) and the Dutch Darts Championship (16‑18 October), before the European Championship in Dortmund from 22‑25 October. The next televised major on Sky Sports will be the Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton (14‑22 November), followed by the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace (11 December‑3 January), where the defending champion will aim to retain his title.
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