Luke Humphries insists that his historic achievement of reaching a fourth consecutive World Grand Prix final will amount to nothing unless he can finally overcome Gerwyn Price and lift the trophy in Leicester. The Englishman made headlines by becoming the first player ever to book a spot in the final for four years running at the double‑in format, dispatching James Wade 5‑3 to secure his place in the showdown at the Mattioli Arena on Sunday. Humphries, known as "Cool Hand", was runner‑up to teenage sensation Luke Littler after a 6‑1 defeat last year and suffered an unexpected 6‑4 loss to Mike de Decker in the 2024 edition. This time, he is looking to repeat the triumph he enjoyed in 2023 when he beat Price, the two‑time world champion, in a tightly contested final.
"This year has been a bit of a roller‑coaster, not the smooth sailing you might expect after a few good seasons," Humphries told Sky Sports. "The previous years felt easier, but this one has tested me in new ways." He continued, "Making it to four Grand Prix finals in a row is something special – it’s a piece of history I’m proud of. But if I don’t walk away with the trophy, that history is just a footnote. I’m here to win.
If I can lift the cup, I’ll look back on the record and think, ‘That was amazing.’" Humphries has endured a string of near‑misses in televised finals since clinching the Premier League title in May 2025. He has been runner‑up at the European Championship, the Grand Slam of Darts in 2025, and this year’s Premier League final, all of which have left him hungry for a win to break the pattern. "My recent form hasn’t always been the best, but the way I’ve bounced back shows I can still perform at a high level," he added. "I have to repeat that performance tomorrow because there are too many major finals I’ve let slip away." He praised his own play, noting, "I wasn’t far from my best.
My scoring was solid and my doubles were on point. It felt like the most controlled, consistent display 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 so steady and not a little bit flustered." Regarding his opponent, Humphries said, "Price is playing well, but if I can replicate my form, we’ll have a cracking match.
I’ll come back tomorrow fresh, confident that I can raise my game even further." Gerwyn Price, the 2020 champion, is also set for his fourth World Grand Prix final, his first since losing to Humphries in 2023. The Welshman had a relatively smooth semi‑final, beating Nathan Aspinall 5‑2, though he admitted the crowd was more supportive of his opponent. "Nathan was complaining about the crowd, but they were on his side," Price told Sky Sports.
"I was up 3‑0 and I went over to him and said, ‘They’re on your side, mate, stop performing for the crowd and just play darts.’ I was a bit annoyed because the audience was cheering for him. I’m good friends with Nathan, but sometimes you just have to let your darts go – when you’re losing you’re losing." Price reflected on his semi‑final performance, "I was frustrated for about 90 per cent of that game, which isn’t good. It was a patchy match, up and down. When my game is on, I’m playing some of the best darts in the world.
I’m here to win trophies and prize money, and now I’m heading into another final – the third in a row – which is great." Former player and Sky Sports analyst Wayne Mardle weighed in, "Humphries feels that his recent display was close to his best, and that confidence will help him. I don’t think Price was particularly impressive tonight. I know he won, but Luke going into the final now will certainly feel confident." Mardle continued, "What’s impressive is how Humphries has improved after two tough games, leaving the bad performances behind and focusing on growth.
It’s easy to label Luke as inconsistent, but Price has also shown patches of inconsistency. Price was the star of the opening round, playing brilliantly, but he hasn’t maintained that level yet – though he certainly can." He concluded, "What we all want is for both players to come out guns blazing, giving us a spectacular final. I 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. This clash promises high drama, as Humphries seeks to turn his historic run into a title and finally silence the voice that says his record means nothing without a win over Price.