Luke Humphries finally put an end to his series of heartbreaks in televised major finals by delivering a dramatic comeback win over Gerwyn Price at the World Grand Prix. The Englishman secured his place in history by reaching a record‑breaking fourth straight final at the double‑start event, and then clawing back from a 3‑0 deficit to claim a 6‑4 victory, taking six of the next seven sets against the Welshman. The win at Leicester’s Mattioli Arena followed Humphries’ earlier triumph over Price in the 2023 final and elevated him to just the fourth player ever to capture more than one World Grand Prix title.
The prize money for the champion was a hefty £150,000, underscoring the significance of the achievement. This marks Humphries’ first ranked television major title since his Winmau World Masters victory in February 2025, and he expressed relief that the string of runner‑up finishes was finally over. “I’m just happy to get one back,” he said, recalling that he had finished second at the World Grand Prix, the European Championship and the Grand Slam of Darts in the previous season, and then again as runner‑up at the Winmau World Masters and the Premier League at the start of 2026.
“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 15‑18 months for me, losing so many major finals.” The turning point came in the final‑leg decider when Humphries hit a crucial 105 checkout to avoid falling 4‑0 behind. Price, who had missed set darts that would have taken him to a 5‑4 lead, was forced into a seesaw battle that ultimately swung in Humphries’ favour. “I worked incredibly hard from 3‑0 down, showed a lot of grit and determination,” Humphries explained.
“These wins are sweeter than the ones you win with ease. I didn’t want to lose 6‑0; I wanted to give the fans something to be happy about, and suddenly I found myself up 4‑3.” He also hinted at the personal significance of the victory: “I’m looking forward to taking the trophy home to my son, who can finally see his dad lift another trophy that isn’t a runner‑up one!” Price, meanwhile, remains without a major title since 2022, marking his third consecutive runner‑up finish after losing to Luke Littler at the World Matchplay and to Ross Smith at the World Series Finals.
He also recorded three semi‑final appearances in majors this year. Despite the loss, Humphries praised his opponent’s early performance. “Gezzy was amazing for those first three sets, absolutely insane. He’s going to win a major title soon – it’s written in the stars.
He can’t keep playing this well and not win.” Price opened the match with a 132.62 average in the first set, completing it in just 34 darts – the best three‑dart set average in the tournament’s history. Yet he now has three runner‑up finishes at the World Grand Prix since his 2020 victory. “I don’t want to win a major, do I?!” Price told Sky Sports. “It’s gutting I lost another one – I’m not bothered, but I am bothered.” He added, “Luke played brilliantly in the middle part of the game, but I still squandered so many opportunities to put him under pressure.
I felt like it was a fantastic game – I thought I played brilliantly, and Luke played brilliantly.” Wayne Mardle of Sky Sports Darts provided his perspective on the contest: “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 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 demeanor: “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 season continues with the Swiss Darts Trophy (9‑11 October) and the Dutch Darts Championship (16‑18 October), before 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), followed by the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace (11 December – 3 January), where Luke Littler will defend his title. Fans can stay updated on the latest Sky Sports offers or stream the events without a contract.