Luke Humphries clinched his second World Grand Prix crown after mounting a remarkable rally to edge out Gerwyn Price 6-4 in a pulsating final at Leicester's Mattioli Arena. The Englishman, who made history by becoming the first competitor to reach the tournament's semi‑final stage for four consecutive years, found himself staring at a 3-0 deficit before unleashing a torrent of high‑scoring darts that saw him claim six of the next seven sets and secure his first major title of the season. From the opening leg, Price appeared to dominate. He wrapped up the first set in just 34 darts, delivering flawless 12‑dart holds on both halves of the set and even producing a perfect ten‑dart finish to break Humphries' rhythm.
The Welshman continued his on‑fire display in the second set, breaking Humphries early with a 101 checkout and later adding an 82 finish to build a two‑set lead. By the third set, Price had extended his advantage further, again breaking his opponent with a 101 outshot and forcing Humphries to survive a decisive leg after a 109 checkout.
Humphries' fortunes began to shift in the fourth set. Trailing 3-0, he responded with a crucial 105 finish on a deciding leg, halting Price's momentum and preventing the gap from widening. That checkout sparked a four‑set streak for Humphries, who capitalized on Price's missed set darts at 5-4, then won five consecutive legs to close the set and eventually the match.
The Englishman's composure under pressure was evident as he delivered a series of clutch doubles, including a decisive 11‑dart finish that sealed the fourth straight set on double 16. The match statistics underline the intensity of the contest.
Humphries posted a 93.16 three‑dart average and hit ten 180s, while Price's early precision was reflected in his rapid first‑set closure and multiple high finishes. Yet it was Humphries' resilience that defined the encounter. After falling behind, he produced an 11‑dart leg on throw, followed by a spectacular 10‑dart finish that gave him a decisive edge. He then accelerated through the final set in straight legs, culminating in another 11‑dart finish to lock in the victory.
In post‑match interviews, Humphries expressed the significance of the win. "This is really special, getting that barren major run off my back," he said, highlighting the pivotal 180 and 105 checkout in the fourth set that turned the tide. "When Gezzy went 4-0 up I thought it was over, but at 3-1 I relaxed and kept fighting.
I feel I deserved a major, and even if Luke [Price] was the better player at times, I showed grit and determination." He also shared a personal moment, noting his desire to bring the trophy home for his son, hoping to spare him the disappointment of seeing his father finish as a runner‑up. Price, who has not lifted a major title since his 2022 World Series Finals triumph in Amsterdam, reflected on the loss with candor.
"I don't want to win a major, do I?!" he exclaimed, acknowledging Humphries' brilliance in the middle stages and admitting his own missed chances. "I squandered opportunities to put him under pressure. It was a fantastic game and whoever took their chances won. I'm gutted to lose another major final but I will get over it – I am bothered!" Despite the disappointment, Price remained optimistic about future opportunities, recognizing that his experience in finals will eventually translate into success.
Veteran commentator Wayne Mardle of Sky Sports Darts praised Humphries' tenacity. "Humphries was in trouble, then a bit more and then a bit more – 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!" Mardle also noted the mental edge that comes from previous victories, stating that Humphries' belief in his own game allowed him to stay calm under pressure rather than succumbing to fear. The broader darts calendar continues to heat up.
The European Tour will move on with the Swiss Darts Trophy (9‑11 October) and the Dutch Darts Championship (16‑18 October), before the European Championship in Dortmund (22‑25 October). The next televised major on Sky Sports is the Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton (14‑22 November), leading up to the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace (11 December‑3 January), where reigning champion Michael van Gerwen will defend his title.
Overall, Humphries' victory not only adds a second World Grand Prix crown to his résumé—making him only the fourth player to achieve multiple titles—but also breaks the recent dominance of Phil "Ice Man" Taylor, who has been waiting for another TV major. The win underscores Humphries' growing stature in the sport and sets the stage for an exciting remainder of the season, with both him and Price likely to feature prominently in upcoming events.