Luke Humphries breathed a sigh of relief after finally breaking a frustrating pattern of runner‑up finishes in televised major tournaments. The Englishman delivered a dramatic comeback against Gerwyn Price in the World Grand Prix final, securing a memorable 6‑4 victory that will be remembered for its resilience and skill. The Leicester showdown marked Humphries' fourth straight appearance in the double‑start event’s final – a record‑setting run that underscored his consistency at the highest level. After falling behind 0‑3, he turned the tide by claiming six of the next seven sets, demonstrating an impressive blend of composure and firepower to seal the win.
The triumph not only added a second World Grand Prix crown to his résumé – making him only the fourth player ever to win the title more than once – but also earned him a £150,000 first‑place prize. This victory is particularly significant because it is Humphries' first televised major title on the ranking circuit since his Winmau World Masters triumph in February 2025. The Englishman, affectionately nicknamed “Cool Hand,” had endured a succession of heart‑breaking final defeats, including runner‑up finishes at the World Grand Prix, European Championship and Grand Slam of Darts in 2025, followed by second‑place results at the Winmau World Masters and the Premier League at the start of 2026. "I'm just happy to get one back," Humphries said, reflecting on the weight of those near‑misses.
"It feels really special – this really means the world to me. I needed this to give me a bit of confidence after a torrid 15‑ or 18‑month stretch of losing major finals." The climax of the match came when Humphries faced a sudden‑death leg after Price had taken a 4‑0 lead in the early stages. Humphries needed a 105 checkout to stay alive, and he delivered, preventing a 4‑0 whitewash. Price, who had missed several set darts that could have put him ahead 5‑4, eventually faltered as the momentum swung dramatically.
Humphries later reflected on his comeback, saying, "I worked incredibly hard from 3‑0 down, showed a lot of grit and determination. 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 enjoy, and suddenly I found myself up 4‑3." Beyond personal satisfaction, Humphries expressed excitement about sharing the trophy with his family. "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!" he added, highlighting the emotional resonance of the achievement. Gerwyn Price, meanwhile, remains without a major title since his 2022 victory, adding a third consecutive runner‑up finish to his record.
He has also been second at the World Matchplay to Luke Littler and at the World Series Finals to Ross Smith, while reaching three additional semi‑finals in major events this year. Despite the loss, Price praised Humphries’ performance, noting, "Luke played brilliantly in the middle part of the game, but I still squandered so many opportunities to put him under pressure.
It was a fantastic match – I thought I played brilliantly, and Luke played brilliantly as well." Price’s own statistics were impressive; he opened the match with a 132.62 average in the first set, completing it in just 34 darts – a record three‑dart set average for the tournament. Yet his quest for another major title continues, as he now holds three World Grand Prix runner‑up finishes since his 2020 win. Commentator Wayne Mardle of Sky Sports praised Humphries’ resilience, stating, "Humphries was in trouble, then a bit more, then a bit more – to claw his way out 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 Price threw at him, which was a lot!" Mardle also highlighted the mental edge that experience brings: "When you have won before, as Luke has many times in many ways, there’s a belief: ‘I’m under pressure, but I know my game can win.’ Not the panic of ‘Oh no, I’m going to lose.’ He played his game and he won." 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 (22‑25 October). The next televised major 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 titles. Fans can stay updated on Sky Sports deals or stream the action without a contract.