Luke Humphries openly acknowledges that he must raise his game if he hopes to contend for a second World Grand Prix crown, and he confessed that he would have liked defending champion Luke Littler to stay in the tournament longer. Humphries, who lifted the trophy in 2023 and has been runner‑up in the last two editions of the double‑start event, delivered a rather underwhelming display in his straight‑sets win over Dave Chisnall at the Mattioli Arena. The world number two managed to hit less than 27 percent of his checkout attempts and posted an average of 80.41 – his lowest scoring figure at this Grand Prix since the 2022 edition.

Despite the poor numbers, he was relieved not to join the ranks of Littler and Michael van Gerwen, both of whom suffered first‑round defeats. "That was arguably one of the worst performances I've ever given myself on the World Grand Prix stage," Humphries said after the match.

"I never felt comfortable throughout the whole thing. The doubles weren’t clicking from the start, my scoring was terrible and I could tell Dave wasn’t at his best either." He added, "It wasn’t a good showing, but I’m still in the tournament and when I face Jermaine Wattimena on Thursday I hope you won’t see a repeat of this." With defending champion Luke Littler stunned by Luke Woodhouse, Humphries now finds himself the favourite to claim the title. Yet he admitted that Littler’s exit adds a new layer of pressure because the world number one is no longer a potential obstacle.

"I hate it when he loses because it instantly puts the pressure on me. Suddenly everyone thinks ‘this is yours to win’, and that kind of expectation can be overwhelming," Humphries explained. "I’d love to meet him in a final and beat him there.

I don’t want to lose to him in a final, but I thrive on the prospect of a final showdown. When he’s out, I don’t celebrate – it just makes the weight of the tournament fall squarely on my shoulders." He continued, "I’d rather he stay in the draw as the favourite, then I could try to sneak through to the final on a back‑door route." Humphries’ 2023 triumph was his first PDC‑ranked television title and sparked a dominant run that carried him to the end of the season. Since then, however, the "Cool Hand" has endured a string of near‑misses, finishing runner‑up in several major events after his World Masters and Premier League victories last year. "I feel like I deserve a major title – I’ve lost six or seven finals now," he said.

"I played brilliantly in the Premier League final and the World Masters final, posting a 105 average, yet still came up short. It’s hard to swallow.

When you play anyone else in the world, you’re likely to win, but when you face a phenom like Luke Littler, he can turn the tables. I know I deserve a major, but life doesn’t always hand you what you’ve earned." He stressed the need for consistency: "I have to win four more matches and perform far better than I have been.

If I repeat the same level, I’ll be lucky just to reach the quarter‑finals or semi‑finals." During the tournament, Humphries sparked curiosity on social media when he appeared on stage with a noticeable scab on his scalp. He reassured fans that the blemish had no impact on his play as he advanced to the last 16. "I wanted to spin a dramatic story about fighting off five opponents and coming out on top, but I don’t have anything that exciting," he laughed. "I filmed Bullseye on Tuesday, woke up Wednesday with a huge rash on the side of my head, and it kept getting worse until it scabbed over.

I think it was an allergic reaction to the makeup and creams they use on TV shows. I haven’t seen a doctor, but it looks like a simple allergy – I’m perfectly fine otherwise." Humphries’ candid reflections highlight both the mental and physical challenges he faces as he seeks to add another marquee title to his résumé. The World Grand Prix continues to unfold, with live coverage on Sky Sports each day leading up to the final on Sunday.

Fans can also stream the action via NOW without a contract, keeping the excitement rolling throughout the week.