Luke Humphries finally put an end to his string of heartbreaking runner‑up finishes in televised majors by engineering a dramatic comeback against Gerwyn Price in the World Grand Prix final. The Englishman, who had already set a record by reaching his fourth straight final at the double‑start event, found himself trailing 3‑0 early in the match. Undeterred, he fought back to claim six of the next seven sets, sealing a 6‑4 victory over the Welshman and claiming the £150,000 top prize. The win in Leicester’s Mattioli Arena not only followed his triumph over Price in the 2023 edition of the tournament, it also elevated Humphries into an exclusive club: he became only the fourth player ever to capture the World Grand Prix title more than once.
This achievement is particularly meaningful because it marks his first ranked televised major title since his Winmau World Masters success in February 2025, ending a prolonged spell of final‑round disappointments. "I’m just happy to get one back," Humphries said, reflecting on a season that saw him finish second at the World Grand Prix, the European Championship and the Grand Slam of Darts in 2025, then start 2026 with further runner‑up finishes at the Winmau World Masters and the Premier League. "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 or 18 months for me, losing so many major finals." The turning point came when Humphries hit a crucial 105 checkout in the deciding leg, preventing the match from slipping to a 4‑0 whitewash. Price, who had missed several set‑winning darts that would have taken him to a 5‑4 lead, saw his momentum evaporate as the contest turned into a seesaw battle.
Humphries later praised his own resilience, 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 be happy about, and suddenly I found myself 4‑3 up." Looking ahead, Humphries expressed excitement about bringing the trophy home for his son, hoping the young fan will finally see his dad lift a championship rather than a second‑place medal. "I’m looking forward to taking the trophy home to my son, who can finally see his dad have another trophy and it not be a runners‑up one!" he added.
For Gerwyn Price, the loss extended a major title drought that has lasted since 2022. The Welshman has now suffered three consecutive runner‑up finishes, adding to second places at the World Matchplay (to Luke Littler) and the World Series Finals (to Ross Smith). Despite the setbacks, Price’s performance was historic in its own right: he opened the match with a 132.62 average in the first set, completing it in just 34 darts and setting a new record for the highest three‑dart set average in the tournament’s history. "I don’t want to win a major, do I?!" Price told Sky Sports after the match, his voice a mixture of frustration and resolve.
"It’s gutting I lost another one – I’m not bothered, but I am bothered. 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." Veteran commentator Wayne Mardle of Sky Sports Darts praised Humphries’ mental fortitude, noting how the Englishman weathered a relentless onslaught from Price.
"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 highlighted the psychological edge that comes with experience.
"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 just 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." Regarding Price, Mardle observed, "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." The European Tour continues with the Swiss Darts Trophy scheduled for October 9‑11, followed by the Dutch Darts Championship on October 16‑18. The circuit will then shift to the European Championship in Dortmund, Germany, from October 22‑25. The next televised major on Sky Sports will be the Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton, running from November 14‑22, before the season culminates with the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace from December 11 to January 3, where Luke Littler will defend his title. Fans can stay up to date with the latest Sky Sports offers or stream the action without a contract, ensuring they never miss another moment of high‑stakes darts drama.