Luke Humphries clinched his second World Grand Prix crown after engineering a dramatic comeback against Gerwyn Price, sealing a 6-4 victory in a nail‑biting final at Leicester's Mattioli Arena. The Englishman, who made history by becoming the first player to reach the World Grand Prix final for four consecutive years, found himself staring at a 3-0 deficit before turning the match on its head, winning six of the next seven sets and capturing his first major title of the season.
From the outset, Price looked in control. He dispatched the opening set in flawless fashion, using just 34 darts to take the set in straight legs and posting a 12‑dart average on both halves of the set.
A flawless 180 followed by a perfect 10‑dart finish saw the Welshman break Humphries and go up 2-0. Humphries managed to claim a leg early in the second set, but three missed doubles allowed Price to extend his lead, finishing the set with 101 and 82 checkouts and taking a two‑set advantage. The third set saw Price maintain his dominance, breaking Humphries again with a 101 finish.
Humphries answered with a resilient 109 checkout to keep the set alive, but Price closed it out in a deciding leg, pushing the score to 3-0. At this point, the pressure was mounting for Humphries, who needed a spark to halt Price's momentum. The turning point arrived in the fourth set. After Price hit a massive 130 checkout on the bull, Humphries responded with a composed 105 finish to claim his first set of the match.
That checkout ignited a remarkable run of four consecutive sets for Humphries. He capitalised on Price missing crucial set darts, stringing together five straight legs and ultimately sealing the set to bring the score to 3-1. Humphries' confidence grew as he continued his surge.
In the fifth set, he produced an 11‑dart leg on his throw and broke Price in the following leg, then wrapped up the set with a double 16. The sixth set saw Price still fighting, registering 99 and 94 finishes, but Humphries broke back and closed the set, leveling the match at 3-3.
The tide had fully turned. In the seventh set, Humphries delivered an astonishing 10‑dart finish, putting the Englishman ahead for the first time.
He then raced through the eighth set in straight legs, demonstrating a level of precision that left the crowd in awe. The ninth set was a showcase of his composure under pressure; after a scrappy opening leg, Humphries broke Price and then, in a display of sheer brilliance, hit an 11‑dart finish to clinch the set and the championship. When the final dart landed, Humphries became only the fourth player ever to win multiple World Grand Prix titles.
He collected the £150,000 winner's share and finally broke the long‑standing drought of major trophies for the "Ice Man" moniker that has followed him throughout his career. In post‑match interviews, Humphries reflected on the significance of the win: "This is really special, finally getting a major after a barren spell. The biggest turning point for me was that 180 followed by a 105 checkout in the fourth set. If Gezzy had gone 4‑0 up, it would have been over.
At 3‑1 I relaxed and let my game flow. I feel I deserved a major, even if I didn’t play the best darts tonight – I showed grit and determination.
Winning like this, after a hard‑fought battle, feels sweeter than an easy win. I can’t wait to bring the trophy home for my son so he can see his dad with a winner’s medal instead of a runner‑up one." Price, who has not lifted a major since his 2022 World Series Finals triumph in Amsterdam, expressed disappointment but remained optimistic: "I don’t want to win a major, do I? Luke played brilliantly in the middle part of the game, but I squandered too many chances to apply pressure. It was a fantastic match – whoever took their opportunities won.
I missed a lot at crucial moments and I’m gutted to lose another final, but I’ll get over it. I’m still bothered, but I know I’ll come back stronger." Veteran commentator Wayne Mardle of Sky Sports praised Humphries' resilience: "Luke was in trouble, then a little more, then even more – to claw his way back was an incredible effort. The last two sets were his best. He was under the cosh for more than an hour but never gave in.
He stood up to everything Price threw at him, and that’s a testament to his character. When you’ve won before, you have that belief that you can survive pressure, rather than thinking you’re doomed. He played his game and he won." Mardle also noted Price's reaction: "Gezzy tightened up after a great start.
He says things in the heat of the moment, but you can see how much he wants it. You can’t play like that if you don’t care. It’s disheartening to be 3‑0 up and not close it out, but he’s lost enough finals to know nothing is guaranteed. He’s still young and will have many more chances.
He knows he’s 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 (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 the defending champion will aim to retain his crown. Fans can explore the latest Sky Sports subscription deals or stream the events without a contract for uninterrupted access to the sport's biggest moments.