Luke Humphries insists that even though he has secured a place in a historic fourth consecutive World Grand Prix final, the achievement will feel hollow unless he manages to defeat Gerwyn Price and lift the trophy in Leicester. By beating James Wade 5-3, Humphries became the first player ever to qualify for the Grand Prix final in four successive years at the double‑in format, earning his spot in the showdown at the Mattioli Arena on Sunday. The "Cool Hand" moniker, which saw him finish runner‑up to Luke Littler after a 6-1 drubbing last season and suffer a surprising 6-4 defeat to Mike de Decker this year, now drives him to replicate his 2023 triumph over Price when the two former world champions meet again in the final.
"This year has been a bit of a roller‑coaster compared with the smoother rides I’ve had in previous seasons," Humphries told Sky Sports. "Getting to four Grand Prix finals in a row is something special – it’s a personal record and I’m proud of it. But if I don’t walk away with the trophy, that history is just a footnote." He added, "I’m here to win. If I take the title, I’ll look back on those four finals and think, ‘That was amazing.’" The sentiment reflects a broader narrative of near‑misses that has haunted Humphries since his Premier League victory in May 2025.
He has since been runner‑up in a string of televised finals – the European Championship, the Grand Slam of Darts in 2025, and this year’s Premier League final – and he is determined to break that pattern. "My form hasn’t always been perfect, but the way I’ve bounced back and performed lately is encouraging," he said. "I need to repeat that performance tomorrow because there are too many major finals I’ve let slip away." Humphries praised his own scoring and finishing, noting, "The scoring was solid and my doubles were on point. It felt like the most controlled, consistent display I’ve had in a long time.
The last time I felt that level of control was probably the Premier League final against Luke Littler. It’s been ages since I felt that calm and didn’t worry about slipping." Regarding his opponent, Humphries remarked, "Price is playing well, but if I can replicate my form, it’s going to be a cracking match and I hope it turns out that way.
I’ll come back fresh on Sunday, confident that I can raise my game even higher." Gerwyn Price, the 2020 champion, is also eyeing his fourth Grand Prix final, his first since losing to Humphries in 2023. The Welshman navigated a semi‑final against Nathan Aspinall, winning 5-2 despite a tense exchange with the crowd. "Nathan was complaining about the crowd, but they were on his side," Price said.
"I was 3-0 up and told him, ‘they’re on your side, bud – stop performing for the audience and just play darts.’" Price admitted frustration during the semi, explaining, "I was upset for most of that game. The crowd was backing him, and I felt he was playing to the audience rather than focusing on his darts.
I’m good friends with Nathan, but sometimes you just have to let go of the darts – when you’re losing, you’re losing." He continued, "I was frustrated about 90 % of the match, which isn’t ideal. It was a patchy performance – up and down.
When my game clicks, I’m throwing some of the best darts in the world. I’m here to win trophies and the prize money, and now I’m heading into another final – my third in a row – which is a great feeling." Sky Sports Darts analyst Wayne Mardle weighed in, saying, "Humphries feels that his recent display was close to his best, and that confidence will serve him well.
I don’t think Price was particularly impressive tonight, even though he won. Luke is going into the final with a real belief that he can win." Mardle praised Humphries’ resilience, noting, "It’s impressive how he’s had to raise his game in the two matches he’s played and managed to do so, leaving behind the poorer performances. That’s growth. It’s easy to label Luke as inconsistent, but Price has shown similar swings.
In the opening round, Price was the star, playing superbly, but he hasn’t maintained that level since – which doesn’t mean he can’t find it again." He concluded, "What we all want is for both players to come out firing, giving us a spectacular final. I hope it works out that way." The World Grand Prix final between Gerwyn Price and Luke Humphries will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event at 8 p.m. on Sunday, with streaming options available via NOW. Viewers are advised to use Chrome for the best video experience.