Luke Humphries clinched his second World Grand Prix crown after engineering a dramatic comeback against Gerwyn Price, edging the Welshman 6-4 in a pulsating final at Leicester's Mattioli Arena. Humphries, who made history by becoming the first player to reach the Grand Prix final four consecutive years, found himself trailing 3-0 before unleashing a torrent of darts that saw him capture six of the next seven sets and secure his first major title of the season.
The Englishman posted an impressive 93.16 average and rattled off ten 180s in a match that swung like a pendulum. Price started brightly, dominating the opening set with a flawless 34‑dart finish and a 12‑dart hold on each leg, even delivering a perfect ten‑dart leg to put Humphries under immediate pressure. However, the tide began to turn in the fourth set when Humphries, facing a potential 4-0 whitewash, hit a decisive 105 checkout in the deciding leg, halting Price's momentum and preventing the gap from widening further.
That checkout ignited a remarkable run of four straight sets for Humphries. Capitalising on Price's missed darts at set‑winning doubles, Humphries won five consecutive legs to seal the fifth set and then closed out the sixth, turning a 5-4 deficit into a commanding lead. This victory marked the second time in four years that Humphries has bested Price in a World Grand Prix final, echoing his 5-2 triumph in 2023, and earned him the £150,000 first‑place prize while extending the wait for another television major for the so‑called Ice Man.
Price's early dominance was evident. He wrapped up the first set in straight legs, requiring only 34 darts, and delivered six perfect darts to break Humphries with a ten‑dart leg. In the second set, Humphries managed to take his first leg but missed three darts at a break, allowing Price to respond with 101 and 82 finishes and take a two‑set lead. The Welshman further extended his advantage in the third set, breaking Humphries again with a 101 checkout, while Humphries salvaged the set with a 109 finish before Price sealed it in a final‑leg decider.
The fourth set proved pivotal. After Price hit a 130 checkout on the bull, Humphries answered with a 105 finish to claim his first set, staving off a growing deficit.
Momentum then swung decisively in Humphries' favour. He embarked on a four‑leg streak to close out the fifth set and edged ahead in the sixth, despite Price posting respectable 99 and 94 finishes.
Humphries then produced an 11‑dart leg on his throw, breaking Price and completing a fourth consecutive set on double 16. Price managed to level the match by breaking early in the eighth set, sweeping it to regain a foothold. He led in the ninth set but squandered two set darts, allowing Humphries to break back and, in a display of brilliance, fire a ten‑dart leg to take the lead. Humphries then accelerated, racing through the tenth set in straight legs and sealing the championship with an 11‑dart finish.
By winning this title, Humphries joined an elite group as only the fourth player to claim multiple World Grand Prix crowns. Reflecting on his performance, he said, "This is really special, getting that barren major run off my back.
I think the biggest shot of my career was the 180, 105 outshot in the fourth set, because if Gezzy goes 4‑0 up then it's game over. At 3‑1 I relaxed and kept belief. I feel I deserved a major.
Maybe I didn't tonight as Gezzy was maybe the better player but I worked hard and showed grit and determination. A win like that is sweeter than when you win with ease.
I’m looking forward to taking the trophy home to my son so he can see his dad not have a runners‑up one!" Runner‑up Gerwyn Price, still awaiting his next major since the 2022 World Series Finals, lamented missed chances: "I don't want to win a major, do I?! Luke played brilliantly in the middle part of the game but I still squandered opportunities to put him under pressure, too many opportunities.
It was a fantastic game and it was whoever took their opportunities. I missed quite a few at crucial times.
I am gutted to lose another major final but I will get over it – I am bothered!" Commentator Wayne Mardle of Sky Sports Darts praised Humphries' resilience: "Humphries was in trouble, then a bit more and then a bit more – so 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! 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." Mardle added, "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 season continues with the Swiss Darts Trophy (9‑11 October) and the Dutch Darts Championship (16‑18 October), leading up to 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 reigning champion Michael Littler will defend his title. Viewers can explore the latest Sky Sports deals or stream without a contract for uninterrupted darts action.