Sky Sports Darts pundit Wayne Mardle reflects on Luke Humphries becoming a two-time World Grand Prix champion as ‘Cool Hand’ rallied from 3-0 down against Gerwyn Price in the final to triumph 6-4 in the doubleheader.
I could be wrong, but a few years ago, I don’t think Luke would have hung in a game like that to win it.
That was sheer confidence: guts and determination knowing you could do it – and he could do it against anyone from any position.
When you’ve won before, and Luke has done many, many times and in many, many ways, there’s the confidence of “I’m under pressure, but let’s see if I know if I calm down my game can win”, rather than “oh no, I’ll beat it or I’ll be 6-0”.
He played his game and won. I’m not saying it’s that simple, but sometimes you have to simplify.
When he won the fourth set he relaxed and Price tightened up.
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Humphries’ 105 to deny Price a 4-0 lead in the final proved decisive in Leicester
Humphries was in trouble, then some more and then some more – so to get out of it was a tremendous effort.
The last two sets were his best.
He was under the basket for more than an hour, but he did not give up. He stood up to everything Gezzy threw at him, which was a lot.
Luke can now go into the World Championships thinking, ‘someone stop me’. To do it in the set-play logs and sticks with you.
If Humphries and Price meet in a world final, something could happen. It’s all about single skills.
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Humphries explains why his World Grand Prix win – his first major crown in over a year – means so much to him
Next to Price, and he says things at the right time, but the way he competes, he wants it. You can’t be as focused as he is in the final if you don’t care.
It’s depressing and disappointing when you’re 3-0 up and you don’t win, but he’s lost enough finals to know that nothing is a given.
He is still a young man and will have many more opportunities. He knows he is good enough.
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Gerwyn Price was left to rue ‘missed opportunities’ after giving away a huge lead against Humphries and remains without a major win since 2022
But let’s face it, the way Humphries played in the last two sets — a 106 average and a 107 average — is unplayable.
Gezzy can’t beat himself up too much.
What’s next?
The European Tour season continues with the Swiss Darts Trophy (9-11 October) and the Dutch Darts Championship (16-18 October) before the European Championships take place in Dortmund, Germany from 22-25 October.
Sky Sports remains the home of darts with the Grand Slam of Darts (November 14-22) and the World Darts Championship (December 10-January 3) both live. Stream streaming arrows and more through NOW with no contract.
