Luke Humphries secured a second World Grand Prix title after staging a remarkable comeback to beat Gerwyn Price 6-4 in a thrilling final.
Humphries, the first player in history to reach the final four years in a row, rallied from 3-0 down to take six of the next seven sets at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester and win his first major title of the year.
The former world champion averaged 93.16 and hit 10 maximums in a topsy-turvy contest, with Price in early control before Humphries hit a 105 at a crucial stage in the fourth set to avoid trailing further.
That chest sparked a run of four straight sets by Humphries, who took advantage of Price’s missed darts to take a 5-4 lead, winning five straight legs and closing out an impressive victory.
It is the second time in four years that Humphries has beaten Price in a World Grand Prix final. after his 5-2 win in 2023with the Englishman claiming the £150,000 top prize and extending Ice Man’s wait for another televsion.
How Humphries claimed the comeback win over Price
Price needed just 34 darts to complete an outstanding straight-leg first set, posting a 12-darter that held either side of a perfect six-darter opening on his way to breaking Humphries with a 10-darter.
Humphries got his first game on the board early in the second game but missed three darts to break Price, who punished him before firing 101 and 82 on his way to open a two-set lead.
Humphries was dominated by Price in the early sets
Price took further control by breaking Humphries with another 101 in the third, where his opponent fired 109 to save the set before watching the Welshman extend his lead to a final-leg decider.
Humphries needed a string of clutch doubles to avoid going down further in the fourth as he responded to Price nailing a 130 box on the bullseye to seal his first set with a 105 finish in the last.
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Luke Humphries hit this incredible 105 finish to grab a fourth set from Gerwyn Price
Momentum swung further Humphries’ way when he went on a four-leg run to close out the fifth and take the lead in the sixth, where Price posted 99 and 94 finishes before Humphries came back and closed out the set.
A shell-shocked Price fell behind for the first time when Humphries hit an 11-putt in the putt and was broken in the rest, with the Englishman continuing to improve as he completed a fourth consecutive set at double 16.
Price leveled by breaking a weak opening leg and sweeping the eighth set, with the 2020 champion leading in the ninth but missing two set arrows to fall one set away from victory.
Humphries took full advantage by breaking Price and then went ahead with a remarkable 10-hole, before accelerating to the winning line by racing into the next set with straight legs and finishing off the victory with an 11-hole.
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A sensational stoppage time at a key moment from Luke Humphries, who closed to within a run of victory after THIS stunning 10-
Awards miss odds as Humphries celebrates ‘special’ win
Luke Humphrieswho becomes only the fourth player to win multiple World Grand Prix titles:
“That’s really special, to get that barren major off my back. I think the biggest shot of my career was 180, 105 in the fourth set, if Gezzy (Price) goes 4-0 then it’s game over. Then at 3-1, I calmed down.
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Luke Humphries reflects on producing impressive comeback to deliver second World Grand Prix title
“I feel I deserved a major. Maybe I didn’t deserve it tonight as Gezzy was probably the best player, but I worked hard and showed grit and determination.
“A victory like this is sweeter than when you win easily. I can’t wait to take the trophy home to my son so he can see that his father doesn’t have a runner-up!”
Luke Humphries became a two-time World Grand Prix champion
runner Gerwyn Pricewho remains without a major title since the 2022 World Series Finals in Amsterdam:
“I don’t want to win a major, do I?! Luke (Humphries) played great in the middle game but I still missed opportunities to put him under pressure, a lot of opportunities.
“It was a fantastic game and everyone took their chances. I missed a lot at crucial moments. I’m gutted to miss another grand final but I’ll get over it – I’m worried!”
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Gerwyn Price reacts after losing to Luke Humphries in the World Grand Prix final, joking he was ‘not worried’ about the loss.
Mardle: Humphries didn’t buckle under pressure
Wayne Mardle of Sky Sports Darts:
“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 over an hour but he didn’t give up. He stood up to everything Gezzy threw at him, which was a lot!
“When you’ve won before, which Luke has done many times and in many ways, there’s the confidence of ‘I’m under pressure but let’s see as I know my game can win’, rather than ‘oh no, I will.’ He played his game and won.
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Wayne Mardle reacts to Luke Humphries’ World Grand Prix win and how it sets him up for the rest of the year
“Gezzy tightened up after a great start. He says things at the right time but the way he competes, he wants it. You can’t play like him tonight if you don’t care!
“It’s frustrating and disappointing when you’re 3-0 up and you don’t win, but he’s lost enough finals to know nothing is a given. He’s still a young guy and he’ll get a lot more opportunities. He knows he’s good enough.”
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.
The next major live telecast on Sky Sports is the Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton from November 14-22, before the World Darts Championship takes place from December 11 to January 3 at Alexandra Palace, with Littler the defending champion of both. Get the latest Sky Sports offers OR stream without contract.
