Luke Humphries secured a second World Grand Prix title after producing an extraordinary comeback to defeat Gerwyn Price 6-4 in a thrilling final. Humphries, the first player in history to reach the final four years running, rallied from 3-0 down to reel off six of the next seven sets at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester and claim a first major title of the year. The former world champion posted a 93.16 average and fired 10 maximums in a topsy-turvy contest, where Price had early control before Humphries landed a 105 finish in a deciding leg of the fourth set to avoid falling further behind.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player That checkout sparked a run of four consecutive sets from Humphries, who capitalised on Price missing set darts for a 5-4 lead by winning five straight legs and closing out an impressive victory. It's the second time in four years that Humphries has beaten Price in the World Grand Prix final, following on from his 5-2 win in 2023, with the Englishman claiming the £150,000 first prize and extending Ice Man's wait for another TV major. Price required just 34 darts to wrap up an extraordinary first set in straight legs, posting 12-dart holds either side of opening with six perfect darts on his way to breaking Humphries with a 10-darter.
Humphries got his first leg on the board early in the second but missed three darts to break Price, who punished him before taking out 101 and 82 on his way to opening a two-set advantage. Price took further control by breaking Humphries with another 101 outshot in the third, where his opponent took out 109 to save the set before watching the Welshman extend his lead in a final-leg decider. Humphries needed a string of clutch doubles to avoid being cut further adrift in the fourth, as he responded to Price nailing a 130 checkout on the bullseye by sealing his first set with a 105 finish in the last.
Momentum flipped further Humphries' way when he went on a four-leg run to close out the fifth and edge ahead in the sixth, where Price posted 99 and 94 finishes before Humphries broke back and closed out the set. A shell-shocked Price fell behind for the first time when Humphries landed an 11-darter on throw and broke in the next leg, with the Englishman continuing to improve as he wrapped up a fourth consecutive set on double 16. Price levelled by breaking in a scrappy opening leg and sweeping the eighth set, with 2020 champion leading in the ninth but wasting two set darts to move a set from victory.
Humphries took full advantage by breaking Price and then edging ahead with an extraordinary 10-darter, before accelerating to the victory line by racing through the next set in straight legs and wrapping up victory with an 11-darter. Luke Humphries, who becomes only the fourth player to win multiple World Grand Prix titles: "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, as if Gezzy [Price] goes 4-0 up then it's game over.
"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.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
