Luke Humphries insists reaching a record-breaking fourth consecutive World Grand Prix final will count for nothing if he doesn’t beat Gerwyn Price to the title in Leicester.
Humphries made history by becoming the first player to reach the final in four consecutive years at the double-in event, defeating James Wade 5-3 to book his place in Sunday’s showpiece at the Mattioli Arena.
‘Cool Hand’ was runner-up to Luke Littler after a 6-1 thrashing last year and suffered a shock 6-4 loss to Mike de Decker in 2024, with Humphries now hoping for a repeat of his 2023 victory over Price when the two former world champions meet again at the final.
“It has been one of those journeys this year that hasn’t been playing sailing,” Humphries told Sky Sports. “A few of the years before have felt a lot easier than it has done this year.
“To make four Grand Prix finals on the trot is super special. It’s history for myself and I’m proud of that but, unless I pick that trophy up, unfortunately that history doesn’t mean anything.
“I’ve come here to win it. If I win the trophy, I’ll look back at the history and think that’s amazing.”
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Luke Humphries gave James Wade a nod of respect after he pinned a fantastic 141 checkout during their semi-final
Humphries has had a string of runner-up finishes in TV finals since winning the Premier League in May 2025, including the European Championship and Grand Slam of Darts in 2025 and this year’s Premier League final, but is determined to end that record.
“The way I haven’t been playing hasn’t been the best, but the way I’ve bounced back and performed in that way is great,” Humphries added. “I’ve got to do it again tomorrow because there’s so many major finals I’ve let slip.
“I don’t think I was far from my best. The scoring was pretty decent and the doubling in was good. I felt like that was the most controlled consisted performance I’ve put in for a long time.
“The last time I felt like that was maybe the Premier League final against Luke [Littler]. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt that control and not like I was going to flounder a little bit.
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Highlights of the Premier League final at The O2 between Luke Littler and Luke Humphries, which delivered a final-leg thriller
“Gezzy [Price] is playing well but if I play like that again, it’s going to be a cracking game and I hope it is. I’m going to come back tomorrow [Sunday] fresh and believe I can do that again and play even better.”
2020 champion Price is through to his fourth World Grand Prix final and first since losing to Humphries in 2023, with the Welshman frustrated by Nathan Aspinall during his 5-2 victory in the opening semi-final.
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Gerwyn Price admitted he had words with Nathan Aspinall on stage after becoming annoyed with his reactions to the crowd
“Nathan [Aspinall] was complaining about the crowd but they were on his side,” Price told Sky Sports. “I’m 3-0 up and I go back and say to Nathan ‘they’re on your side bud, come on. Stop performing on the board and just play darts’.
“I was a little bit upset with him. As good as the crowd is for me, they were all for him. He’s performing a little bit on stage and I told him I wasn’t happy. I’m great friends with Nathan but sometimes you’ve just got to let your darts go – when you’re losing you’re losing.”
Gerwyn Price survived match darts to beat Jonny Clayton in the quarter-finals, before beating Nathan Aspinall in the last four
Price added: “I was frustrated 90 per cent of that game and it’s not good. I think it was a bit of a poor game, it was up and down. In patches, I’m playing well. When my game is there, I’m playing some of the best stuff in the world.
“I’m here to win trophies and money, but I’m into another final, third one on the bounce – happy days!”
Mardle expects ‘brilliant final’ between two past champions
Sky Sports Darts’ Wayne Mardle:
“He [Humphries] feels that that was somewhere near his best and that’s confidence. I don’t think Gezzy [Price] was at all impressive tonight. I know he won, I just feel that Luke going into that final now will obviously fancy it.
“I think it’s really impressive the way that he [Humphries] has actually had to play better and did play better in the two games he’s had to do it – putting those bad performances behind him and not worrying about them is growth.
“It’s easy to look back and think that Luke’s been inconsistent, but so has Gezzy, to a point. Who was the star of the opening round? It was Price. He played fantasticly but, since then, he hasn’t reached those heights – it doesn’t mean that he can’t again.
“What we both want, what we all want, is for the pair of them to come out guns blazing. Then, then we could have a brilliant final on our hands – I just hope it works out that way.”
Watch the World Grand Prix final between Gerwyn Price and Luke Humphries live on Sky Sports Main Event from 8pm on Sunday. Latest Sky Sports deals or stream with NOW.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: skynews.com
