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Humphries wins Grand Prix to end barren spell - Published World number two Luke Humphries ended a 16-month wait for a PDC major trophy with a stunning 6-4 victory over Gerwyn Price in the World Grand Prix final. Humphries, 31, was at the top of the sport two years ago but has found his dominance superseded by Luke Littler and had failed to taste major success since winning the Premier League in May 2025. A ranking title had eluded him since claiming the Masters in February last year, but he showed his class and an abundance of character to lift the title at the unique 'double-in, double-out' tournament in Leicester. The second seed, who was in a record-breaking fourth successive World Grand Prix final, trailed Price 3-0 but won four sets on the spin to take control. Price levelled but Humphries broke in the deciding leg of set five and then won three straight legs to be crowned champion. It is his second World Grand Prix title, adding to his 2023 success that started his march to becoming world number one. The victory ensures he retains his number two ranking from the Netherlands' Gian van Veen. "It's kind of like I needed this to give me a bit of confidence," Humphries told Sky Sports. "It's been a torrid 15 or 18 months, losing so many major finals. I felt like I had not much to give tonight." Defeat for Price means his four-year wait for a major PDC title continues, while he has now lost five successive major finals, including three this year. Price, who was playing in a fourth Grand Prix final, claimed the first set with a stunning 132 three-dart average. He raced into a 3-0 lead and Humphries admitted afterwards that avoiding a 6-0 clean sweep was on his mind such was the brutality that Price was producing. The fourth set saw the momentum swing however. With Price waiting on tops to move to within two sets of victory, Humphries nicked it by taking out a brilliant 105, with what he said "felt like the biggest shot of my career". From there his levels started to rise and he claimed the following three sets to lead. Price rallied in set eight and won three successive legs to force a best-of-three finale, but, after a short break, Humphries found another gear. Set nine went to a deciding leg, but unlike the previous four sets in the match where that had happened, there was a break of throw, with Humphries finishing in 10 darts. That left Price dejected and Humphries won three unanswered legs to claim a ninth major PDC title. "The sport is in such a special place that when you pick these trophies up they mean a lot more," said Humphries. "When I was winning, I don't think there were so many good players. I'm happy to win a couple a year - one a year is great. "To go on and win like I did is going to be tough. I don't think I can't do it, I'm just trying to pick up as many titles as I can. "I worked incredibly hard, showed a lot of grit and determination. I think these are a lot sweeter than the ones you win with ease."
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