Luke Humphries produced one of the greatest fightbacks in BOYLE Sports World Grand Prix history to defeat Gerwyn Price 6-4 in an epic final on Sunday.
Humphries defied a blistering opening barrage from Price to celebrate his second double-start crown at Leicester’s Mattioli Arena, overturning a 3-0 deficit to seal the £150,000 top prize.
The 31-year-old defeated Price in the 2023 showpiece to celebrate his maiden Premier televised title, and he fittingly returned to the winner’s circle with an inspired display.
“I needed this to give me a bit of confidence,” insisted Humphries, who had already created history by becoming the first player to feature in four consecutive World Grand Prix finals.
Humphries’ second World Grand Prix triumph also halts his four-match losing run in televised ranking finals, dating back to last February’s Winmau World Masters.
The world number two accounted for Dave Chisnall, Jermaine Wattimena, Niels Zonneveld and James Wade earlier in the event, prior to his miraculous fightback against the Welshman.
Despite missing out on a second World Grand Prix crown of his own, Price performed magnificently throughout the week, as he featured in a third straight Premier televised final.
The 2020 champion defeated Sebastian Bialecki, Ross Smith, Jonny Clayton and Nathan Aspinall to progress to Sunday’s showpiece – his fourth appearance in a double-start final.
Price was impregnable in the opening stages of the contest, reeling off three straight legs in 12, 10 and 12 darts to strike first with a 132.62 average – the highest set average in World Grand Prix history.
The 41-year-old continued his rampant start with 101 and 82 finishes to double his advantage, before a clinical two-dart 91 checkout propelled him into a commanding 3-0 lead.
However, Humphries then converted a nerveless 105 combination to open his account in a pivotal fourth set, with Price poised on tops to move 4-0 ahead.
This was preceded by clutch 100 and 90 finishes from the 2023/24 World Champion, who then won nine of the next 13 legs in a remarkable mid-match turnaround to establish a 4-3 cushion.
Price refused to relent, punishing missed opportunities from Humphries in the early stages of set eight to restore parity at four apiece, but the pendulum continued to shift.
The Welshman fired in a clutch 92 finish to edge 2-1 ahead in set nine, but after missing two darts for a 5-4 lead, he was punished in merciless fashion.
Humphries conjured a spectacular ten-dart break to clinch the ninth set with a 107 average, before landing a majestic 11-darter to complete a clean sweep in set ten and round off a famous fightback.
2026 BOYLE Sports World Grand Prix
Sunday October 4
Final
Gerwyn Price 4-6 Luke Humphries
Best of 11 sets