Luke Humphries was unable to contain his joy after rejoining the winners’ enclosure in Leicester. Humphries produced one of the greatest comebacks in World Grand Prix history to claim a first Premier ranking title in over 20 months, turning around a 3-0 deficit against Gerwyn Price in a breathless final. The world number two – […]
Luke Humphries was unable to contain his joy after rejoining the winners’ enclosure in Leicester.
Humphries produced one of the greatest comebacks in World Grand Prix history to claim a first Premier ranking title in over 20 months, turning around a 3-0 deficit against Gerwyn Price in a breathless final.
The world number two – who remains so after scooping the £150,000 top prize – halted a run of four consecutive televised ranking final losses by claiming a second double-start crown in emphatic fashion.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this way,” considered Humphries, after claiming his ninth individual Premier title.
“I deserve this. The last 15 months I’ve worked incredibly hard but been unlucky in moments. I deserve my time now and I’ll go and enjoy it.
“From being 3-0 down, to go on and win the trophy, it’s an insane feeling.
“From the way I felt at the start of the game to go on and win the tournament, it’s surreal.”
Humphries became the first player to stage a three-set comeback in a World Grand Prix final since Michael van Gerwen in 2012, who overturned deficits of 3-0 and 4-1 to trump Mervyn King 6-4.
Price’s opening set, in which he won three legs in just 34 darts, set a World Grand Prix record set average of 132.62, forcing Humphries into a beleaguered position from the beginning.
After trailing 3-0 and losing nine of the first 12 legs on offer, the 2023/24 World Champion could conceivably have waved the white flag, but surprised himself in mounting a historic rearguard.
“I almost felt like I accepted defeat in a way, because of the way he was playing. To bounce back and be 4-3 up was amazing,” continued Humphries.
“At 3-0 down, you’re kind of happy to walk off the stage and let them have the game, but you know about me that I don’t do that.
“There’s probably three players in the world of darts – me, Nathan [Aspinall] and probably Luke Littler – that never give up.
“I’m proud of the way I achieved that today because ten years ago I probably would have given up, but I’m a different player now.
“When there’s big silverware on the line, you can’t give in on those situations, and I proved again to myself that if I’m ever in a situation like that, I’ve done it before and I can do it again.”
Humphries is not short of producing tide-turning moments in monumental matches, as seen with his 138 outshot to win the double-start title three years ago, and he conjured a few more crucial moments of magic in Sunday’s showpiece.
At 3-0 down in a set-deciding leg, Humphries struck a 180 followed by a nerveless 105 finish – with Price waiting on tops for a four-set lead – to snatch a first stanza from the Welsh number one.
“That was a massive moment. I think if Gezzy goes 4-0 up, it’s over. It’s so hard to come back from that,” recalled the 31-year-old.
“When I won that set it gave me a little bit of hope because I didn’t want to get brushed.”
After winning three more consecutive sets to lead 4-3, Price levelled the tie once again to halt the Humphries charge, but the world number two had another trick up his sleeve.
In another set-deciding leg, Humphries produced a magnificent ten-darter against the throw to regain the lead, and the match was seen out in the next set.
“That ten-darter was phenomenal, probably the best leg in my whole career,” reminisced Humphries.
“To produce a leg like that after he’s hit a 160 with the throw was absolutely insane. It’s something I will definitely remember for the rest of my career.”
The tournament win is a full-circle moment for Humphries, with his first Premier televised title coming in this tournament three years ago against Price.
The two-time champion entered the 2023 tournament as the world number six, but the victory kickstarted his inexorable darting ascent to world number one.
Later that year, Humphries claimed the Grand Slam of Darts, Players Championship Finals, and pivotally the World Darts Championship, becoming world number one as a result.
Nevertheless, he does not expect the same outcome in the coming months this year, considering his peers are operating at a higher level compared to three years ago during his bulldozing trophy run.
“I don’t think the sport is in that position where you can just go and dominate,” said Humphries.
“You just have to pick up the tournaments that are there when you see them.
“It’s a tough situation in darts now. You can’t pick up titles like you used to be able to.”
One player who was not playing in those 2023 Premier events is world number one Luke Littler. Four of Humphries’ five most recent final losses in Premier TV events have come against the 19-year-old phenom.
Therefore, when the World Champion suffered a shock round one exit to Luke Woodhouse, Humphries assumed the position of favourite for the tournament by bookmakers and many fans.
However, not only does the world number two bat away the idea he was a clear favourite for the title, but he cites increased quality among the sport’s elite to explain why major titles are all the more elusive in contemporary darts.
“You see Luke lose, and everyone says ‘right, you’ve got to win this now’ – but hold on a minute, there’s still another seven or eight great players that can go on and win this,” continued Humphries.
“When I was in that little pomp era, there wasn’t a lot of players playing good, but now there are about eight players playing really well.
“So now, take the confidence and go on and make sure I keep pushing to try and win more.”