Luke Humphries fights back to beat Gerwyn Price and win World Grand Prix title
Luke Humphries completed a stunning comeback from 3-0 down to beat Gerwyn Price 6-4 and win the World Grand Prix Darts title in Leicester.
Humphries, in a record fourth consecutive final, regained the title he won three years ago against the same opponent.
The 31-year-old’s prize for winning the prestigious tournament, where players have to start by hitting a double, was £150,000.
The world number two, drubbed 6-1 by Luke Littler in last year’s final, said on Sky Sports: “I needed this to give myself confidence after a torrid 15-18 months, losing so many major finals.
“I felt like I had not much to give tonight. It was all about that moment in the game where I felt like ‘I just don’t want to lose 6-0’.”
Welshman Price threw a 10-dart leg to break throw on his way to taking a lightning first set, in which he averaged a remarkable 132, and quickly raced into a 3-0 lead.
Humphries took a deciding leg in the fourth with a 105 check-out, with Price sat on double top, to get on the scoreboard.
Price seemed to sense that was a significant moment as he jokingly hugged his opponent as they walked off, and it did indeed prove to be pivotal as Humphries won the next three sets to edge 4-3 ahead.
Price gathered himself to draw level, but then missed set darts for 5-4 with Humphries taking full advantage.
Needing 82 to break throw, Humphries hit the bull followed by double 16, and then secured the title with a double eight.
Humphries added: “I felt like the biggest shot of my career was that 180, 105 out, because if I don’t take that out and he takes it out for 4-0, it’s game over.”
Price, who won this title in 2020, said: “I squandered so many opportunities. It was whoever took the opportunities and I missed quite a few at crucial times.”
Published: by Radio NewsHub