Gerwyn Price

How Humphries got here

Cool Hand has lost just five sets on his way to tonight’s final.

• Luke Humphries 2-0 Nathan Aspinall (first round)
• Luke Humphries 3-1 Krzysztof Ratajski (second round)
• Luke Humphries 3-1 Cameron Menzies (quarter-final)
• Luke Humphries 5-3 Danny Noppert (semi-final)

Elite company

Luke Humphries has joined an exclusive club by making tonight’s final.

The world No1 has reached the final of the World Grand Prix three times in a row!

Only Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen have done that before.

Humphries beat Gerwyn Price two years ago and lost to Mike De Decker 12 months ago.

Head-to-head record

Luke Littler edges this match-up after 24 meetings.

‘I get too relaxed’

Luke Humphries came through a tense battle with Danny Noppert in the semi-final last night.

Cool Hand raced into the lead before the Dutchman staged a comeback.

Humphries held him off and has explained how he managed to re-find his range after a mid-match blip.

He said: “I just splashed my face with a bit of water and said, I’ve got to fire myself up.

“Sometimes the body gets a little bit too relaxed and I’m kind of just pushing the darts. I said to myself, ‘Now or never — you really have to show Danny you still want to win this.’

“Because if I come out 4–3 down thinking, ‘I’ve still got two sets, I can afford to lose this one,’ that’s the wrong mindset.

“I didn’t want to lose that set.

“I came out a bit more aggressive — come on, get my head on, get the energy level up and it seemed to work.”

Out for revenge

The last time Luke Littler played Luke Humphries, the teenage star won the New Zealand Masters final 8-4 in August.

But that was not enough to count as revenge for Littler as he brought up the 11-8 Premier League final defeat he suffered to Humphries in May.

He said: “That’s the last big one we met in, apart from New Zealand.

“But on the major stage, I owe him one tomorrow night.

“When it’s Luke Humphries in the opposite corner in a final, it feels even bigger.

“We’ve both beaten each other in major finals.

“But this one’s very different — double start.

“Whoever gets off first tomorrow probably wins.”

‘Biggest clash in darts’

We are nearly ready for the latest chapter of the two Luke rivalry.

And Littler knows it is the final everyone hoped for at the beginning of the week, saying: “I think me and Luke is the biggest game in darts.

“Whether it’s a final, a first round, or a semi-final, we bring the best out of each other.

“Another Luke vs Luke final doesn’t get boring.”

The Nuke’s comment comes after he labelled his match with last year’s champ Mike De Decker as “boring” due to the Belgian not playing his best.

Littler wants £1m Saudi nine-darter

Darts is heading to Saudi Arabia for the first time on January 19 and 20 next year.

When the snooker headed to the kingdom, entertainment chief Turki Alalshikh added a golden ball to the table to open up the possibility of a 167 super-maximum and a £1milion reward for players that achieve it.

Littler is hoping a new lucrative concept is added to darts like rewarding a nine-darter with a massive cheque.

Littler a ‘different animal’

Luke Littler’s semi-final opponent Jonny Clayton knows how big his task is tonight.

The Welshman said: “An honest answer is you have to be scared of him.

“The two Lukes, they’re both pushing the bar and the rest of us are following.

“Gezzy’s been putting in some awesome performances, and we’re all trying to keep up.

“But Luke [Littler] is the hottest player on the planet right now.

“He’s class, the world can see it. He’s a different animal.

“But we can all play darts. My first game on stage against Luke, I beat him. So you never know.”

Van Gerwen the inspiration

Danny Noppert is trying to emulate his compatriot Michael van Gerwen.

Ahead of his semi-final against Luke Humphries tonight, the world No13 revealed his admiration for MVG.

He said: “I try to be as good as Michael. But of course he’s the best player there’s ever been. I try to be like him, but not yet.”

Van Gerwen suffered a shock defeat to Dirk van Duijvenbode is round one.

De Decker responds to ‘boring’ claim

Luke Littler was not challenged in his round two victory over Mike De Decker and claimed the clash was “boring”.

The world champion said: “Mike didn’t play his best there and I just had to play along.

“It was a bit boring at times, obviously I expected something from the reigning champion, but he just couldn’t get those doubles to get him going on the scoring most of the time.

De Decker has now responded, saying: “That he found the match ‘boring’? Well, if that’s what he thinks… Good for him. That’s his opinion.”

Littler ‘definitely beatable’

Defending champion Mike De Decker was knocked out in the second round 3-0 by Luke Littler.

The Belgian struggled to land doubles at the start and it allowed The Nuke to cruise to a routine win.

Reflecting on his performance, De Decker said: “I was incredibly disappointed. Look at my average. After the second set, I saw on the screen that I’d thrown 8 out of 42 doubles or something.

“It doesn’t matter who you’re playing against. That way, you’ll have problems against anyone.

“It was just a bad match for me. He wasn’t great either, but it just didn’t fly.

“Those doubles just wouldn’t work. When you do that with this format it becomes difficult.

De Decker went on to add: “So Littler was definitely beatable. Everyone’s always beatable, sometimes it’s just harder than others.”

Rollercoaster of emotions

Luke Littler felt every emotion during last night’s quarter-final clash with Gerwyn Price.

Emotional Northern Ireland triumph

Josh Rock burst into tears on stage after Northern Ireland won a dramatic World Cup last leg decider. 

His team partner Daryl Gurney hit double eight to wrap up an epic 10-9 win over Wales in the final in Frankfurt last night (Sunday).

Rock, 24, and Gurney then dropped to their knees on stage in scenes of incredible emotion as they picked up their first world titles and an £80,000 jackpot. 

He said: “When we said we are paired together we’ll win it. We didn’t expect to do it, but we did it. 

“As a team we were fantastic. We fought hard all the way through.”

Debut fizzles out for Dutchman

Gian van Veen had a great tournament personally but could not take his team all the way to the trophy.

The disappointment will be raw right now but when he reflects on it, there is a lot he can learn from it.

It should give him the confidence that if he is on his game, he cann beat anyone on the darts circuit right now.

Making a country proud

Northern Ireland have produced plenty of good darts players over the years but winning a World Cup requires something very different.

They came into this tournament as fourth seeds, full of talent, but unable to produce it enough with the regularity needed to win titles.

Both players put the comments of the doubters to one side and produced the best darts of their careers in Germany.

This victory is something special and this pair will be partying long into the night, something they have surely earned this weekend.

Humphries reacts to MBE

The world number one said: “I’m extremely honoured and delighted to be receiving an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours for services to darts.

“To be recognised by the King for what I have achieved, and also for my contribution to playing in and promoting the sport that I love, is something that I never thought possible, but I’m very grateful that it has become a reality.

“I have enjoyed the highest of highs in darts in becoming world number one and winning the biggest tournaments that the game has to offer, but to be awarded the MBE will rank alongside any of those achievements.

“I have to give a massive thanks to my fiancée Kayley, and my family, particularly my mum and dad, who have been a constant source of support over the years and helped make me the person that I am today.

“To say that I’m looking forward to visiting Buckingham Palace is an understatement. To receive the MBE there with my family with me is something that I’ll cherish for the rest of my life.

“I’ll continue to be a good ambassador for darts, and help pave the way for future generations to be involved and succeed in a sport that has given so much to me.”

Littler reacts to MBE

The 18-year-old said: “This is an amazing and unexpected honour but one which I am very grateful for.

“To receive a recognition like this is something I had never thought would be possible, and it is a proud moment.

“It’s unbelievable what I’ve done for my sport; I’m happy, my family is happy and I can’t wait to receive it.

“Congratulations to Luke Humphries on receiving an MBE too – he’s a fantastic ambassador for darts, and although he’s a rival, I can’t wait to partner him in the World Cup this weekend.”

ICYMI

From Alexandra Palace to the Royal Palaces, what an extraordinary ride it has been for Luke Littler.

Two years ago, he was just a normal, kebab-eating kid from Warrington who dreamt of one day making money from darts.

What has happened since is one of the most sensational stories in British sport.

A shock World Championship final run in 2024, turning pro, taking the oche by storm, global popularity, the 2025 world title at just 17 and more than £2million in prize money and sponsorship.

Littler has even had novelty kebabs named in his honour.

And now he will go, by royal appointment, to collect an MBE as part of the King’s Birthday Honours list.

Draw reaction

Good job England and Scotland were both seeded…

They’ve been handed a couple of huge ties against Germany and Netherlands!

It’s all set up for a sensational day of action tomorrow!

Humphries reacts

On his MBE, Humphries said: “I’m extremely honoured and delighted to be receiving an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours for services to darts.

“To be recognised by the King for what I have achieved, and also for my contribution to playing in and promoting the sport that I love, is something that I never thought possible, but I’m very grateful that it has become a reality.

“I have enjoyed the highest of highs in darts in becoming world number one and winning the biggest tournaments that the game has to offer, but to be awarded the MBE will rank alongside any of those achievements.

“I have to give a massive thanks to my fiancée Kayley, and my family, particularly my mum and dad, who have been a constant source of support over the years and helped make me the person that I am today.

“To say that I’m looking forward to visiting Buckingham Palace is an understatement. To receive the MBE there with my family with me is something that I’ll cherish for the rest of my life.

“I’ll continue to be a good ambassador for darts, and help pave the way for future generations to be involved and succeed in a sport that has given so much to me.”

*Luke Littler 8-7 Gerwyn Price

A Littler hold of throw as the break came at the right time for Littler – he’s won four of the five legs since!

That one sees him miss D12 for an 84 checkout but Price isn’t on a finish to punish, leaving Littler the chance to come back for D6 and takes it.

Luke Littler 7-7 Gerwyn Price*

Another BREAK of throw as Littler brings the match back level again!

He could’ve wrapped it up early, missing a dart at D16 for a superb 143 checkout. Price can’t take out 160, leaving Littler to come back for D16 and he takes it with his second dart.

Reminder, it’s first to 10. No margin for error from here.

*Luke Littler 6-7 Gerwyn Price

Ohh what a dart from Gerwyn Price to BREAK the Littler throw once more!

Price had a dart on the floor in his set-up too and Littler leaves 40 to put the pressure on the 86 Price did eventually leave.

Single 18, T18 leaves D7 and he finds it superbly!

Luke Littler 6-6 Gerwyn Price*

It looked a monumental leg and Littler BREAKS Price for it!

Back all-square as Price misses a dart at D10 for a 100 checkout, instead busting his score going into D15.

Price gets another go at it but can’t leave a finish this time as Littler misses a dart at tops this time. But he comes back for 20 and hits 10, D5 to bring us back level.

*Luke Littler 5-6 Gerwyn Price

Bloomin’ heck, he’s coming out swinging, Littler!

He misses a dart at D20 for a 10-dart hold of throw before pinning it next time for a good 11-dart leg.

That included a 180 and 147 set-up to leave 40. Maybe a sign of this second half….

Price leads at the break

Given Littler had the darts in leg one, Price will be absolutely thrilled to take a 6-4 lead into the break.

But in truth, it could and probably SHOULD be more comfortable.

Littler hasn’t got going yet and the frustration is etched across his face, even before storming off stage when Price took out the 40 in leg 10.

Price is leading the 180 count 3-1, more 140s, better checkout success and highest checkout!