Luke Humphries had already pulled off one of the greatest comebacks of his career when he revealed a fascinating moment from his World Grand Prix final against Gerwyn Price.
The Englishman came from three sets down to beat Price 6-4 in Leicester on Sunday night, turning what looked like a one-sided final into an extraordinary fightback. But after lifting the trophy, Humphries hinted that something Price said during the match may have come back to haunt him.
And no, Humphries was not suggesting Price had said anything seriously offensive. In fact, the world No. 2 made it clear that the comment was more about the Welshman believing he had the match under control.
Price looked unstoppable early on
For the first three sets, it was difficult to see how Humphries was going to stop Price.
The 41-year-old Welshman came flying out of the blocks and produced a staggering 132.62 three-dart average in the opening set. That was the highest three-dart set average ever recorded at the World Grand Prix, surpassing the previous tournament record.
Price eventually established a 3-0 advantage and looked completely in command.
Humphries, meanwhile, was facing the prospect of another painful major-final defeat after enduring a difficult run of results in recent months. He had reached four consecutive World Grand Prix finals, but this one appeared to be slipping away before the match had even reached its most dramatic stages.
Then everything changed.
Humphries survived a huge moment in the fourth set, taking out a 105 finish after Price missed chances to move 4-0 ahead. That finish proved to be the spark he desperately needed.
From there, Humphries won six of the next seven sets.
The comment Humphries says Price may regret
There was a light-hearted exchange between the two players after Humphries won the fourth set, with Price embracing his opponent.
But Humphries later revealed that something had been said during that moment.
Asked about it, Humphries said: “He probably regrets that now.”
He then added: “I can’t say on camera. It wasn’t anything bad, but it was more sweary. I think he felt he was in control of the game.”
That little revelation has added another layer to an already extraordinary final.
It is easy to imagine the confidence Price must have felt at 3-0 up. He was throwing brilliantly, Humphries was struggling to find his rhythm and the Welshman had just produced a record-breaking opening set.
From Price’s perspective, the match probably felt like his to lose.
Unfortunately for him, that is exactly what happened.
Humphries gives Price plenty of credit
Despite the playful suggestion that Price might regret his words, Humphries was remarkably complimentary about his opponent.
He did not use the moment to mock Price or suggest that the Welshman’s confidence had cost him the title. Instead, he praised the way Price has developed as a competitor and insisted that a major title is coming his way.
“He probably regrets that now, but I think Gezzy’s probably one of the best losers on tour now. The way he acts after he loses is a credit to the sport.”
Humphries continued: “He didn’t used to be a good loser; I don’t think I used to be a good loser, but now I think we’ve learned really well to be good losers.”
That is an interesting admission from Humphries.
Both players have been known for their emotional reactions during their careers, so the fact that Humphries now views Price as one of the best players on the circuit when it comes to handling defeat says a lot about how much both men have matured.
And considering the way Price handled another heartbreaking final defeat, the praise seems fair.
Price’s major drought continues
For Price, however, the result will hurt.
He had been in sensational form at the beginning of the final and looked capable of putting the match beyond Humphries’ reach. Instead, missed opportunities allowed his opponent to claw his way back.
Price summed up the problem himself after the match.
“Luke played brilliantly in the middle of the game, but I still squandered so many opportunities. 3-0 up, then he’s 4-3 up, I make it 4-4 then miss doubles. I missed too many opportunities. I felt it was a fantastic game and it was whoever took the opportunities. I missed quite a few at crucial times,” he said.
That assessment is difficult to argue with.
Price had chances to extend his lead early and later had opportunities to regain control when the match became level. Against a player as experienced as Humphries, those missed chances were always going to be punished.
The defeat also extends Price’s wait for another major title. His last major success came in 2022, while this was another final that appeared to be within his grasp before slipping away.
Humphries finally gets his reward
While Price will be left wondering what might have been, Humphries can finally celebrate another major title.
The victory was his second World Grand Prix triumph, following his 2023 success, and made him only the fourth player to win the tournament multiple times. He also collected the £150,000 first prize.
More importantly, though, this win could be huge for Humphries’ confidence.
He had endured a frustrating period of near-misses in major finals, including runner-up finishes at the World Grand Prix, European Championship and Grand Slam of Darts last year, followed by further major-final disappointment in 2026.
This time, he found a way to survive when the match looked almost impossible.
That is what makes the victory so impressive.
It was not simply about throwing better darts. Humphries had to stay mentally strong while Price was producing numbers that would have destroyed most opponents.
Price may have lost, but Humphries sees better days ahead
The most telling part of Humphries’ comments may actually have been what he said about Price’s future.
“He’s going to win something big soon.”
That feels like a reasonable prediction.
Price showed during the opening three sets exactly why he remains one of the most dangerous players in world darts. A 132.62 average in a World Grand Prix final is not the performance of someone whose best days are behind him.
The problem is turning those performances into trophies.
And that is becoming the big question surrounding Price.
How many more major finals can he reach without finally getting over the line?
For now, Humphries has reminded everyone why he remains one of the sport’s biggest names. He looked beaten, survived, fought back and ultimately lifted the trophy.
As for that mystery comment from Price, we may never know exactly what was said.
But judging by Humphries’ reaction, it certainly makes the story of an already unforgettable final even better.
And if Price really did think the match was already his at 3-0, Humphries could hardly have delivered a more satisfying answer.
The Iceman had the perfect start. Cool Hand Luke had the perfect comeback.