Littler storms to World Grand Prix title with demolition of Humphries

Littler storms to World Grand Prix title with demolition of Humphries originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Luke Littler was crowned PDC World Grand Prix Champion for the first time, as he got the better of regular rival, and World number one, Luke Humphries in Leicester, taking the trophy and the first prize with a commanding 6-1 win at Mattioli Arena.

After seeing off World Youth Champion Gian van Veen in round one, Littler then turned back the challenge of three former World Grand Prix Champions on the spin, whitewashing 2024 winner Mike De Decker, before edging past 2020 winner Gerwyn Price in a last-leg thriller. The Warrington teenager then blasted past 2021 Champion Jonny Clayton in the last four to advance to his maiden World Grand Prix showpiece.

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Humphries was matched tough in his opener, as he got past Nathan Aspinall, and 3-1 wins against Krzysztof Ratajski and Cameron Menzies saw the World number one into the semi-finals, where he staved off a fightback from Danny Noppert to win 5-3.

Here is how the final unfolded.

Luke Humphries (1) 1-6 Luke Littler (2)

Set Scores: 2-3, 2-3, 2-3, 2-3, 3-1, 1-3, 2-3

Humphries made a solid start to the final, but after breaking Littler’s throw in the third leg of the first set, he had to watch the power scoring take over from the World Champion, who found double five to take the early advantage.

Humphries then came from 2-0 behind in set two, an 11-darter taking it the distance, but he was denied once again, as Littler took out 64 to double his lead, and the World Champion then opened the third set by missing the bull for a magical nine-darter. Littler would miss two darts to win the set as it became the third to go the distance, but he again came out on top with a 104 kill to take a commanding lead.

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A 116 finish started Littler’s charge in the fourth set, and although Humphries took out 149 and 110 on the way to taking the set to yet another last leg, where he pinned double ten to further extend his advantage.

The run of five-leg sets came to an end, with Humphries getting a set on the board with a 154 finish sealing set five for the loss of a leg, but Littler was soon back out in the distance, bossing the next set to go one away from the title.

A 98 checkout opened the seventh set for Littler, and after a 111 finish put him one leg from the trophy, and although Humphries delayed the inevitable by dodging a match dart to force a fifth last-leg set, Littler would’t be denied, and he pinned his trusty tops to confirm an emphatic victory, and the £120,000 first prize that puts him even closer to usurping Humphries at the top of the PDC Werner Rankings Ladder.

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