Luke Littler thrashes Luke Humphries to clinch World Grand Prix glory

Luke Littler produced an emphatic display to thrash rival Luke Humphries 6-1 and claim the 2025 World Grand Prix title in Leicester on Sunday.

Littler added his name to the illustrious roll of honour in the double-start event with a ruthless rout of Humphries – who was featuring in his third consecutive final at the Mattioli Arena.

The reigning World Champion won each of the opening four sets in deciding legs to take control of the contest, before Humphries stopped the rot to open his account in set five.

However, Littler restored his four-set cushion with a blistering sixth set surge, before capping off a merciless display to clinch the £120,000 top prize.

“This is not the easiest tournament to win and this week has been so tough,” said Littler, who also missed the bull for a nine-darter in the final.

“Now I have picked the trophy up, I can tick it off and there’s not many left!

“I’ve learnt from the World Matchplay that I have to hit the big outshots and the big scores when Luke puts me under pressure, and I think I did that very well tonight.

“He was always behind me and I couldn’t step off the gas, so I am very happy to win.”

Littler produced a series of superb performances to triumph in the East Midlands, overcoming Gian van Veen, Mike De Decker, Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton en route to the final.

The18-year-old has made no secret of his desire to overhaul Humphries and claim the world number one spot, and his exploits in Leicester have taken him to within £70,000 of his rival.

“It’s not a lot of prize money, especially given what we play for,” added Littler, who has also picked up the World Championship, UK Open and World Matchplay titles this year.

“Luke will know now that I am on his back – I am on to him.”

Humphries was unable to add a second Grand Prix title to his extensive trophy haul, having joined Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen in reaching three consecutive finals in this event.

The world number one defeated Nathan Aspinall, Krzysztof Ratajski, Cameron Menzies and Danny Noppert to progress to Sunday’s showpiece, and admitted: “It is hard to take, it is disappointing. Luke is so clinical.

“In the first four sets, I missed so many darts to get in – double 16 was my friend for the last three years and tonight it wasn’t.

“Luke is amazing, he’s so good. I tried my best there but he ran away with it in the end and his class shone through.

“I’ll be back. I’ve got many more battles with him in the future that I need to be better for – but he is amazing so fair play.

“I have to just get better, I have to practice harder and if I don’t then he will just walk away with it every time.

“I have to go home and dedicate everything to being a dart player and work harder than I ever have, because I want to match him.”

Littler drew first blood in a topsy-turvy opening set, before defying legs of 13 and 11 darts from Humphries in set two by following up a superb 177 setup with a 64 finish to double his advantage.

The teenage sensation then came agonisingly close to a slice of World Grand Prix history to kick off the third set, missing the bull for a double-start nine-darter.

Littler would have become only the fourth player to achieve perfection at this event, but he continued his charge with a 104 checkout to wrap up set three.

Humphries refused to relent, producing checkouts of 149 and 110 to secure back-to-back 12-darters, but it still was not enough to open his account as Littler prevailed in a decider for a fourth straight set to lead 4-0.

The world number one finally got his reward in the fifth, producing a magnificent 154 checkout to avert the prospect of a whitewash, yet a brilliant 11-darter from Littler in the latter stages of set six which saw him restore his four-set cushion.

The 18-year-old was in no mood to offer Humphries a route back into proceedings, and despite the 2023 champion forcing another set deciding leg, Littler followed up finishes of 98 and 111 with a 14-darter on tops to clinch the title.

BOYLE Sports World Grand Prix 2025 Result

Sunday October 12

Final
Luke Littler 6-1 Luke Humphries (3-2, 3-2, 3-2, 3-2, 1-3, 3-1, 3-2)