Luke Humphries admitted he was “desperate to win more sets” after falling to a determined Luke Littler in the World Grand Prix final in Leicester.
The world No1 was unable to contain the 18-year-old, who powered to a 6–1 victory at the Mattioli Arena to claim his maiden World Grand Prix crown and seventh major title in under two years.
Littler’s win also cuts Humphries’ lead at the top of the PDC Order of Merit to just £70,000, setting up a tense race for the number one spot ahead of December’s World Championship.
“He was so clinical in the first four sets,” Humphries after the second consecutive loss to Littler. “When I was 4-0 down I just wanted to give the crowd something. I wasn’t playing for myself, I was playing for the crowd because the game had got away from me. It’s hard to take.
Luke Littler beat Luke Humphries in a very on-sided display in Leicester
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"It’s disappointing because I felt I was going to give him a better game than I did. I have to just get better. I have to work harder. If I don’t, he will walk away with it all the time.”
Humphries had gone into the final looking to regain his 2023 title, but Littler’s relentless scoring proved too much to handle. The 18-year-old stormed into a four-set lead, narrowly missing the bull for a nine-dart finish, and didn't look back.
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Cool Hand said his finishing struggles, particularly with the double-start format unique to the Grand Prix, left him frustrated throughout the contest.
“It’s hard work, he is clinical,” Humphries said. “In the first three sets I missed too many darts to get in. At four-nil down I just wanted to give the fans something to watch. There is no way I am going to let all these fans come here and lose six-nil. I was desperate to win more sets to give them more darts.”
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Luke Littler has now won back-to-back finals against Luke Humphries
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Despite landing a superb 154 checkout to briefly threaten a comeback, Humphries admitted that his doubling simply wasn’t at the level required to challenge the teenager.
“Unfortunately, the doubling in was just not good enough and I need to work at that or he will just keep winning,” he added. “It is not like you are scared to play him — he is just so good.”
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He has now reached four major finals in 2025, but the wins have continued to fall in Littler’s favour, a pattern the 30-year-old insists he is determined to reverse before the season’s biggest stage.
Wins in the Premier League and the World Masters events this year may not be enough to stop the ongoing charge of Littler for the No1 spot
Luke Humphries had a great start to the year but Luke Littler has been closing him down for the No 1 spot
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The loss marked Humphries’ second straight final defeat to Littler on TV, following his setback at the New Zealand Darts Masters earlier this year.
All signs appear to be pointing to another potential show down at Alexandra Palace this winter, where Humphries will be hoping to make it a closer affair than in Leicester.