Luke Littler admitted he “just laughed” at Gerwyn Price’s on-stage theatrics after an extraordinary comeback victory in their World Grand Prix quarter-final — but couldn’t resist pointing out that the Welshman had been “shouting a bit more than normal.”
The 18-year-old world champion produced one of the great turnarounds in the tournament’s history on Friday night in Leicester, recovering from two sets down to defeat Price 3–2 in a volatile, emotionally charged contest.
What began as a routine demolition job for Price turned into a masterclass in resilience from Littler, who survived match darts and sealed the decider with a stunning 152 checkout that sent the crowd into chaos.
“There was a lot of shouting from him — a bit more than normal,” Littler said afterwards.
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“When he hits his double and gives it some, I just laugh to myself. I’m like, you’ve just held your throw — come on. But that’s what he does. I was just laughing at it, really.”
For much of the night, Price looked unstoppable.
His early scoring was relentless, his celebrations ferocious, and his presence on stage impossible to ignore.
Littler, by contrast, looked flat, missing key doubles and struggling to find rhythm.
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Luke Littler admitted he “just laughed” at Gerwyn Price’s on-stage theatrics after an extraordinary comeback victory in their World Grand Prix quarter-final — but couldn’t resist pointing out that the Welshman had been “shouting a bit more than normal
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But the teenager, who has already made a habit of improbable escapes in major tournaments, refused to concede.
“It was just a mental game,” he said. “Obviously it’s good for the fans, but it’s not good for me. The 152 was just sweet.”
A 14-darter early in the third set breathed life into Littler’s performance, and as the match wore on, the balance of energy in the Morningside Arena began to shift.
Price’s early aggression seemed to fuel the teenager, who fed off the tension and began to draw the crowd to his side.
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THE MOST RIDICULOUS ENDING TO THE MADDEST GAME 🤯
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From the ridiculous to the sublime, as Luke Littler pins an incredible 152 checkout to complete an insane comeback 👏
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“Once I started to get back into it, it definitely slowed me down a bit, but I just had to keep my head,” Littler said. “Then I got back into it and won.”
The deciding leg encapsulated everything unpredictable about the double-start format.
Both players struggled to get underway — Price needed eight darts, Littler six — before the teenager unleashed the 152 checkout that will be replayed for years to come.
“At 2–0 down, I was saying to myself, it’s got to go, but I also said, accept the 3–0 defeat,” Littler admitted. “As soon as I got one back, I knew if I could hold and then go against the darts, just see what happens.”
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Gerwyn Price had no answer to the brilliance of Luke Littler during Friday's epic World Grand Prix match
|GETTY
Even after Price produced a spectacular 156 finish to force the final leg, Littler held his composure.
“I went two up in that last set, told myself I was guaranteed to hold throw — but then couldn’t,” he admitted. “So in that last leg I just had to go for it.”
The teenager’s ability to recover from the brink is quickly becoming his calling card.
His comeback mirrored his heroics at the World Matchplay, where he overturned three separate 5–0 deficits to lift the title.
Luke Littler is targeting glory at the World Grand Prix this autumn
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“When we went off stage after the second set, I sat down and thought, it’s over,” he revealed.
“Then I got back on and told myself to just go for it. The Matchplay definitely helped. I know I’ve got the capability to come back, and that’s what I’ve done again.”
Despite the heated exchanges on stage, there was mutual respect at the end.
“When I won and saw the replay, I saw his face — he couldn’t believe it,” Littler said, twisting the knife further. “We were both giving it a little bit in that last set, but I’m just happy to get the last laugh.”
Asked about Price’s claim that players on tour are “scared” to face him, Littler was typically unfazed.
“I wouldn’t say anyone’s scared of me,” he replied. “I’m sure Gezzy thought he’d cruise through, but I managed to get back into it and get the win.”
Next up for the defending world champion is Jonny Clayton, a player he has beaten in four of their last five meetings.
Whether he can secure another title remains to be seen.