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World Grand Prix Darts: Luke Humphries says reaching final ‘doesn’t mean anything’ without beating Gerwyn Price to title | Darts News

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Luke Humphries insists reaching a record-breaking fourth consecutive World Grand Prix final will count for nothing if he doesn’t beat Gerwyn Price to the title in Leicester.

Humphries made history by becoming the first player to reach the final in four consecutive years at the double-in event, defeating James Wade 5-3 to book his place in Sunday’s showpiece at the Mattioli Arena.

‘Cool Hand’ was runner-up to Luke Littler after a 6-1 thrashing last year and suffered a shock 6-4 loss to Mike de Decker in 2024, with Humphries now hoping for a repeat of his 2023 victory over Price when the two former world champions meet again at the final.

Luke Humphries defeated James Wade 5-3 to reach the World Grand Prix final
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Luke Humphries defeated James Wade 5-3 to reach the World Grand Prix final

“It has been one of those journeys this year that hasn’t been playing sailing,” Humphries told Sky Sports. “A few of the years before have felt a lot easier than it has done this year.

“To make four Grand Prix finals on the trot is super special. It’s history for myself and I’m proud of that but, unless I pick that trophy up, unfortunately that history doesn’t mean anything.

“I’ve come here to win it. If I win the trophy, I’ll look back at the history and think that’s amazing.”

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Luke Humphries gave James Wade a nod of respect after he pinned a fantastic 141 checkout during their semi-final

Humphries has had a string of runner-up finishes in TV finals since winning the Premier League in May 2025, including the European Championship and Grand Slam of Darts in 2025 and this year’s Premier League final, but is determined to end that record.

“The way I haven’t been playing hasn’t been the best, but the way I’ve bounced back and performed in that way is great,” Humphries added. “I’ve got to do it again tomorrow because there’s so many major finals I’ve let slip.

“I don’t think I was far from my best. The scoring was pretty decent and the doubling in was good. I felt like that was the most controlled consisted performance I’ve put in for a long time.

“The last time I felt like that was maybe the Premier League final against Luke [Littler]. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt that control and not like I was going to flounder a little bit.

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Highlights of the Premier League final at The O2 between Luke Littler and Luke Humphries, which delivered a final-leg thriller

“Gezzy [Price] is playing well but if I play like that again, it’s going to be a cracking game and I hope it is. I’m going to come back tomorrow [Sunday] fresh and believe I can do that again and play even better.”

2020 champion Price is through to his fourth World Grand Prix final and first since losing to Humphries in 2023, with the Welshman frustrated by Nathan Aspinall during his 5-2 victory in the opening semi-final.

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Gerwyn Price admitted he had words with Nathan Aspinall on stage after becoming annoyed with his reactions to the crowd

“Nathan [Aspinall] was complaining about the crowd but they were on his side,” Price told Sky Sports. “I’m 3-0 up and I go back and say to Nathan ‘they’re on your side bud, come on. Stop performing on the board and just play darts’.

“I was a little bit upset with him. As good as the crowd is for me, they were all for him. He’s performing a little bit on stage and I told him I wasn’t happy. I’m great friends with Nathan but sometimes you’ve just got to let your darts go – when you’re losing you’re losing.”

Gerwyn Price survived match darts to beat Jonny Clayton in the quarter-finals, before beating Nathan Aspinall in the last four
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Gerwyn Price survived match darts to beat Jonny Clayton in the quarter-finals, before beating Nathan Aspinall in the last four

Price added: “I was frustrated 90 per cent of that game and it’s not good. I think it was a bit of a poor game, it was up and down. In patches, I’m playing well. When my game is there, I’m playing some of the best stuff in the world.

“I’m here to win trophies and money, but I’m into another final, third one on the bounce – happy days!”

Mardle expects ‘brilliant final’ between two past champions

Sky Sports Darts’ Wayne Mardle:

“He [Humphries] feels that that was somewhere near his best and that’s confidence. I don’t think Gezzy [Price] was at all impressive tonight. I know he won, I just feel that Luke going into that final now will obviously fancy it.

“I think it’s really impressive the way that he [Humphries] has actually had to play better and did play better in the two games he’s had to do it – putting those bad performances behind him and not worrying about them is growth.

“It’s easy to look back and think that Luke’s been inconsistent, but so has Gezzy, to a point. Who was the star of the opening round? It was Price. He played fantasticly but, since then, he hasn’t reached those heights – it doesn’t mean that he can’t again.

“What we both want, what we all want, is for the pair of them to come out guns blazing. Then, then we could have a brilliant final on our hands – I just hope it works out that way.”

Watch the World Grand Prix final between Gerwyn Price and Luke Humphries live on Sky Sports Main Event from 8pm on Sunday. Latest Sky Sports deals or stream with NOW.

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Fantasy Premier League mailbag: Holly Shand answers your questions ahead of Gameweek Six

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Post your FPL questions for Holly Shand now and she will answer the best of them in a mailbag published later this week

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Derby County: How collapse of Turki Alalshikh’s takeover has rained Rams’ plans

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This season was supposed to be the one when the Rams pushed for promotion.

When Eustace took over in February 2025, Derby were fourth-from-bottom in the Championship and questions were asked why he swapped a promotion challenge with Blackburn, who were fifth, for a relegation scrap.

Internal difficulties and restrictions at Ewood Park played a part but Eustace was sold a long-term plan which was survival, consolidation and then challenging for a top-flight return.

Yet this term’s promotion assault was significantly hindered when Alalshikh pulled out of his planned takeover an hour before the deal was due to be completed in August, leaving Derby scrambling after a summer of work.

The collapse blindsided the club and transfer plans were affected despite owner David Clowes remaining committed to bankrolling the Rams.

Derby chief executive Stephen Pearce has denied the summer disruption impacted recruitment but it is undeniable plans suffered.

“From a transfer perspective we hadn’t lost anything we wanted to do,” he told BBC Radio Derby.

Eustace admitted, though, they had to understandably review targets following the takeover collapse.

“Obviously, we had our targets that we were looking at and who we wanted to bring in,” he told the Derby Telegraph this month.

“When the takeover eventually didn’t happen, we’ve lost a lot of momentum on players that we were looking at.”

Eustace wanted Liam Millar only for Birmingham City to sign the Hull City forward on loan for the season and Derby moved for Fuseini – who was due to join Blues before they signed Millar – from Union Saint-Gilloise on deadline day.

Ben Brereton-Diaz scored eight goals in 41 games for Derby on loan last season but the Rams’ situation meant they could not move quick enough to bring him back and, by the time they did, the Southampton forward had committed to going to Sheffield United.

Birmingham winger Patrick Roberts was another on the list but the 29-year-old’s wages were a stumbling block.

None of the players on loan last season had options to buy meaning the Rams needed to renegotiate for those who returned, with Bobby Clark costing £6m from Red Bull Salzburg as the club were left open to market forces this summer.

That did at least help them re-sign midfielder David Ozoh for £4m on deadline day, when Crystal Palace valued him at £10m at the start of August.

Clark, Ozoh and Sammie Szmodics – who has already hit the requirements to make his £2.7m move from Ipswich permanent – were influential last term but their returns only ensure the squad has returned to the same level as last season, rather than significantly improving it.

Pisa striker Henrik Meister, who has scored just twice in a year, joined on loan and was seen as a good back-up to Carlton Morris and Patrick Agyemang but the 22-year-old Dane has needed to lead the line with that duo injured.

He then suffered a head injury against Birmingham this month while Agyemang has been out since April with a serious Achilles problem.

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Alex Scott: Bournemouth midfielder withdraws from England duty and could miss ‘several weeks’ with tendon injury | Football News

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Alex Scott is withdrawing from the England squad after picking up a tendon injury in the 7-0 win over Croatia.

Sky Sports News understands Scott is set to return to Bournemouth for further assessment to discover the full extent of the injury.

Initial indications suggest he could be missing for several weeks, although further scans are planned.

Scott impressed on his first England start in Rijeka and drew praise from head coach Thomas Tuchel, linking up well with Elliot Anderson, with whom he won the U21s Euros in 2025.

The midfielder asked to come off in the second half after feeling pain and has been for a scan to identify the issue.

Sky Sports News reported Manchester City and Chelsea were interested in signing Scott this summer, but Bournemouth remained adamant he was not for sale and were under no pressure to sell, with two years remaining on his contract

Bournemouth play Chelsea in their first game after the international break at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

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