From heated Price–Aspinall to historic Humphries: what stood out during the semi-finals in Leicester
PDC
Tonight in Leicester the arrows fly again for the World Grand Prix final. Before attention fully shifts to the battle for the prestigious title, it’s time for one last look back at the semi-finals. And, as we’ve come to expect from this tournament, they delivered plenty to talk about.
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The two semi-finals provided spectacle in their own ways. The first featured two players who never shy away from a scrap. It became a contest where not only scoring, but also emotion and character, played a decisive role. Two alpha competitors going head-to-head, desperate to reach the final at any cost: it made for palpable tension on stage.
Price keeps his cool in heated semi-final against Aspinall
On paper, the semi-final between Gerwyn Price and Nathan Aspinall may not have been a thriller, but anyone watching the stage knew better. The tension was constant throughout. Price and Aspinall not only faced off at the oche; they seemed to challenge each other at every turn. In the end, the Welshman prevailed 5-2 to reach the final of the World Grand Prix.
Price made a sharp start. The Iceman seized control immediately and raced into a 3-0 lead. Although the margin looked comfortable, it was his stage presence that stood out. The Welshman, as so often, let himself be heard after key moments and celebrated his strong legs with visible passion.
That fuelled a match where emotions frequently ran high. Price is known for wearing his heart on his sleeve on the oche, and this was no different against Aspinall. The Englishman, however, refused to roll over. The Asp fought back and cut the deficit to 3-2. For a moment, the momentum seemed to be turning.
Aspinall also made himself heard in that spell. He celebrated his legs exuberantly, roaring several times. The tension between the pair was clear to see and hear. At the same time, Aspinall showed signs of irritation with the crowd’s behaviour. He voiced his complaints to the referee on several occasions.
Price had little sympathy afterward. According to the Welshman, there was no reason at all to think the crowd was against Aspinall. On the contrary, Price felt the spectators were largely on The Asp’s side. It underlined the stark contrast in how both players experienced the match.
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Despite Aspinall’s brief surge, Price reasserted himself. The Welshman stayed composed and showed why he has been a mainstay at the top for years. With a 5-2 victory he ended Aspinall’s hopes and booked his place in the final.
Gerwyn Price can win the World Grand Prix for the second time
For Price, the final is also a fresh chance to end a surprisingly long wait for a major title. The Iceman has not lifted a major since 2022. His last big win came at that year’s World Series of Darts Finals. Since then, Price has repeatedly shown he belongs among the elite, but another major trophy has eluded him.
In Leicester, he gets the opportunity to finally change that. Four years after his last major, Price stands on the brink of another prestigious triumph. His game looks ready, but one question will define Sunday night: can The Iceman keep his emotions and nerves in check in the final?
Gerwyn Price’s major titles
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| Year | Major | Final opponent | Result |
| 2018 | Grand Slam of Darts | Gary Anderson | 16–13 |
| 2019 | Grand Slam of Darts | Peter Wright | 16–6 |
| 2020 | World Grand Prix | Dirk van Duijvenbode | 5–2 |
| 2020 | World Series of Darts Finals | Rob Cross | 11–9 |
| 2021 | World Championship | Gary Anderson | 7–3 |
| 2021 | Grand Slam of Darts | Peter Wright | 16–8 |
| 2022 | World Series of Darts Finals | Dirk van Duijvenbode | 11–10 |
Humphries makes history and chases another major title
Luke Humphries made history at the World Grand Prix. The 31-year-old Englishman defeated compatriot James Wade 5-3 in the semi-final. That sent Cool Hand Luke into the final, but more importantly: he reached the World Grand Prix decider for the fourth year in a row. No one had ever done that before.
Even the biggest names in darts history could not touch this record. Both Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen reached multiple World Grand Prix finals, but neither managed to make the showpiece four years in a row. Humphries now does, adding another remarkable chapter to an already imposing résumé.
The World Grand Prix also holds a special place in Humphries’ career. In 2023 the Englishman truly broke through at the highest level by winning his first major in Leicester. That victory proved the start of an outstanding spell. Humphries evolved into one of his generation’s most successful players and has since added no fewer than seven more majors to his haul.
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Even so, his most recent individual major win dates back to 29.05.2025. On that day, Humphries lifted the Premier League Darts title. Since then, it has been notably quiet around “Cool Hand Luke” in terms of individual majors. He continued to go deep at big events, but another title eluded him.
In fact, Humphries has lost five major finals since that last triumph. Four times he ran into a particularly pesky rival on the opposite side of the stage: Luke Littler. The young Englishman has become a real tormentor for Humphries in recent years, denying him multiple chances at major silverware.
Not this time, though. Humphries does not have to account for “The Nuke”. Littler suffered an early exit at the World Grand Prix, making Humphries’ path to the title suddenly a touch less steep. That does not mean the Englishman will face a soft touch in the final.
Far from it. Standing opposite is Gerwyn Price. The Welshman dispatched Nathan Aspinall in his semi-final and is also desperate for fresh major silver. Price has waited even longer than Humphries for an individual big title. His last came in 2022, when he won the World Series of Darts Finals.
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Luke Humphries reaches his fourth consecutive World Grand Prix final
So on Sunday evening two players meet with plenty on the line. Humphries can end a long run without an individual major while crowning an unprecedented fourth straight World Grand Prix final with a new title. Price, in turn, can finally end a drought that now spans four years.
A one-sided final looks unlikely. Both players have the quality, experience, and drive to push each other to the limit. They also know there is a prime chance to end a lengthy major dry spell. The tension will be tight on Sunday evening. One thing seems clear in advance: whoever lifts the trophy will have to dig deep.
Luke Humphries’ World Grand Prix finals
| Year | Opponent | Result |
| 2023 | Gerwyn Price | 5–2 win |
| 2024 | Mike De Decker | 4–6 loss |
| 2025 | Luke Littler | 1–6 loss |
| 2026 | Gerwyn Price | To be played |
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Wade falls just short again
James Wade ranks among this season’s most consistent performers at the big tournaments. The 43-year-old Englishman can look back on a strong run of results: two quarter-finals, a semi-final and now a final across the majors he entered. For a player of Wade’s pedigree, that is hardly cause for complaint. Yet one feeling will dominate: once again he was close, and once again the big payoff slipped away.
Wade is now one of the most seasoned players on the PDC circuit. The Englishman owns no fewer than eleven major titles, but has been waiting for number twelve since 2021. That long wait grows more conspicuous, especially as “The Machine” has repeatedly shown this season he can still go deep on the biggest stages.
At the World Grand Prix it finally seemed time. Week after week Wade impressed, drawing praise from all quarters. Friends and rivals agreed that “The Machine” was throwing superbly. His game convinced, he radiated confidence, and suddenly a first major in five years no longer felt far away.
Wade did not play a poor match in the semi-final against Luke Humphries either. The Englishman maintained his level and gave his compatriot real resistance. Humphries, though, proved just sharper at the key moments. With a 5-3 win, “Cool Hand Luke” booked his place in the final and Wade’s promising major campaign ended once more.
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That will sting all the more. Wade again showed he can still contend for the biggest prizes, but when it truly matters, that twelfth major remains out of reach. It is a pattern increasingly visible in recent years. The Englishman gets close, but that final step to another big trophy remains missing.
James Wade lost 5-3 to Luke Humphries
There is another missed opportunity to add. With the surprisingly early exit of Luke Littler, the path to the title was wide open this time. In recent years Littler has been a huge obstacle for many top players, and the world champion’s departure offered Wade and the other contenders a prime opening.
Yet Wade could not capitalise on that chance either. He fell in the semi-finals, one match short of the final and another shot at silverware.
Even so, that elimination does little to diminish Wade’s impressive World Grand Prix. At 43 he has once more shown he remains a player who can cause problems on the biggest stages. Only that nagging feeling still lingers for now.
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Once again James Wade was close. Once again a 12th major title seemed within reach. And once again “The Machine” has to settle for just short.
James Wade’s results at PDC majors in the 2026 season
| Major | Result | Eliminated by | Score |
| World Masters | Quarter-finals | Gian van Veen | 2–4 |
| UK Open | Final | Luke Littler | 7–11 |
| Premier League Darts | Not selected | — | — |
| World Matchplay | Quarter-finals | Gian van Veen | 13–16 |
| World Grand Prix | Semi-finals | Luke Humphries | 0–5 |
Sunday night’s World Grand Prix final is not only about the prestigious title and the top prize. There is also plenty at stake on the world ranking. While Price already knows he will remain world number four after the tournament regardless of the final result, Humphries can still see movement. The Englishman is currently second, but will only keep that spot if he wins the World Grand Prix.
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If Humphries loses, the picture changes completely. Gian van Veen will then overtake Humphries and the Dutchman will move up to second place, a position he already held earlier this year.
Current world ranking before the World Grand Prix final
Source: dartsrankings.com
| Rk | +/- | Name | Prize money | R1 | R2 | QF | SF | F | W |
| 1 | Luke Littler | 3124 | 3124 | ||||||
| 2 | +1 | Gian van Veen | 1029.75 | 1002.25 | 1014.75 | 1029.75 | |||
| 3 | -1 | Luke Humphries | 1011 | 938.5 | 951 | 966 | 981 | 1011 | 1081 |
| 4 | Gerwyn Price | 793 | 720.5 | 733 | 748 | 763 | 793 | 863 |
Samuel GillChief Content Officer
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of DartsNews.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy across professional darts coverage. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces, playing a central role in the development and daily operation of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has extensive experience in darts media and has been closely involved in coverage of the professional darts circuit for several years. Within the UK darts community, he is a recognised figure known for his consistent editorial output and ongoing reporting on major tournaments and developments across the PDC calendar.
In his current role, Samuel works closely with editors and writers to ensure content meets clear journalistic standards, with a focus on source verification, editorial consistency, and timely updates when new, confirmed information becomes available.
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- James Wade has become James Wide. He has piled on the tonnage considerably, he barely fits in his shirt.richieburnettrocks03-10-2026
- Littler will play whatever tournaments he decides. But does every headline have to start with him? Bristow bought Taylor through,and he followed that with Lewis. I can't see littler doing the same. Let him choose,and lose,he's getting good at that lately!rick6702-10-2026
- I believe he has it in him to qualify for the Worlds as he consistently wins matches, even if it is only one or two at a time, although his recent PC quarter-final run was somewhat encouraging in that regard. I think there is a lot of pressure for him to retire, people in the media accusing him of tarnishing his legacy. I think that is a ridiculous line of thinking. How ungrateful it is to attach terms and conditions to the amazing moments he has provided us over the course of his career. What position are we in to dictate to him how he should manage his career when it is he who achieved those successes in the first place? What's more, this is his life and the passion that sustains it, it is not for us to decide when his career is over when it is he who must bear the genuine ramifications of that decision. Since I'm sure money is not a concern, the only question on which the decision should rest is whether he truly continues to enjoy competing. He has retired once before, but the desire to compete is what brought him back. We see a lot of negative body language and he does genuinely look miserable when he is not playing well, but only he will know when he wakes up the next day whether he wants to go and do it all over again. If he wants to compete, he should, it's as simple as that, this is a decision that should not involve anyone else but him and his family. He should not retire to indulge the whims of the media or the public. What satisfaction would he receive by being forced into retirement? What closure would it bring to such a brilliant career? When Phil Taylor decided to retire, his decision was final and resolute. I believe RvB needs to get to this point himself, no matter how many 70 averages it might take. We see the likes of John Part continue to compete on a regular basis well past his prime, I say more power to him, and who knows, further glory could be around the corner, it's darts after all, you just never know. Sometimes I worry that RvB is acutely aware of the clamour for him to retire and that this pressure may even have an impact on his performances as he begins to question whether there is even a place for him in darts anymore, further compounding his poor form and creating a vicious loop. Perhaps to take his future into his own hands would provide him with a levity and freedom that would lend itself to better performances, not to mention an improved wellbeing. In any case, it is under these conditions that one can clear-headedly and definitively settle an issue so profound as retirement, not when you feel you're being rushed out the door. If his performances can no longer sustain his presence on the tour, so be it; as it stands his card seems safe for this year but is in serious jeopardy next year. He could always allow himself to drop off the tour naturally rather than forfeiting his place in the top 64, this could provide a sense of finality while offering a route back through Q-School if he so desired; after all, he's done it before. In conclusion, I just hope that RvB can play - or not play - for his own sake, rather than anyone else's, so that when the time comes he can be in no doubt as to his decision, leaving no lingering questions, so that he can reflect with no regret or uncertainty on the marvelous career he has had.Deduce635826-09-2026
- Luke Littler has been good for the sport of darts, no question. But he is not above it. For his sake and ours, he needs to be put in his place sometimes, rather than having his every whim catered to. That is not how you build a good person nor a good sporting organisation, and it's beginning to have consequences.Deduce635826-09-2026
- Extremely disappointing decision. It used to be that, along with major events and Euro Tours, the Players Championship series constituted one of three standards against which successful darts players could be measured, one of three challenges every successful darts player should be expected to master to consider themself among the elite. Now they are dead weight in the darting calendar, and player turnout and the standard of competitiveness will reflect that. The truth is that Luke Littler and other big names would rather play lucrative exhibitions than put in the hard graft that being a successful dart player requires. It undermines the authority of the PDC and the game in general. So what do they do about it? Give them exactly what they want. Of course, why wouldn't they? They are their star attractions. It is ironic that an organisation formed in protest by the sport's elite should be undermined and disrespected by their contemporary equivalents, but the PDC had a chance to stand up to them with a firm message: play 2 events all year and expect the final to be played without you. Instead, they caved in. These events will be hardly worth playing anymore and this decision may have grave consequences for the future of floor events at the elite level. Some may say the calendar is overstuffed, yet these elite players have more than enough time to play plenty of exhibitions. The Premier League in particular is gruelling, but busy players are not expected to play every event, they are expected to manage their playing schedule carefully in order to apportion their time and energy appropriately. Clayton and Humphries, for instance, both sit in the top 20 of the Players Championship and European orders of merit, in addition to competing in the Premier League; they have proven it is absolutely possible and this change is an insult to their efforts in effectively managing their calendars. I think we are seeing players who simply think they are too good for Pro Tour events, arrogance which should be punished rather than rewarded as we are seeing here. Furthermore, why should success in Euro Tours qualify you for the Players Championship Final? The PDC are blurring the lines between those three disciplines of darting excellence, and in so doing destabilising the very foundations upon which the organisation and its success is built. Some may say I'm overreacting, but this, in addition to the PDC's subservience and snivelling obsequiousness toward their biggest assets, makes me fear for the future of professional darts.Deduce635826-09-2026
- I guess this will mean the top players will turn up even less? Taken all the excitement of qualifying away I think. Wish they made it top 32 to qualify and the finals to last all week.Baphomet26-09-2026
- Great article - but not written by this site. It's taken wholesale from last Sunday's Observer with this interview published online on Saturday.Scoobedybop22-09-2026
- Such sad and pathetic little losers giving abuse to young woman for any reason, let alone who she is in a relationship with. Go Beau! An absolute star and comes across as a genuinely nice and kind person. Wish her nothing but the best.BandB22-09-2026
- I wouldn't mind if he quit now to be honest. He's not bigger than darts. Let's face it without darts he'd just be a normal fat gamer kid.medinabello22-09-2026
- You know,I said this,in a sentence,not 5 paragraphs!!rick6721-09-2026
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