Luke Littler, Phil Taylor and Luke Humphries: how the World Grand Prix’s greatest semi-final performances stack up

The World Grand Prix is renowned as one of the most unique and demanding tournaments on the darts calendar. Its double-in, double-out format guarantees drama, unpredictability and, every so often, a truly legendary performance. In 2025, Luke Littler delivered one of those moments, producing an exceptional 97.26 average in his semi-final to earn a place among the top five highest averages in the event’s history.

While a 97 average might not seem extraordinary by the standards of the world’s elite, it’s a very different story under the World Grand Prix format. Being forced to both start and finish on a double makes big averages rare – every missed opening dart drags the numbers down significantly. That’s what makes Littler’s effort all the more impressive.

The list of highest semi-final averages in World Grand Prix history is still led by Phil Taylor, whose near-superhuman 103.02 in 2011 remains the benchmark. That display is still regarded as one of the finest ever seen in a double-in tournament, particularly over such a long format. Taylor also occupies two other spots in the top four – averaging 99.88 in 2008 and 99.76 in 2009 – a reminder of just how dominant The Power was in his prime.

It’s a testament to Taylor’s total supremacy during his peak years: not only did he win virtually everything in sight, but he also set statistical standards that remain barely touchable more than a decade later.

Between Taylor’s era and today’s modern scene, we’ve seen the rise of Luke Humphries, who produced a 100.30 average in his 2024 semi-final to prove that the current crop can indeed compete with the legends of the past. Combining ruthless finishing with relentless scoring power, Humphries’ display is now regarded as one of the standout Grand Prix performances of the modern era.

A year later, it was Luke Littler’s turn – the teenage sensation who has captivated darts fans across the globe. His 97.26 average in the 2025 semi-final underlines not just his popularity, but his ability to deliver under pressure in one of the sport’s toughest formats.

With that performance, Littler now finds himself among an illustrious group of darting greats and historic milestones. And if his rapid rise continues, it feels like only a matter of time before the young Englishman sits right at the top of those lists himself.