Sunday evening saw two world champions collide at the Mattioli Arena, as Luke Humphries and Luke Littler met in a major final once again. The prize on offer; the World Grand Prix title.
Littler took the first leg of the match, before nearly being brushed in the second as he took 12 darts to get in. There was then a trade of breaks to force the first set all the way. The world champion held his nerve on throw to take the opening set and establish the early advantage.
The Nuke started the second set very well, breaking before holding to put himself 2-0 up and one leg away from doubling his lead. Humphries would not go away quietly however, as he held in the third leg before breaking to force another deciding leg in a set. He couldn’t complete the comeback however, as Littler broke straight back to give himself a 2-0 lead in the match.
The third set nearly began with history. Littler managed to start the first leg with a 160, before following it up with a 180 to leave him on 161 for what would be just a fourth 9-dart leg at the World Grand Prix. His next two darts were perfect, but he couldn’t find the bull which would have seen him join one of darts’ most elite clubs. He was able to get the leg won though. It began a set which saw five straight holds of throw, ended by the world champion with a 104 out in the final leg. That saw him go 3-0 up and halfway to his first ever Grand Prix title.
Things just kept getting better for The Nuke, as he began the fourth set by breaking throw with a 116 out, before holding to leave him in control of the set. Humphries would not let the set go that easily though, as he held the next leg with a 149 out, before another ton-plus out, this time a 110 to win the break back, and therefore level the set. As was becoming a theme in the match, Cool Hand couldn’t get it done in a deciding leg, with Littler breaking straight back to make it 4-0 in sets and put him in cruise control.
He won the first leg of the fifth set, but Humphries would take control, winning the next three legs, which included a lovely set winning 154 out, to finally get himself on the board in the final.
Cool Hand would take his run of legs to four at the beginning of the sixth set, but Littler roared back, taking three legs on the spin to put himself 5-1 up and on the verge of yet another major crown.
The seventh set began with four straight holds of throw, including a 111 out in leg three from The Nuke, which left him throwing for the match in fifth leg. He would get the job done, taking out 60 in two darts to secure an impressive 6-1 win, and add another major trophy to his ever growing list of accolades by becoming World Grand Prix champion for the first time.