Humphries turns ‘Harry Potter’ after incredible comeback to win World Grand Prix

LUKE HUMPHRIES dubbed himself as ‘Harry Potter’ after casting a spell on Gerwyn Price to win the World Grand Prix.

The World No.3 came from 3-0 down to beat The Iceman 6-4 for his first major title in 16 months in Leicester last night.

Price roared into the lead, averaging 132.62 in the first set, but Cool Hand kept his nerve to come back and take the £150,000 top prize.

He then even joked about the scar on his head, caused by a bad reaction to make up after appearing on the TV show Bullseye last week

He said: “Harry Potter did well, didn’t he? I needed this to give me confidence. It’s been a torrid 15-18 months for myself, losing so many major finals.

“I must admit I felt like I had not much to give tonight. There was a moment in the game where I just didn’t want to lose 6-0.

“I just wanted to give the fans something to be happy with. Then all of a sudden I found myself 3-3 and 4-3 up.

“I’m like, wow, I have a chance now. Gezzy was amazing the first three legs. Absolutely insane. I am not just saying this, he is going to win a major title soon.

“It’s written in the stars. He can’t keep playing this well and not win. I don’t think I was the best player he was.

“I am happy to get one back. To have that barren of major losses off my back.

“It feels really special. This means the world to me.”

Price stormed through the opening set with TWO 12-darters and a blistering 10-darter, wrapping it up in just three-and-a-half minutes while averaging a whopping 132.62 — the best set in World Grand Prix history.

The Markham thrower then produced clinical finishes of 101 and 82 to wrap up the second set and double his lead to 2-0.

With both players locked at two legs apiece in the third set, Price fired in a pivotal 174 before taking out 91 to snatch it and move 3-0 ahead.

Humphries valiantly fought back with a trio of ton-plus checkouts, nicking the set with a stunning 105 as Price waited on tops to cut the deficit to 3-1 before the pair embraced and shook hands.

He then carried that momentum into the next set to close the gap further to 3-2.

Cool Hand showed incredible resilience, rattling off back-to-back sets to take a 4-3 lead for the first time in the contest.

Price capitalised on Humphries missing all SIX darts at double in the eighth set to level the bout at 4-4. But Humphries hit back by breaking Price’s throw with a 10-darter in the fifth leg of the ninth set to move 5-4 ahead.

Humphries broke Price’s throw again with a clinical 82 finish via the bull and D16 before holding his nerve to take out 76 for the victory.