World’s top-ranked player, Luke Humphries, acknowledged that his focus was not on himself during the significant 6-1 loss to Luke Littler at the World Grand Prix. The much-anticipated final, featuring the top two players globally, was expected to be closely contested.
Nevertheless, Littler displayed superior skill from the outset, swiftly taking a commanding 4-0 lead. In a remarkable moment during the game, ‘The Nuke’ came close to achieving a nine-darter in the World Grand Prix, narrowly missing the historic feat.
Undeterred by the near-miss, Littler went on to secure a convincing 6-1 victory, claiming the winner’s prize of £120,000. Humphries, the runner-up, received £60,000 but visibly felt disappointed by the outcome.
In a post-match interview on Sky Sports, Humphries graciously acknowledged Littler’s performance and shared his perspective, stating, “I shifted my focus to entertaining the crowd towards the end as the game slipped away from me.”
Reflecting on his performance, Humphries commented, “While Double 16 has been reliable for me in the past, it wasn’t my ally tonight. It’s a tough loss to accept, as I believed I could have given him a more challenging match.”
Expressing determination to improve, Humphries emphasized the need to elevate his game and work harder to match Littler’s level of play.
Meanwhile, Littler wasted no time in preparing for his next challenge, confirming his participation in the upcoming World Youth Championships in Wigan the following day. He expressed his readiness for the competition, stating, “I’ll head to the world youths tomorrow and aim to enjoy the experience. It’s a short journey, and I’ll give it my all.”
As Humphries vows to enhance his performance, Sky has announced a price reduction for its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, offering significant savings and an expanded coverage of live matches, including over 1,400 games across the Premier League and EFL.
In the upcoming season, Sky plans to broadcast a minimum of 215 live Premier League matches, an increase of up to 100 games compared to previous seasons.
