Luke Humphries secured his place in the World Grand Prix final with a hard-fought 5-3 victory over James Wade in Leicester. The world number two averaged 96.92 and fired in 10 180s as he reached the final for the fourth successive time.
Humphries, who won the title in 2023 but has lost in the past two finals, took the opening set before Wade produced a brilliant 141 checkout to draw level. The pair exchanged the next two sets, but Humphries then took control to move 4-2 ahead. Wade refused to go quietly and pulled one back to keep the match alive, but Humphries held his nerve in the eighth set to seal victory on double top.
"I've got to do it again because there's so many major finals I've let slip. Gezzy [Price] is playing well but if I play like that again, it's going to be a cracking game and I hope it is," Humphries told Sky Sports. "To make four Grand Prix finals on the trot is super special. It's history for myself and I'm proud of that but unless I pick that trophy up, unfortunately that history doesn't mean anything."
In the other semi-final, Gerwyn Price beat a spirited Nathan Aspinall 5-2. The Welshman took a three-set lead as Aspinall struggled to reproduce the form that had seen him average 105.15 in his quarter-final win over Ryan Joyce. Aspinall briefly rallied and produced a superb 132 checkout - the highest of the match - to get a set on the board. The 35-year-old then threatened to turn the match around when he reduced the deficit to one set at 3-2. However, Price regained his composure and closed out the next two sets without reply to secure his place in the final.
Price said he was "frustrated" by Aspinall's antics during the match as he interacted with a partisan crowd at the Mattioli Arena. "I'm glad to come through the game. Nathan was complaining about the crowd, but they were on his side," Price said. "He's performing a little bit on stage. I'm great friends with Nathan, but take it on the chin sometimes when you're losing."
The final takes place on Sunday evening in Leicester, where Humphries will face Price.
