Gerwyn Price is bidding to become only the fourth player in BoyleSports World Grand Prix history to claim multiple double-start titles, ahead of his meeting with Luke Humphries in Sunday’s showpiece.
Price, who lifted the coveted title in 2020, dumped out world number one Michael Smith in Saturday’s semi-finals to progress to a third World Grand Prix final in four years.
The Welshman is now eyeing a second double-start crown at Leicester's Morningside Arena, as he aims to join the elite trio of Phil Taylor, James Wade and Michael van Gerwen in achieving the feat.
“It would mean the world to me to lift another trophy,” insisted Price, who is without a televised ranking title since he celebrated a hat-trick of Grand Slam successes in November 2021.
“I don’t particularly enjoy the double-start format, but I think I concentrate a little more and get into the zone, and sometimes the cream rises to the top!
“I’m defending a lot of ranking points over the next few months, so I want to do well here and ease the pressure going into the Grand Slam and the World Championship.
“It's going to be a tough game. Luke is a great player. He’s had a bit of lady-luck on his side in this tournament, as we saw with Peter [Wright] missing match darts."
Price breezed through to the last four in Leicester without conceding a set, sweeping aside 2021 semi-finalist Danny Noppert, Poland’s number one Krzysztof Ratajski and German star Martin Schindler.
However, he was forced to recover from 2-1 down in sets to topple World Champion Smith, winning nine of the last ten legs to cap off a terrific fightback.
“Michael Smith is the World Champion and world number one, so I knew it was going to be difficult,” reflected Price, a 2/5 favourite with title sponsor BoyleSports to regain his crown.
“I felt I probably should have been 2-0 up, and then I found myself 2-1 down. It was a bit of a rollercoaster, but I fought back and put him under pressure from then on.
“I haven’t played particularly well, but when you’re winning and not playing at your best, it goes a long way, because if you’re losing and playing well, you’ve got nowhere to go.”
Humphries has also relinquished just two sets in progressing to a second televised ranking final, overcoming Daryl Gurney, Luke Woodhouse, Peter Wright and Joe Cullen in the process.
The 28-year-old survived three match darts against 2018 runner-up Wright, launching a stunning fightback from 2-0 down to stun the Scot in an epic quarter-final tussle.
However, the sixth seed emerged unscathed from meetings with Gurney, Woodhouse and Cullen, dispatching the latter in Saturday’s semi-finals to break new ground in the double-start format.
Humphries will move into the world’s top four at Price’s expense with victory on Sunday, although the Welshman is in defiant mood as he targets a sixth ranking title of 2023.
“I’ve got plenty more gears left, but it’s about whether I can bring them out,” added Price, who also steered Wales to a second World Cup of Darts success alongside Jonny Clayton in June.
“I’m playing nowhere near my best, but if I do, then I think I will lift this trophy.
“I’m still winning matches, I'm still winning tournaments, so when I bring my A-game, they can look out!”
The BoyleSports World Grand Prix final will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK, through the PDC's worldwide broadcast partners including DAZN and Viaplay, and on PDCTV (excluding UK, Germany, Austria & Switzerland based subscribers).
2023 BoyleSports World Grand Prix
Sunday October 8 (2000 BST)
Final
Gerwyn Price v Luke Humphries
Best of Nine Sets