World Matchplay Darts: Luke Humphries joins the greats after beating Michael van Gerwen to claim title in Blackpool | Darts News

Luke Humphries celebrates a maiden World Matchplay title with an exhilarating 18-15 victory over Michael van Gerwen at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens on Sunday; Darts is again with the World Grand Prix on Sky Sports from October 7-13 at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester

Luke Humphries turned simply the fourth man to win the World Championship and World Matchplay in the identical 12 months after a dramatic conquer Michael van Gerwen in Blackpool.

The world No 1, who received at Alexandra Palace in January, cemented his place at the summit of the sport with a surprising 18-15 win over Van Gerwen at the Winter Gardens.

Victory sees him be part of the Dutchman, Phil Taylor and Peter Wright in profitable the two most prestigious competitions in the identical 12 months.

The match might have gone both means, with Van Gerwen lacking 4 darts to make it 16-16 as Humphries claimed a maiden Matchplay title.

“I am really blessed to be up on this stage in this great sport. To put my name on the Phil Taylor Trophy means the world to me,” mentioned Humphries, who averaged 100.94 and fired in 12 maximums.

“I’ve just got to a level where I feel really comfortable. I’ve worked incredibly hard on my game and this is the reward I get for it.”

Victory sees Humphries be part of Van Gerwen, Phil Taylor and Peter Wright in profitable the two most prestigious competitions in the identical 12 months.

Since Humphries was crushed in the Matchplay semi-final 12 months in the past he has made eight finals in 10 main tournaments, profitable seven of them in a stellar 12 months the place he has constantly been the finest participant, with solely Luke Littler for competitors.

And he has a hoodoo over Van Gerwen as this was the eighth-straight victory over the Dutchman, who was eyeing a fourth title in Blackpool.

Van Gerwen hoped to finish a lean 12 months by profitable his largest match since the 2023 Premier League however got here up brief in opposition to the Humphries juggernaut.

It was an enthralling battle that would have gone both means and Van Gerwen will probably be leaving with regrets as he had 4 darts to degree at 16-16 after which one other three to make it 17-16.

But Humphries claimed a maiden title in Blackpool and a £200,000 payday, by taking out 100 as his domination continued.

Humphries had darts to win every of the opening 5 legs, however he discovered himself behind at the first interval, regardless of averaging 104 to Van Gerwen’s 93.

The Dutchman – affected by profligacy in the semi-finals – was ruthless on the outer ring in the early exchanges, however Humphries seized management with a run of 4 straight legs to transfer 6-3 forward.

The No 1 adopted up legs of 14 and 13 darts with a 74 checkout on the bull throughout this spell, however Van Gerwen responded with back-to-back legs to get the contest again on throw.

Humphries struck an enormous blow with a chic 141 checkout to restore his two-leg buffer at 7-5, though Van Gerwen remained defiant, in spite of his opponent’s blistering barrage of most hitting.

Humphries’ 141 end sparked a sequence of ten consecutive holds of throw, however that run was damaged in leg 23 by Van Gerwen, who transformed a medical 106 to full a 12-dart break.

MVG made it back-to-back ton-plus outshots with a 110 mixture to degree at 12-12, though Humphries halted Van Gerwen’s cost with a nerveless 86 end to edge again forward at 13-12.

The pair then traded breaks of throw as the pendulum continued to swing, just for Humphries to regain management at 15-13 after Van Gerwen wired the bull for a spectacular 164 leveller.

The world champion reaffirmed his management with an excellent 131 end to lead 16-13, however Van Gerwen refused to relent, changing successive 160 and 108 mixtures to scale back the arrears to a solitary leg.

The contest took one other twist in a dramatic 32nd leg, as Van Gerwen missed tops for an additional sensational 160 checkout, earlier than squandering one other three darts at double 10 to degree.

His frustration was compounded by Humphries pinning the identical goal to transfer a leg away from glory at 17-15, though the drama wasn’t carried out there.

‘Mighty Mike’ created one other break alternative with a terrific scoring leg, solely to miss an extra 4 darts at double to keep alive, and Humphries capitalised with a surprising tops-tops 100 end to cap off an epic affair.

“We all know I didn’t start off the game very well, but I had my chances. I made mistakes but I also felt I was the better player. I have to do a little bit more,” mentioned Van Gerwen.

“I at all times battle, however once you maintain lacking doubles it may be such a irritating sport generally.

“People want to know I by no means quit.

“I’m going to make [this rivalry with Humphries] really difficult in the next couple of years. I just felt I deserved a little bit more.”

What’s subsequent on Sky Sports?

The 2024 BoyleSports World Grand Prix is subsequent on the Sky Sports darting calendar.

The annual £600,000 match will happen at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester from October 7-13, as 32 of the world’s high stars compete for the coveted title which was received by Luke Humphries.

Humphries celebrated his maiden TV rating title with victory over Gerwyn Price in final 12 months’s match, and the world No 1 will return to defend his title later this 12 months.

Six-time champion Michael van Gerwen can be set to star, with teenage celebrity Luke Littler poised to make his double-start debut in the East Midlands.

In a change to final 12 months’s format, Saturday’s semi-finals on October 12 will probably be contested over the better of 9 units, with the ultimate set to be performed over the better of 11 units on Sunday, October 13.

Ad content | Stream Sky Sports on NOW

Stream Sky Sports reside with no contract on a Month or Day membership on NOW. Instant entry to reside motion from the Premier League and EFL, plus darts, cricket, tennis, golf and a lot extra.