Luke Humphries won his first World Matchplay title on Sunday with an 18-15 victory over Michael van Gerwen at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens. Darts returns with the Sky Sports World Grand Prix at Leicester’s Mattioli Arena from 7-13 October.
Sunday 21 July 2024, 23:12, UK
Luke Humphreys became just the fourth player to win both the World Championship and World Match Play in the same year with his dramatic win over Michael van Gerwen in Blackpool.
The world number one, who won at Alexandra Palace in January, cemented his place at the top of world tennis with a convincing 18-15 victory over Van Gerwen at the Winter Gardens.
The win makes him just the second Dutchman, Phil Taylor, and Peter Wright, to win two of the most prestigious tournaments in the same year.
The match could have gone either way but Van Gerwen missed four darts to make it 16-16 and give Humphries his first match play title.
Humphries’ 100-point score earned him his first World Matchplay title.
Humphries says he plans to watch Tops Tops check out after winning the World Match Play and being a multiple-time champion.
“I’m incredibly happy to be on the stage of this great sport and to have my name on the Phil Taylor Trophy means absolutely nothing to me,” said Humphries, who averaged 100.94 and recorded 12 top scores.
“I’ve reached a level where I feel really comfortable. I’ve worked extremely hard on my game and this is the reward.”
The win makes Humphreys the latest player to join Van Gerwen, Phil Taylor and Peter Wright as winners of two of the most prestigious tournaments in the same year.
Humphries celebrates World Matchplay win in style
Since losing in the Match Play semi-finals 12 months ago, Humphries has had a fantastic year, reaching eight finals in 10 major tournaments and winning seven of them, as he continued to be the best player competing alongside Luke Littler.
And he was unlucky against Van Gerwen, as this was his eighth straight win against the Dutchman, who was bidding for a fourth title in Blackpool.
Van Gerwen had hoped to end a lacklustre 12 months with a win in the biggest competition since the Premier League in 2023 but fell short against Humphreys’ powerhouse side.
It was a fascinating battle that could have gone either way and Van Gerwen will go out with some frustration after needing four darts to tie the score at 16-16 and then three more to make it 17-16.
But Humphries continued to dominate, winning his 100th race and taking his first title at Blackpool and the £200,000 prize money.
Humphries had the darts to win each of the first five legs but, despite averaging 104 to van Gerwen’s 93, found himself on the back foot at the first interval.
The Dutchman, who had suffered a spending spree in the semi-final, was relentless in the opening exchanges, but Humphries took control in four consecutive legs to lead 6-3.
The No.1 then fired in a 74 checkout with the bull following 14-dart and 13-dart legs, but Van Gerwen fought back with successive legs to force the match back into a toss.
Humphries hit a massive 141 checkout to restore a two-leg lead at 7-5, but Van Gerwen remained defiant despite a ferocious barrage of maximum hits from his opponent.
“Cool Hand” recovered from being bounded out to hit this “Zeus-like” 141.
Humphries’ finish of 141 sparked a run of 10 consecutive slow holds that was interrupted in the 23rd leg by Van Gerwen, who hit a perfect 106 to complete a 12-dart break.
MVG hit consecutive hundreds and out-shots with a 110 combination to level the score at 12-12, but Humphries finished with a cool 86 to halt Van Gerwen’s attack and retake the lead at 13-12.
They then traded breaks and the match continued to swing before Van Gerwen hit the bull for a brilliant level score of 164 to put Humphreys back in control at 15-13.
The world champion proved his superiority with a brilliant 131 finish to lead 16-13, but Van Gerwen refused to give up, hitting successive combinations of 160 and 108 to cut the deficit to one leg.
The match took another dramatic turn in a dramatic 32nd leg when Van Gerwen missed a tops attempt for a sensational 160 checkout and then wasted three more darts at double ten to level the score.
His frustration was compounded when Humphries pinned the same target to come within a hair of glory, 17-15, but the drama didn’t end there.
‘Mighty Mike’ created another break chance with a superb scoring leg but missed four more darts at double to stay alive and Humphries capped off this epic match with a stunning top 100 finish.
Van Gerwen felt he had a chance to win the World Matchplay and should have done more.
“We all know I didn’t start the match very well but I had my chances, I made mistakes but I also felt I was the better player so I just need to work a bit harder,” van Gerwen said.
“I’m always competing, but sometimes it can be a very frustrating match when I keep missing doubles.
“I need people to know that I never give up.
“I [this rivalry with Humphries] The next few years were going to be really tough. I felt like I just needed to try a little harder.”
What’s next for Sky Sports?
Next up on the Sky Sports darts calendar is the Boyle Sports World Grand Prix in 2024.
The annual £600,000 prize pool tournament will take place at Leicester’s Mattioli Arena from 7-13 October, with 32 of the world’s best stars competing for the prestigious title, previously won by Luke Humphreys.
Humphries won his first TV ranking title with a win over Gerwyn Price at last year’s tournament and the world number one will be defending his title later this year.
Six-time winner Michael van Gerwen is also due to feature, while teenage superstar Luke Littler will make his Double debut for the East Midlands.
In a change from last year’s format, the semi-finals on Saturday, October 12th will be played as best of nine sets, with the final set being played as best of 11 sets on Sunday, October 13th.
A look back at last year’s thrilling World Grand Prix final in Leicester
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