Luke Humphries Clinches Final Spot

Luke Humphries will compete against three-time champion Michael van Gerwen in his first World Matchplay final. Humphries secured his spot in Sunday’s final at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens by defeating James Wade 17-10. Meanwhile, Van Gerwen earned his place by overcoming Michael Smith 17-13 in their semi-final clash. In his match against Wade, Humphries struggled initially, with the score tied at 5-5 after the first two sessions. Wade briefly took the lead after the break but Humphries fought back, claiming an 8-7 lead and then winning four consecutive legs to solidify his advantage.

A key moment came when Humphries executed a remarkable 156 checkout, leading 15-9 before sealing his victory and reaching his first World Matchplay final. Reflecting on his performance, Luke Humphries acknowledged, “I don’t know how I won 17-10. It was a fantastic game and James was fantastic. Against another player, he probably would have won. I was just deadly in that mid-part.” Van Gerwen’s pursuit of a fourth World Matchplay title remains strong after a dramatic semi-final against Smith. The match saw momentum shift frequently with Smith staging several comebacks to narrow the gap.

The turning point occurred in the 25th leg when Smith missed a crucial double top, allowing Van Gerwen to hit a stunning 136 checkout to hold his throw. Smith lost his rhythm in the following legs and Van Gerwen took advantage, closing out the match in the 30th leg. Van Gerwen noted, “I have to make sure my doubles are better in the final, but my scoring made up for it. I know what I’m capable of, and my scoring power is better than Luke’s, so I need to ensure my rhythm carries on tomorrow.”

The final promises an exciting clash between two of darts’ top competitors.