2024/25 World Championships Day 10 – Luke Humphries reign resumes

Ultimately it was a day that can only be described as darting madness, with shocks, 180s for fun, high checkouts, and the second nine darter of the 2024/25 World Championships. With the first six places of the final sixteen claimed.

Heroics from Heta still not enough to prevail

Despite the nine-darter brilliance from Heta, it would be the in-form Luke Woodhouse who would emerge victorious. When the previous met, it was a rather one-sided contest in which the Australian number one would comfortably win six nil.

But this time, the fight would go the distance, and Woody advanced ahead of Heta.

The Heat’s missed doubles eventually determined the outcome of set one, as Woodhouse capitalised. With an amazing response, Heta started to turn up the heat, first pinning the perfect nine before reeling off the next three sets. Heta was able to take set four despite Woodhouse’s outstanding 158 checkout.

It would take all from Woody to progress again, as the Australian was only one set away from the first place in quarterfinals of the World Championships. But he rose to the occasion and only gave away one leg in the process, paving the door for his triumph. For the first time since September 2023, Luke Woodhouse defeated his close friend Damon Heta.

 

Gerwyn Price edges out an Ally Pally Classical

The Iceman maintained composure in a final-leg shootout versus the Rockstar, Joe Cullen, in what can only be called the tournament’s most memorable match so far this year.

Although, it didn’t always seem going to be the match that when Gerwyn Price surged into an early three set lead. Cullen won 19 legs in total over the seven sets, but it was insufficient to defeat Price (who only managed 18).

Gerwyn Price, who frequently suffered with his power scoring and doubles throughout the year, only allowed eight attempts at the outer ring for the Rockstar across the first three sets, five of which he took.

But it’s safe to say that he displayed no traces of his previous struggled during the early stages of this contest.

But from set four to set six, the game took an unexpected turn, with the Welshman’s average dropping dramatically. The 2022 Masters Champion would only give up three legs to the 2021 World Champion in the subsequent three sets, forcing another final set shootout.

Cullen’s throw was broken by the previous Grand Prix Champion, who pinned an inch-perfect 140 to start the last set in spectacular manner. However, this was swiftly negated by Cullen’s subsequent break of throw.

The Rockstar pinned the second 170 of the 2024/25 World Championships when Price wasted three match darts in the tenth leg, which followed seven breaks of throw after the legs were tied at 2-2.

Price eventually emerged triumphant and secured his spot in the quarterfinals of the 2024–25 World Championships. His 13 maximums, as opposed to Cullen’s 7, were crucial to crossing the finish line.

 

Elsewhere on Day 10 of the World Championships

The brilliance from Bunting was evident for all to see. The Bullet has again proved himself worthy of the World Championships, defeating Madars Razma 4-1 while recording his first 100+ average of the competition.

After winning set three and pinning all three of his double efforts, Razma managed to escape the whitewash defeat.

But again, the Masters Champion was able to run across the finish line in sets four and five thanks to averages above 100.

Despite averaging just less than Super Chin, it was the Ferret who would claim a place in Round 4.

Before Clayton took the early lead, both would exchange legs in the first set. The former Grand Prix Champion put on a classic show in the next two sets, not missing a double in set two and only three in set three. While nailing checkouts of 160 and 120.

With 100+ averages in sets four and five, Daryl Gurney was able to establish himself in the match and assist the Irishman cut the deficit to just one.

After set six, the match would be tied, but despite the hard work of Gurney.

It would be the former Premier League champion who would prevail into the next round of the World Championships.

The two-time World Champion and the highflying Jermaine Wattimena faced off in the night’s penultimate match.

Snakebite defeated the Machine Gun by four sets to two, displaying a seasoned performance despite his earlier struggles during the year.

With remarkable ease, the merciless Peter Wright won the first two sets, giving up just one leg to Wattimena. However, the Dutchman was finally able to claim a set ahead of Wright with a set average above 102.

But the Scottish Number one would win three straight legs to put himself within one set of winning, which he finally did in the sixth set.

 

Luke Humphries, the current world champion, defeated Nick Kenny in the night’s last match. Even though he had previously defeated Steve Buntz and Raymond van Barneveld, the Welshman was unable to replicate his prior performances.

Humphries, however, won the to nil for the second time in a row at the 2024–2025 World Championships.The only time the World Matchplay Champion appeared likely to give up a set was in the first one, when the two had exchanged the first four legs. However, a pivotal break of throw in the final leg quickly stamped this out.

However, the World Number only gave just two legs out of a total of eleven played in the next three sets, which were easily won. Cool Hand pinned the highest checkout of the match, 145, in the penultimate leg of the match.

Luke Humphries took up the last spot available in the quarterfinals from Day 10 of the World Championships.

 

2024/25 World Championships – Day 10 Results

Damon Heta 3-4 Luke Woodhouse

Daryl Gurney 3-4 Jonny Clayton

Stephen Bunting 4-1 Madars Razma

Joe Cullen 3-4 Gerwyn Price

Peter Wright 4-2 Jermaine Wattimena

Nick Kenny 0-4  Luke Humphries