Humphries cruises to round 3 as Sherrock departs on day 3 at the World Championships.

Luke Humphries began his quest for the Paddy Power World Darts Championship title with a straight-sets victory over Lee Evans on Sunday at London’s Alexandra Palace.

Humphries has been the world’s form player since October, winning the World Grand Prix, Grand Slam of Darts, and Players Championship Finals to move up to world number three.

Humphries arrived in the city as the pre-tournament favourite, and with a hard-fought victory over Evans, he extended his extraordinary winning streak on the televised stage to 14 matches.

The 28-year-old indicated his determination with back-to-back 14-darters on his way to winning the first set, before Evans raised the roof with the tournament’s first 170 checkout midway through set two.

Humphries survived nine set darts to earn his passage in round three after extending his advantage in a second-set decider, with Evans missing a trio of set darts at double in three consecutive legs.

 

“I wasn’t at my best there, but the most important thing for me is that it felt good,” claimed Humphries – a three-time World Championship quarter-finalist.

“I just wanted to get through my first game, because that’s often the toughest, and I know I won’t play like that in the next round.

“When I come back again after Christmas, I will be ready to go. It’s going to be really tough, but if I play like I can, I think it is going to take a big performance to beat me.”

Joe Cullen also advanced to round three in straight sets, defeating DPA Order of Merit champion Darren Penhall, who expects to retire from the sport after this event.

Cullen hit six maximums, nine of his 17 doubles attempts, and a magnificent 160 checkout to finish off an excellent all-around performance.

 

“I couldn’t have wished for it to go any better,” admitted the former Masters champion.

“I was a little bit nervous going up on stage today which doesn’t normally happen, so when Darren hit a 13-darter in the first leg, I thought: ‘I don’t need this!’

“I think I grew into the game and although it wasn’t my best performance, it didn’t need to be, because Darren didn’t play like I know he can.”

Day Three also saw the return of Fallon Sherrock, whose aspirations of making more Alexandra Palace history were dashed by a spirited Jermaine Wattimena, who defeated her 3-1 in the first round.

Sherrock, competing in her fourth World Darts Championship, got off to a strong start, followed up her second maximum with a 14-dart break of throw to take the first set.

Wattimena answered by winning six of the next seven legs to take the lead, though the previous Women’s World Matchplay champion battled back to take set four.

Sherrock, on the other hand, paid the price for missing five darts to force a deciding set, as Wattimena followed up a 110 skin-saver with a double five to win his first game at this event since 20/21.

In other news, Matt Campbell won his first match on the legendary Alexandra Palace stage with a stunning deciding-set triumph over Philippines’ number one Lourence Ilagan.

Campbell had lost his last four matches in the sport’s marquee tournament, but he looked prepared to end that streak after winning six of the first eight legs to take a two-set lead.

Ilagan fought back superbly, landing set-winning 100 and 104 checkouts to tie the match at two apiece, after opening set four with a 153 checkout.

Campbell, on the other hand, completed his victory in spectacular fashion, firing off legs of 14, 12, and 12 darts in the fifth and decisive set, including a match-winning 128 outshot.

 

“Credit to Lourence. He took out some beautiful finishes, but I’m happy to get over the line,” reflected Campbell, a former World Cup of Darts quarter-finalist.

“I felt the pressure from the very first three darts of the match. I put more pressure on myself than anybody else can, but thankfully I kept my cool.”

Ricky Evans will meet World Matchplay winner Nathan Aspinall in round three after winning in straight sets over South Africa’s Simon Adams on Sunday.

Adams took the early lead in an uncomfortable first set, but Evans rallied with a run of eight straight legs to win, including 121, 89, and 112 combinations in a high-quality second set.

Following an incredible comeback victory against newcomer Dylan Slevin, Florian Hempel will continue his rivalry with Dimitri Van den Bergh on the sport’s largest stage.

Following a shaky start, Slevin’s brilliant 167 checkout in set two fired both players into life, but it was Hempel who won 3-1 with five 180s and a 91 average.

Niels Zonneveld overcame late finishing-line nerves to win his first World Championship, a hard-fought 3-1 triumph over two-time quarter-finalist Darren Webster.

Webster rallied from a horrific start to make an unlikely comeback, only to squander six darts in a dramatic finish to the event.

Meanwhile, Jim Williams breezed over Guyana’s Norman Madhoo, finishing with an 11-darter to set up a second round tie against two-time winner Peter Wright.

 

Results

 

Ricky Evans 3-0 Simon Adams (3-2, 3-0, 3-0) (R1)

Jim Williams 3-0 Norman Madhoo (3-0, 3-0, 3-0) (R1)

Matt Campbell 3-2 Lourence Ilagan (3-1, 3-1, 2-3, 2-3, 3-0) (R1)

Joe Cullen 3-0 Darren Penhall (3-1, 3-2, 3-1) (R2)

 

Evening Session

3x First Round, 1x Second Round

Florian Hempel 3-1 Dylan Slevin (1-3, 3-2, 3-2, 3-1) (R1)

Niels Zonneveld 3-1 Darren Webster (3-0, 3-2, 2-3, 3-2) (R1)

Jermaine Wattimena 3-1 Fallon Sherrock (2-3, 3-1, 3-0, 3-2) (R1)

Luke Humphries 3-0 Lee Evans (3-1, 3-2, 3-2) (R2)