Luke Humphries 2024 Betfred World Matchplay Champion
Luke Humphries 2024 Betfred World Matchplay Champion
Cool Hand defeats Michael van Gerwen to add the World Matchplay to his ever growing trophy haul in the last 12 months which includes the World Grand Prix and the World Championship.
Humphries Wins World Matchplay
In what was a repeat of the Players Championship Final in 2023, Michael van Gerwen was looking for his fourth, while Luke Humphries was in his first World Matchplay Final.
A fascinating start with Luke Humphries having darts to win every leg, 11 points up on the average but finding himself 3-2 behind with MvG taking every opportunity with 3/4 on the doubles, but the miss being when he had another dart in hand.
Luke Humphries did take ownership after the break winning four legs on the spin including a 74 checkout on the bullseye until The Green Machine found a 15 dart leg to leave the score at 6-4.
Michael van Gerwen got the early break followed by an unbelievable 141 checkout by Luke Humphries fired right back and with the next three legs going with throw, Cool hand held a 9-6 lead while averaging 100.31.
The dominance of both players on their own throw was showing in the fourth session with Michael winning it 3-2 but all five holds being on throw and no player against the throw getting a dart at a double to break.
Eleven dart leg for Luke Humphries gave him the three leg lead once, that was before Michael van Gerwen went five into a perfect leg and then cleaning up in 14 darts. That followed a 106 & 110 checkout by The Green Machine to level us up at 12-12 before Cool Hand finds a wonderful 86 checkout to keep the lead.
Luke Humphries extended the lead after the break with a break and that was the start of three breaks the final one coming when Luke Humphries punished a missed dart at a bullseye for Michael for a 164 and held the lead by two.
The big finish did come however to the despair at first to Michael van Gerwen it was a sensational 131 from Cool Hand who meant he was two away from the title and Michael fired in a 160 to close the gap once more and the 108 checkout after that meant it was now just one and an important hold needed by MvG next.
Another 160 attempt for MvG this time missing on tops, and then three at double 10 saw Luke return and show him how to hit it and that felt like the final nail in the coffin and Michael van Gerwen won one more leg before the dream was reality for Luke Humphries.
That moment came when Luke Humphries hit 100 on two tops and he became a World Matchplay champion.
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Sunday July 21
Final
Luke Humphries 18-15 Michael van Gerwen
