Super Luke Leeds the way to victory
LUKE Humphries celebrated his fourth nightly win of the 2024 BetMGM Premier League in Leeds.
Leeds United fan Humphries – roared on by an 11,000-strong crowd– edged out Michael Van Gerwen in a dramatic finale.
The world champion also recorded 6-1 wins against Rob Cross and Michael Smith on his way to scooping the £10,000 top prize on the penultimate night of league action.
Humphries averaged over 109 in his quarter-final demolition of Cross, reeling off six consecutive legs in 17, 12, 15, 12, 13 and 11 darts to avenge his defeat to the 2018 world champion in Aberdeen last week.
The world number one then dispatched 2023 world champion Smith by the same 6-1 scoreline, aided by a 102 average and four maximums.
However, Humphries made a laboured start against Van Gerwen, who established an early two-leg lead.
Humphries hit back to go 5-4 up and although Van Gerwen forced a last-leg shoot-out, Humphries took out 78 after the Dutchman missed a dart at bull.
“This was a dream for me tonight,” said Humphries, who donned a shirt in Leeds’ white, blue and yellow colours.
“The support was amazing, and to go on and win, this probably ranks as one of my best experiences in darts.
“The crowd were absolutely fantastic. When you walk out there and you’ve got so many people wanting you to win, it is what dreams are made of.”
Humphries had to settle for second place in the Baltic Sea Darts Open in Kiel, Germany, for the second year running.
A nine-dart finish from Humphries had seen him lead Rob Cross in the final, but Cross took five of the next six legs to win his second European title.
Humphries had started the final day with a 6-4 victory over Ross Smith, before beating Michael van Gerwen 6-3 in the quarter-finals and Danny Noppert 7-4 in the last four.