Luke Humphries celebrated a maiden Betfred World Matchplay title with a thrilling 18-15 victory over Michael van Gerwen at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens on Sunday.
mHumphries led for much of the contest, but he was forced to fend off a valiant fightback from Van Gerwen on his way to lifting the coveted Phil Taylor Trophy at the Empress Ballroom.
The world number one had won his last seven meetings against the Dutchman, and he extended that remarkable record to clinch his fifth televised ranking title in the space of nine months.
Humphries had darts to win each of the opening five legs, but he found himself behind at the first interval, despite averaging 104 to Van Gerwen’s 93.
The Dutchman – plagued by missed doubles in the semi-finals – was ruthless on the outer ring in the early exchanges, but Humphries seized control with a run of four straight legs to move 6-3 ahead.
The world number one followed up legs of 14 and 13 darts with a 74 checkout on the bull during this spell, but Van Gerwen responded with back-to-back legs to get the contest back on throw.
Humphries struck a huge blow with a sublime 141 checkout to restore his two-leg buffer at 7-5, although Van Gerwen remained defiant, in spite of his opponent’s blistering barrage of maximum hitting.
Humphries’ 141 finish sparked a sequence of ten consecutive holds of throw, but that run was broken in leg 23 by Van Gerwen, who converted a clinical 106 kill to complete a 12-dart break.
The Dutchman made it back-to-back ton-plus outshots with a 110 combination to level at 12-12, although Humphries halted Van Gerwen’s charge with a nerveless 86 finish to edge back ahead at 13-12.
The pair then traded breaks of throw as the pendulum continued to swing, only for Humphries to regain control at 15-13 after Van Gerwen wired the bull for a spectacular 164 leveller.
The World Champion reaffirmed his control with a brilliant 131 finish to lead 16-13, but Van Gerwen refused to relent, converting successive 160 and 108 combinations to reduce the arrears to a solitary leg.
The contest took another twist in a dramatic 32nd leg, as Van Gerwen missed tops for another sensational 160 checkout, before squandering another three darts at double ten to level.
His frustration was compounded by Humphries pinning the same target to move a leg away from glory at 17-15, although the drama wasn’t done there.
Van Gerwen created another break opportunity with a terrific scoring leg, only to miss a further four darts at double to stay alive, and Humphries capitalised with a stunning tops-tops 100 finish to cap off an epic affair.
Sunday July 21 (8pm)
FINAL (35)
Luke Humphries 18-15 Michael van Gerwen
Prize Fund
Winner - £200,000
Runner-Up - £100,000
Semi-Finalists - £50,000
Quarter-Finalists - £30,000
Second Round Losers - £15,000
First Round Losers - £10,000
Total - £800,000
