Cool Hand crowned King of the Big Apple! Luke Humphries takes down Nathan Aspinall in enthralling US Darts Masters final

Luke Humphries has only won one World Series of Darts title previously but add the one that he wanted to win to that collection as he is the US Darts Masters champion seeing off Nathan Aspinall 8-6 on Saturday in an enthralling final.

Humphries won in New Zealand last year but said that he wanted to add his name to the American folklore which also includes such sports as MLB, NFL among others as winning in America.

He has done just that in a thrilling affair with Aspinall who said that he couldn't get off the toilet before his opening game and didn't have his wife Kirsty with him. But he still managed to produce in another superb week for Aspinall. Albeit without the just rewards that he needed.

To start the final, Humphries opened up with the throw with both having a flying start to the clash as Aspinall looked to put pressure on early on. A 140 left 38 for Humphries. Aspinall sat on 112 but couldn't get a 60 and Humphries looked at double 19 pinning it first time in the race to eight.

Aspinall couldn't hit a 164 and Humphries got an early break chance hitting double 20 for 2-0 up. The excellence from Humphries continued as he held on double 20 for 3-0. Aspinall returned with an 11-dart 87 salvo to make it 3-1 and hoist himself back into contention but Humphries held for 4-1 to go halfway home. He pinned a 67 checkout for it.

He did have chances to break again as Aspinall fluffed around and sealed a 4-2 deficit after a 20 dart leg so certainly not vintage from either but in Aspinall's case, it kept him alive.

Humphries was down to double 20 after 12-darts and with Aspinall nowhere near, h was allowed time to hit it. He pinned double 20 for 5-2. Humphries wasn't winning yet as Aspinall hit double 16 to make it 5-3. He only needed a break.

Humphries kicked off 42 and Aspinall hit 140 to gain the impetus. He hit a 120 with 60 on the floor and he suddenly had the chance from 107 after nine to break Humphries.

Humphries left it handy in case Aspinall couldn't break but he could as he fought back on double 20 to make it 5-4. Humphries missed break chances twice and Aspinall had a chance at 90 to hold and he hit the bull to make it 5-5 and suddenly throw the match into a real contest.

Humphries hit a superb 142 checkout on double 11 though to say I'm still here and he was two away from the title 6-5. The crowd were singing Aspinall's walk-on song Mr Brightside but he couldn't find a way through the malaise of bull to pin 135.

He could come back though for 65. Albeit he was only going to get one dart having snuck it into single 14 and he hit double 16 for 6-6. When your luck is in and it certainly was in that case as he made it 6-6.

Humphries pinned double 20 and Aspinall had the need to take it all the way at 7-6 down. Humphries didn't want a decider as he hit a 180. Aspinall couldn't send it all the way and in sheer darting drama, Humphries couldn't pin double 16 or double eight for the title. Aspinall had chances to send it all the way and the width of the wire snookered him as Humphries fell over the line on double eight.

What about the tale of the tape as Damon Heta was the first winner of the night in New York ending the run of Jason Brandon who was quickly skittled out of proceedings by the Aussie ace. 'The Heat' brushed aside Brandon 6-0 to make the semi-finals on his New York debut.

He would go on to face Nathan Aspinall who slumped out 'The Nuke' Luke Littler. Littler was adamant that his best darts would come out as the tournament goes on but he wasn't actually given the chance to do it.

Aspinall punished costly missed doubles from Littler who hit a mesly 4/14 despite hitting a 108.8 average and six 180's showing his game was in good nick. But Aspinall hit a 105.8 to lurk in the background to take advantage of those misses. This made it back-to-back wins over the World Champion and saw 'The Asp' on his road towards the final despite by his own admission being under the weather this week.

Luke Humphries was next to head towards the summit with 'Cool Hand Luke' again dispatching a top American in Danny Lauby. It was Matt Campbell earlier who won the North American Championship and it was Lauby like Brandon who couldn't produce after playing earlier on. He hit an average of just 77.3 to lose out 6-2 against Humphries.

Michael van Gerwen returned this weekend but he is not the finished article again just as the Dutchman with a new look, looking slender having a lot to build on this week after a pretty hellish few weeks personally. He was dumped out by Gerwyn Price.

'The Iceman' completed the semi-final line-up in New York by taking out the 2023 champion 6-3 with a 98.2 average and a high checkout of 138.

But it was Aspinall who continued his charge in the opening semi-final. 'The Asp' found his way through to the showpiece final by taking down Damon Heta 7-3 with a 102 average, six 180's and 7/11 on the doubles.

Aspinall said that he was desperate to win a first World Series title in some time and ironically the first outside of Las Vegas where he famously won in 2019. He also remarked that he is a lot better of a player since that run back then and he is definitely right about that as he continued to march on against the Aussie ace who certainly showed why he was included this weekend.

Onto the second semi-final as Humphries punished a pretty below par Gerwyn Price. Price hit an average of just 90 and 2/6 on the outer ring. This made a display from Humphries look better than it perhaps was with the World No.1 hitting 7/20 on the outer ring so missing 13 darts at a double and still finding the edge.

It was a surge towards the back end with Humphries hitting a 68 checkout to make it 3-2 before holding for 4-2. Price couldn't hit 106 and so Humphries returned for double 20 to make it 5-2.

Before Humphries came back for double eight for 6-2 to hold. But he broke to seal the win claiming a 13-darter to make it 7-2 and find his way into the final where he took on Aspinall.