HUMPHRIES FLIES THROUGH! Luke Humphries announces his arrival in the tournament with a 101.78 average in a thumping win over Jose de Sousa. 📺 bit.ly/WM23Live | #WMDarts R1
Luke Humphries has announced himself in a statement win to open his World Matchplay campaign in Blackpool.
Humphries flew through in a thumping 10-2 win over 'The Special One' Jose de Sousa joining Nathan Aspinall who won to start Sunday evening.
He averaged 101.78 in the process with six 180's and 43.5% on the outer ring with De Sousa hitting only 2/10 (20%) in defeat.
To begin the tie, Humphries raced into a 4-1 lead averaging that 101 to begin proceedings and punishing seven of those ten missed darts at doubles.
He went six darts into a nine-dart finish but converted double 18 from there for a 10-darter to make it 5-1.
De Sousa continued not to get a sniff and Humphries hammered in a 114 checkout to go 8-1 up and towards the finishing line.
De Sousa stopped the rot to trail 8-2 with an 87 checkout but Humphries was soon towards the finishing line sealing the deal on double eight for a 16-darter.
The tournament will be broadcast in full on Sky Sports going between Action and Main Event.
From Saturday, July 15 through Wednesday, July 20, broadcasts will begin around 7 p.m. ET. In addition, on Sunday, July 16, there will be an afternoon session starting at 1 p.m. After the second round, the starting time of the evening sessions moves up one hour.
On Sunday afternoon, July 24, the second edition of the Women's World Matchplay is scheduled to begin at 1:00 pm. Here, eight ladies will compete for the title at the most important women's tournament in the PDC.
After the World Darts Championship, the World Matchplay is the ranking tournament with the largest prize pool at the PDC. A total of 800,000 pounds of prize money is up for grabs at this event.
All 32 participants are guaranteed £10,000 in prize money. This could eventually add up to a check of as much as £200,000 for the darter who gets to lift the Phil Taylor Trophy on Sunday, July 23.
HUMPHRIES FLIES THROUGH! Luke Humphries announces his arrival in the tournament with a 101.78 average in a thumping win over Jose de Sousa. 📺 bit.ly/WM23Live | #WMDarts R1