"I thought well you're going to get it back": Luke Humphries was left fired up by Van den Bergh's 'shoulder roll' antics at World Matchplay

Luke Humphries sealed a 16-10 win over Dimitri van den Bergh to plot his route through to the semi-finals of the 2024 World Matchplay with James Wade next.

Humphries who is the World Number One is the favourite for the title over the coming days and he proved it again at times despite not being at his A star best against the Dreammaker.

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"I didn't feel like I had a grasp on it. I felt it was anybody's game especially after the first 20 legs. 11-9 up I felt I was probably lucky. Maybe if Dimitri was 11-9 up probably would've felt lucky as well because we both weren't playing great. The last mini session is what won it. I was much better than Dimitri, he wasn't very good and I was brilliant so I think that was what won the game," said Humphries.

"I just struggled with my game. I didn't feel comfortable. Sometimes you walk up on that stage and don't feel comfortable. Not everytime you walk up there and feel unbelievable and feel like you can hit 100 averages. When I walked up there on Saturday night I felt unbelievable and felt like I could've hit what I did and I did. Sometimes you walk up there and it doesn't feel as good as it should do. To walk away with 101 average, it says that maybe my standards are too high sometimes. I did enough to win in the end."

But one of the main moments came when Van den Bergh did a shoulder roll celebration and Humphries gave it back with more vigour. He said he spurred him on and gave him the extra motivation.

"When Dimitri hit the second 180, he did the shoulder roll and I thought that's such an unnatural reaction. Usually you'd give it a bit of swag. I thought well if this goes on I'm giving it back to you to be honest. I'm not shy to celebrate. You don't really see a lot of celebrations from me to be honest but I'm not shy to do it. As soon as he did that I thought well you're going to get it back to be honest. I was pretty revved up after that. Maybe that could've been the mistake he made. When people do things like that, it revs me up."

"That 106 it gave me the energy I needed. I take those energy gels to give me the burst of energy. I wouldn't have needed anything because that just gave me a burst of energy to be honest. It was good fun, everyone loves to see a bit of needle. There's no animosity between me and Dimitri but it gave me a spur to push on and win the game in a good fashion."

Next up is James Wade and it is a tie he isn't relishing as much due to them being friends off the stage even if 'The Machine' doesn't want to admit it.

"We're good friends and he won't like me saying that as he doesn't like anybody calling him a friend but we are. If he was honest, he'd say that. His finishing is always fantastic. Gutted I'm playing him because I'd rather play him in the final. But it is what it is."

"We're both going to fancy our chances. I'm certainly going to fancy mine. He's going to fancy his and he's just a player not to underestimate. I know if I'm on my A game it's going to be a massive struggle for him. But if I'm not he's got every chance of winning."