"I'm proud of myself. I didn't give up" - Luke Humphries produces comeback for the ages to keep Dutch Darts Championship hopes alive

Luke Humphries kept his Dutch Darts Championship hopes alive on Saturday with a dramatic second-round victory over Cameron Menzies in Rosmalen. In a high-octane contest that went the distance, the world number one emerged victorious in a gripping final leg to underline his title credentials.

The match was played at a blistering pace and to an exceptional standard. Trailing 5-3, Humphries showed resilience and composure to claw his way back and seal a 6-5 win. The Englishman posted a sensational 105.76 average and fired in six 180s in the process.

Menzies, who matched Humphries blow for blow and even landed seven maximums, looked poised to pull off an upset but couldn’t close it out. Humphries turned on the style in the closing stages, delivering legs of 12, 13, and 12 darts to complete a brilliant comeback.

‘Cool Hand Luke’ — a seven-time European Tour event winner — has yet to lift a title this season, but his performance against Menzies was a strong statement of intent. Speaking after the match, he expressed satisfaction with both the result and his level of play. “I’m proud of myself there,” reflected a relieved Humphries in his post-match interview afterwards. “I didn’t give up, and I managed to fight back and get the win with a decent performance. It was nice to get some emotion out and feel that good after winning the game."

Top seed Humphries now faces former world champion Michael Smith on Sunday afternoon, with a place in the quarter-finals at stake. “Now I need to build on my performance and be better tomorrow against Michael," Humphries concluded.

Looking ahead, an even bigger challenge looms next week. On Thursday, the 30-year-old will compete in the Premier League Darts Play-Offs at London’s O2 Arena, where he faces Nathan Aspinall in the semi-finals. The winner will take on either Luke Littler or Gerwyn Price in the final later that evening.

The Premier League remains one of the few major titles missing from Humphries’ résumé — a void he’ll be determined to fill.