Pre-tournament favourite Luke Humphries is through to round two at the 2024 World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam. The world champion saw off the challenge of Haupai Puha on Friday night, 6-3.
Although "Hopes" was able to keep the pace with "Cool Hand Luke" early on in the tie, the New Zealander eventually had to acknowledge his superiority to the Englishman, with Humphries able to secure, with relative ease, a comfortable 6-3 win in the end.
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"I felt a bit frustrated," admits Humphries afterwards, in conversation with Online Darts. "I felt really good throughout the game, I was just hitting so many wires. As a dart player, that does frustrate you because you're just millimetres away from having a really, really good game. Hopes put so much pressure on me there too, he was hitting the right scores at the right time and just a couple of missed doubles could've easily flipped the game around. Very fortunate to get through in the end."
This time last year, Humphries had yet to lift a major TV title. Whilst he has now claimed a number of major titles over the twelve months, the World Series of Darts Finals is one still missing from his trophy cabinet. "Looking at the upcoming calendar, regardless of what happened last year, there's some incredible majors coming up that you'd lick your lips wanting to win," says the world champion. "I'm very much doubtful that you're going to see what I did last year, this year. I'll be happy with one of the three, from the World Grand Prix the Grand Slam and the Players Championship Finals."
Given the incredible level Humphries has shown over the last year though, and the dominance he has shown over probably the greatest quality darting field ever seen, 'Cool Hand Luke' is well on his way to placing himself amongst the pantheon of all time greats from the sport. "Look at my career when I finished," Humphries insists. "In 20 years time, I could be up there with the absolute best. I'd love to be sat, when I'm finished, in the top five of the greats."