19/07/2024

Lethal Luke Humphries dispatches Dimitri van den Bergh to reach World Matchplay semi-finals

Luke Humphries has advanced to the last four at the 2024 World Matchplay this night at the expense of Dimitri van den Bergh. The world champion outlasted the former World Matchplay champion 16-10.

Humphries started the match excellently. He broke Van den Bergh twice in the first three legs to take a 3-0 lead. 'Cool Hand Luke' then got a lot sloppier and allowed Van den Bergh to come back to 3-2 prior to the first break.

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Van den Bergh then saw Humphries miss two darts on the outer ring in the sixth leg, before tying the match with a 14-darter. A 15-darter in the seventh leg then gave the Belgian his first lead of the match. Humphries then held his own leg, before both players then did so again. In the 11th leg came the next break. Humphries threw out 60 and got to 6-5. He lost that break in the fourteenth leg after a 40 finish from Van den Bergh. However, Humphries broke 'The Dreammaker' right back with a 10-darter for an 8-7 lead.

Humphries managed to stretch out to an 11-8 lead in the fourth session, but then failed to hold his own leg in six visits. Via a 17-darter, Van den Bergh kept the damage limited and it was only 11-9 entering the final break. It then became 11-10 after Humphries was again sloppy, leaving four chances on doubles unused in the 21st leg. 'Cool Hand Luke,' however, retained his break lead by throwing a fine 106 finish in the following leg.

That checkout caused some relaxation for the world number one, who then further distanced himself from his Belgian opponent. A 15-darter and a 13-darter made it 14-10 for Humphries. He then fired in a 164 finish to make it 15-10. Humphries needed only one more leg for the match and this needed leg was immediately secured in the 16th leg with a 15-darter.

In the semifinals, Humphries will take on James Wade, who dealt with Ross Smith (16-10) in the first quarterfinal. Friday night's quarterfinals will be played at the other end of the schedule. Michael van Gerwen will then take on Andrew Gilding, while Michael Smith will face Rob Cross.