Luke Humphries crushes Michael van Gerwen to set-up World Championship rematch in Premier League Darts final vs Luke Littler

Luke Humphries has joined Luke Littler in the final of the 2024 Premier League Darts, after a 10-5 victory over Michael van Gerwen at the O2 Arena in London.

With Humphries having defeated van Gerwen in each of their last five meetings, the world champion was full of confidence early on, as he held throw in the opening leg. Although Van Gerwen bagged the next two, Cool Hand Luke fired back onto level terms with a sensational 132 checkout, hitting a pair a bullseyes followed by double 16. Despite missing the bull for a 170 in the Humphries mopped up on his return to edge 3-2 in front.

After van Gerwen missed a dart at double 14 in the next leg, Humphries was ruthless in his punishment to stretch further clear at 5-2 and after breaking the throw yet again in the following it was a sixth successive leg for the world champion, who moved 6-2 ahead. After Humphries moved five legs clear in leg 9, van Gerwen stopped the rot to keep himself in the contest in the last leg before the break as he headed off stage for the interval trailing 7-3.

Having taken the last leg of the session there was a glimmer of hope for the Dutchman but he was unable to truly capitalise as he missed a dart at double to get another leg back when they returned. The momentum was starting to shift though and with Van Gerwen reeling off the next two legs in succession, he was back to within three at 8-5. Regaining control, Humphries broke back in leg 14 to put himself on the hill and after van Gerwen missed a chance to keep himself alive in the following leg, Humphries sealed his spot in the final and a replay of the World Darts Championship final.

The ultimate winner gets to lift the trophy, of course, but even more important is the accompanying check. For the title holder, a lucrative reward lies ahead.

The four semifinalists are already guaranteed 85,000 pounds in prize money anyway. That amount is transferred to the two players who lose in the semifinals. Upon winning the semifinals, the proceeds already rise to at least £125,000. For the eventual winner of Premier League Darts, a check for 275,000 pounds then awaits.