Luke Humphries far from his best but good enough for 3-0 win to start his World Darts Championship campaign

Closing out the first weekend of action at the 2024 PDC World Darts Championship, Luke Humphries was far from his best but nevertheless triumphed 3-0 over his good friend Lee Evans.

The pre-tournament favourite, the pressure was on Luke Humphries to live up to his billing and set down an early marker. Two 180s and three out of five on the doubles as he took the opening set was a solid start for 'Cool Hand Luke'.

Pushing his average up over the 100 mark, Humphries stepped up through the gears with a 13-dart hold to begin set 2. Some lacklustre finishing in the following leg allowed Evans a shot at tops but it wasn't taken and Humphries returned to move two legs clear in the set. Evans would win the next leg however, breaking straight back with a stunning 170, gaining a smile and a fist bump from Humphries for his troubles. With Humphries missing a set dart in the following leg, Evans punished to level up the set. Despite more misses in the fifth leg, Humphries eventually stumbled over the line to move two sets ahead.

Evans took the opener of set 3 as he continued to pose Humphries problems and with a wonderful 116 in the second leg, he broke the throw to move two legs clear in the set. Evans missed three for the set in the next leg however, letting Humphries off for some misses of his own. Three more set darts came and went for Evans in the following leg before Humphries sent it to a decider. Yet another trifecta of set darts were passed upon by Evans in the decider, Humphries sealing the win 3-0.