Luke Humphries finally takes World Series glory with dominant victory at 2024 New Zealand Darts Masters

Luke Humphries has been crowned champion at the 2024 New Zealand Darts Masters in Hamilton after a dominant 8-2 win over Damon Heta in the final this Saturday.

En route to his first ever World Series of Darts final, Luke Humphries had bagged victories over the likes of Kayden Milne, Michael Smith and then with a stunning comeback from 6-2 down in the semi-finals, Luke Littler also. Heta meanwhile, secured wins against his Australian World Cup of Darts partner Simon Whitlock, Rob Cross and Peter Wright to reach his third World Series final.

Key to Heta's run to the final has been his lethality on the outer ring, entering the contest having hit 20 of 28 darts at double in the tournament. As if to underline this, the Aussie opened the final with a double double finish to hold throw. Humphries got himself on the board in leg 2, before the world champion and world number one took the first break of throw in the match in leg 3 to take the early advantage. A solid 15-darter then saw 'Cool Hand Luke' edge further clear in leg 4 and Humphries broke the throw again in the following leg to make it 4-1 in his favour. The Englishman also took the last leg before the break, heading off stage with a clear 5-1 advantage.

After the interval, Heta stopped the rot, snapping Humphries streak of five straight legs with a hold of throw. The momentum was still clearly on the side of the Englishman however and Humphries held throw in leg 8 to move just two from a first World Series title. Breaking throw again in the following the leg, the world champion was just one leg away and a few moments later, the job was done as Humphries pinned double 16 with his third matchdart to claim the 2024 New Zealand Darts Masters title.