Luke Humphries seals 2024 World Matchplay with stunning double-double checkout after epic final with Michael van Gerwen

Luke Humphries has taken an 18-15 victory at the 2024 World Matchplay at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool after an epic final with Michael van Gerwen.

After both received a raucous reception to the iconic stage, it was Van Gerwen who started the faster of the pair, breaking throw in the opening leg after some Humphries misses. Humphries though, responded well, breaking straight back in the second leg and then holding in the third to nudge 2-1 in front. Despite Humphries scoring far better early doors, some fragility on the outer ring was allowing Van Gerwen to keep in touch. In fact, Humphries had darts to win all five legs, but it was MVG who headed off stage 3-2 in front at the first interval.

Humphries, who was averaging more than eleven points higher than his opponent, finally started making the most of that after the break, taking back to back legs and getting himself 4-3 up. After some Van Gerwen faffing on the doubles in leg 8, missing three clear darts, Humphries fired in a bull finish to break the throw for a third straight leg. With the last two legs of the session split, Humphries was 6-4 ahead at the break.

As 'Cool Hand Luke' began the third session slightly cooled off, not getting a shot at a finish after 15 darts, Van Gerwen benefitted to get the game back on throw. Humphries wasn't cool for long though, and with a stunning 141 checkout, broke straight back. With a last dart in hand double 5 for the next leg, the world champ was suddenly three legs clear. Humphries was still giving up opportunities though, missing darts at double in both the next two legs. Van Gerwen only managed to punish once though, meaning at the end of the session, the Englishman was a 9-6 leader.

Van Gerwen was hanging on in there though and as the gap between averages lessened, the Dutchman held throw to open the fourth session comfortably. Humphries, still averaging over 100, became the first to double figures with another hold. Opening the the next leg with 4 perfect darts, Humphries then threatened a break, but wired double 14 for a 107, allowing Van Gerwen to return and keep the exchange of holds going and a few moments later it was the next break, with Humphries still narrowly with his nose in front at 11-9.

Taking his average up over 103 with the best leg of the match so far, Humphries returned to the stage with an 11-dart hold. With Van Gerwen responding with 5 perfect darts in the next leg, the Dutchman reached double figures. With 4 perfect darts to start the following, the three-time World Matchplay champ pinned his first ton-plus checkout to get the match back on throw, albeit at 12-11 down. Another ton-plus finish, 110 this time, MVG was then back level. With Van Gerwen then waiting on 32 after 12 darts in the final leg of the session, Humphries denied his opponent a shot, pinning a ruthless 86 to ensure he was still leading at the interval, 13-12.

After all the hard work from Van Gerwen to get back into it, the Dutchman missed two darts at double 16 in leg 26, allowing Humphries to slot a dart into double 10 and regain a two leg buffer. MVG wasn't giving up though and again scrapped his way to an immediate re-break. After Van Gerwen missed a dart at the bull for a stunning 164, Humphries ensured a third straight break of throw and this consolidated his advantage with a 131 checkout to hold throw and get to within two of the title. Again proving he wouldn't be going down without a fight though, MVG took out his third 100+ finish of the contest, a 160 to make it 16-14 and with another brilliant finish following, Van Gerwen was back within one courtesy of a 106.

The Dutchman even then wired double top for another 160 checkout to get back to level terms. Missing three clear darts at double 10 when he returned though, Humphries capitalised on that same double to get one away from the title. After more missed darts at double 8 in the next leg, Humphries fired a stunning double, double 100 to seal the win.