Luke Humphries survives two missed matchdarts from Luke Littler to reach first World Series final with brilliant comeback at 2024 New Zealand Darts Masters

Luke Humphries is the first man through to the final at the 2024 New Zealand Darts Masters in Hamilton after an incredible fightback against Luke Littler in the semi-finals.

In a repeat of both the World Darts Championship final and the Premier League Darts final earlier this year, Luke Littler faced off against Luke Humphries in the first semi-final. With both players starting somewhat slowly, the first two legs went against the throw. In leg 3 however, 'The Nuke' sparked into life with a stunning 142 checkout to hold throw and nudge in front 2-1.

As Littler hunted a third straight leg, the 17-year-old saw his hopes dashed by an untimely bounce out of treble 18, that denied him a dart at double in leg 4. Humphries punished to level the contest. Littler was definitely looking the more settled of the two though, and at the break, the Premier League champ headed off stage 4-2 up on the world champ.

The momentum continued to be all on the side of the teenage sensation after the break as, with back to back 13-darters, Littler moved to within one of another World Series of Darts final. After Littler missed his first match dart in leg 9 though, Humphries punished to get a leg back at 6-3. The world number one then held throw on tops for another leg back in the following. In leg 11, another dart came and went for the match from Littler, this time at the bull and as Humphries punished again, suddenly the tie was back on throw. With a comfortable hold of throw, Humphries sent the match to a deciding leg and although Littler had the darts, he failed to find a treble with his first six darts. With Humphries hitting a maximum, the advantage seemed to be with 'Cool Hand'. As Littler was unable to get a dart at double from 122, Humphries took his first match winning chance to seal a brilliant comeback win.