Luke Humphries' World Darts Championship defence gets off to perfect start with whitewash win over Thibault Tricole

Despite not really getting out of second gear, Luke Humphries' PDC World Darts Championship defence has got off to the perfect start. The world number one won nine straight legs en route to a whitewash 3-0 win over Thibault Tricole on opening night at the Alexandra Palace.

As has become the custom, the reigning and defending world champion headlines the opening night. For Luke Humphries, the tricky task of Thibault Tricole was the first hurdle after the 'French Touch' had defeated Australian qualifier Joe Comito in the opening match of the night. Despite Tricole hitting a 180 in the opening leg some scrappy finishing from the Frenchman allowed Humphries to break in 19 darts. Although Humphries was nowhere near his best, averaging around 83, Tricole couldn't punish, allowing the world champ to cruise to the opening set in straight legs.

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Humphries made it four legs on the spin in the opener of set two. With Tricole waiting on 16 to get on the board in the next, 'Cool Hand Luke' produced his first moment of magic with a leg stealing 160 checkout. After Tricole then failed to punish some missed set darts by Humphries in leg 3, the world champion returned to make it six straight legs and moved 2-0 up in sets.

Hitting his first maximum of the contest to open set 3, Humphries continued to surge relatively uncontested towards the third round with another break of throw. Despite some faff on the doubles, Humphries held throw eventually on double 5 for an eighth straight leg. Some more missed darts at double followed but eventually the deal was sealed as Humphries sealed the 3-0 victory via nine consecutive legs, averaging around 91 in the process. In the third round a potential showdown with Raymond van Barneveld awaits after Christmas.

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