"People forget 2 out of the last 3 majors I've won" - Luke Humphries puts World Championship disappointment out his mind with thrilling Winmau World Masters win
PDC
Luke Humphries has started the new season with a bang. 'Cool Hand Luke' defeated Jonny Clayton 6-5 in a thrilling final at the 2025 PDC Winmau World Masters to quickly put the disappointment of the recent World Championship out of his mind. For Humphries, it is already his seventh career majors title.
Humphries came to Milton Keynes this weekend with particular ambition. The 29-year-old Englishman went out as defending champion in the fourth round at the last World Darts Championship after a 4-1 defeat to Peter Wright. Afterwards, Humphries was questioned by some. So at the Winmau World Masters, he was looking to rebound with victory and he did so in style.
Although Humphries certainly did not have an easy time in the final against a strong Clayton. Humphries did lead 5-2 in sets, but some missed darts on a double allowing Clayton to start the fightback to 5-5. In the deciding set it then all came down to a last leg shootout. In the end, it fell in favour of Humphries, who thus captured his seventh major title.
Thanks to this new title, Humphries now sits at nearly 2 million pounds on the Order of Merit, no one ever did better. But for "Cool Hand Luke," satisfaction prevailed above all that he had started the new season so well. “I am a lucky lucky boy,” admitted Humphries post-match. "I think was very fortunate there."
"I started to feel the nerves; when I was 5-2 up and I started to miss doubles I was trying too hard to close the game out. Jonny was coming back at me, and when he went five-all I thought the game was gone for me," continues the world number one. "That was a really tough game, I thought I played well in patches but in the middle bit Jonny was so dominant that I feel fortunate that I have won the trophy. That double top [to win], I must admit I was shaking, my heart was pounding but it went in so I am really really pleased. It is really nice to be the first name on the rejuvenated Winmau World Masters trophy."
“To win trophies like this is amazing," added Humphries. "That’s a seventh major title for me now, I am three away from the great James Wade and for me to be even close to someone like that - I can’t even believe it."
Humphries was also keen to point out that talk of his demise following an early PDC World Darts Championship exit have been greatly exaggerated. "People forget 2 out of the last 3 majors I've won," he bites back fiercely.
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- Beau also skipped Players Championships 7 & 8 next week, and PC 3 & 4 four weeks ago. If she next chooses to miss the Women's Series and PC 13 & 14 in mid-April then we can make a fair guess as to her reason.Scoobedybop13-03-2025
- I've commented before,Phil should let us all remember how great he was,and leave your darts in the drawer. Another humiliation will tarnish everything,you couldn't even beat old blokes who you would have beaten before the game started !!rick6712-03-2025
- I've commented before,Phil should let us all remember how great he was,and leave your darts in the drawer. Another humiliation will tarnish everything,you couldn't even beat old blokes who you would have beaten before the game started !!rick6712-03-2025
- Aspinall was a no-show: Carl Sneyd steps in from the Challenge Tour.Scoobedybop11-03-2025
- Likewise, I have always been a fan of Mervyn and with this worry on his mind, it explains why his form and ranking plummeted. It is really sad to hear this, often chatted to Mervyn and Tracey during the Lakeside days, both are lovely people. It does seem naive not acknowledging the fact it was earnings, surely there must be others in the same situation. I really hope the Kings can get through this....would a go fund me be permittedrichieburnettrocks11-03-2025
- I always like Merv,but he does he seems slightly naive with his comments. I wish you all the best, hope you can get sorted,and try and get back to a decent game,a bit of money.....and get rid of the dogs,if that's your main concern,I believe your priorities may be slightly wrongrick6710-03-2025
- What’s with the dogs element to this story, trying to pull at the heart strings? Just goes to show that being a good dart player does not equate to being that bright. Seriously, ‘I thought you didn’t have to pay tax on winnings’ , your a pro dart player and its your line of work, your not playing the lottery or placing a bet. I think it was Phil Taylor who said you should put a third to one side of all winnings into a bank account, obviously Merv was wearing his earplugs at the time.Mysstree10-03-2025
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- Taylor was humiliated in the seniors events,so he really has nothing to lose by playing littler. I think he should put his darts away,and let us remember what a great player he wasrick6706-03-2025
- actually, since you're asking... yes. yes i do.colt06-03-2025