The Heat extinguished by Cool Hand Luke as Humphries sets up semi-final showdown with Clayton at World Matchplay
PDC
It is a fourth major semi-final for Luke Humphries who goes into Saturday at the World Matchplay as the favourite to lift a maiden major title in Blackpool.
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Humphries extinguished 'The Heat' seeing off Damon Heta and ending the charge of the Aussie in an Ashes affair on the Winter Gardens stage.
He survived a comeback in the end to claim it 16-13 in a match that extraordinarily featured 20 breaks of throw but it is 'Cool Hand Luke' who is through to face Jonny Clayton tomorrow.
The other semi-final sees Nathan Aspinall take on Joe Cullen. Only Humphries has never won a major title.
Humphries edged into a 3-2 lead earlier on averaging 102. But Heta restored parity at 4-4 with a 103 checkout.
Humphries edged ahead again with a 100 checkout but back and forth it went with no player unable to hold their throw.
Humphries though went three legs in front at 9-6 and kept a two leg cushion at least going to 10-8 with an astonishing 15 breaks in 18 legs.
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A rare hold of throw though opened the floodgates for Humphries though who hit an 81 checkout for an 11-darter for 12-8.
He followed it up with a 121 checkout to make it 13-8. He soon went one away at 15-9 but with Humphries, he found it difficult to close out the game immediately.
Heta applied The Heat making it back to 15-12 and this continued with a sublime 152 checkout for 15-13 and he was throwing to go one from parity if he held throw.
Heta missed two to do so from 57 and Humphries got a shot at 92. He went double double on double 18 to seal it.
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Where can I watch the World Matchplay on TV?
The tournament will be broadcast in full on Sky Sports going between Action and Main Event.
From Saturday, July 15 through Wednesday, July 20, broadcasts will begin around 7 p.m. ET. In addition, on Sunday, July 16, there will be an afternoon session starting at 1 p.m. After the second round, the starting time of the evening sessions moves up one hour.
On Sunday afternoon, July 24, the second edition of the Women's World Matchplay is scheduled to begin at 1:00 pm. Here, eight ladies will compete for the title at the most important women's tournament in the PDC.
How much prize money can be earned at the World Matchplay
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After the World Darts Championship, the World Matchplay is the ranking tournament with the largest prize pool at the PDC. A total of 800,000 pounds of prize money is up for grabs at this event.
All 32 participants are guaranteed £10,000 in prize money. This could eventually add up to a check of as much as £200,000 for the darter who gets to lift the Phil Taylor Trophy on Sunday, July 23.
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- Probably i will receive a lot of backlash and hate for this reaction, but well, so be it. I am more than sick and tired of those lies of you Barry Hearn. How dare you defend yourself over the back of Fallon’s son! He has a disability and not an illness, so let me correct that for you! I know because I have the exact same disability. I have tried to reach out to Fallon in the past, and offered her to help her and her son, because I was struggling with the same problems, and I understood the boy. I wanted him to have finally someone who understood him. However she told me that she did not want my help, and I have respected Fallon’s choice. I have never asked Fallon for money. They don’t need money in that case. I only ever wanted the best for Fallon and Rory, but I have to be honest about the situation. Fallon should tell the true story and not be forced to tell lies. I don’t hate Fallon, and I don’t begrudge or envy a single penny that she gets, but this situation/case is just not fair. I hate the lies and the dishonesty and injustice. I don’t want Fallon to be hated because there is an unfair disadvantage created. Don’t proclaim your false lies over the back of Rory! I only stand for integrity and justice. I am precisely the one who always sticks up for Fallon. And you don't, you don't give a damn about them. You were never there for them, and now you only want to save your own position! You are just trying to talk your way out of your own bad behavior at the expense of someone with a disability. And to Fallon, I don’t know if this may ever reach you, and you read it, but I want you to know I love you and I love your son Rory very much, I am sorry how things developed and went. I hope you and Harriet are still friends. I am sorry if I were too persistent to you, or you experienced it that way, but it was never my intention. Please understand I have autism as well. As Barry Hearn would say, I am only just a human being too, and I also make mistakes and misjudge things sometimes. I promise you I did everything out of the deepest love and care for you and Rory. If I were you, I should just keep all the money, only please never be dishonest or tell lies anymore for Barry Hearn, or anyone else. I hope you have the best life, and I wish nothing more than the best for you. I have always loved the two of you. Farewell.Hiddo05-11-2026
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