"There is no doubt right now that Luke Humphries is a better dart player than Michael van Gerwen" - Wayne Mardle previews 2024 World Matchplay final

The 2024 World Matchplay comes to a final conclusion this Sunday night as Luke Humphries and Michael van Gerwen face off with the Phil Taylor Trophy on the line in Blackpool. Will it be a first World Matchplay success for the world champion, or can MVG claim the title for the fourth time?

The world number one and world number two respectively, Humphries and Van Gerwen have shown differing levels of form in the run up to the final. "Michael van Gerwen has had to work hard to get here," assesses former World Matchplay finalist Wayne Mardle for Sky Sports. "Not that he's had really close matches, but the Luke Littler effect and what that would have had on Michael, because when the draw was made he would have been like; 'This is a lot of pressure'. But the way he played against Littler was so focused."

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After seeing off the challenge of the teenage sensation in the opening round, Van Gerwen then took out the likes of Joe Cullen, Andrew Gilding and Michael Smith. "He's got it done without being brilliant. He's just been as good as he's had to be to beat in the final," Mardle continues. "If he can do what he did in 2022 against Gerwyn Price, where Michael van Gerwen never looked the best player in the event and he went and won it. Is it going to happen again? It's a possibility."

Whilst Humphries has a higher tournament average (102.47 to Van Gerwen's 97.99), more 180s (30 to Van Gerwen's 29) and a better finishing percentage (44% compared to MVG's 34%), the Englishman is unlikely to have it all his own way tonight according to three-time world champion John Part.

"A lot of what's going on tonight is MVG trying to extend his era if you will. Luke has started his but how much overlap will there be? We don't really know. A lot will be determined maybe tonight," says the Canadian. "A heavy defeat either way and maybe we'll see a swing in the polls."

"There is no doubt right now that Luke Humphries is a better dart player than Michael van Gerwen," adds Mardle. "I would like to see it go long, but that's up to Van Gerwen. It's always been about him, but this is about him because if he doesn't play well he will get beaten. That is a fact. If he does play well, he's not guaranteed to win anymore, especially against Luke Humphries."