Michael van Gerwen is the final player through to the Quarter-Finals of the 2022
Masters after surviving a scare against Luke Humphries who should be through to the next round.
Humphries felt aggrieved and had some words with Van Gerwen at the end but will also feel the same about his chance to win after spurning five match darts.
This after MVG came from 9-7 down to close out a 10-9 victory in a match where neither player was at their best in the Dutchman's first match since catching COVID-19 at the World Championship.
Van Gerwen produced a timely 180 but messed up a 44 and Humphries produced a 106 to break throw in the opening leg.
A 145 leave left double 20 after 12 darts and he pinned it to go 2-0 up. But he busted a 76 checkout which allowed MVG back for 140 and he whittled that down to double 15. He missed double four though to hold.
Humphries missed five darts in all to break and MVG somehow held. ‘Cool Hand Luke’ replied with a 180 on his own throw as he looked to surge into a 3-1 lead which he did with an 80 checkout.
Somehow though at the break, MVG was 3-2 down when he could be 4-0 down. A poor return leg saw Humphries broken as he was looking at a 4-3 lead.
It was a 4-3 lead as MVG led for the first time. Humphries settled down to make it 4-4 with a hold. An 11-darter saw Van Gerwen lead again at 5-4.
An 84 checkout saw Humphries hold to make it 5-5 as they went off level at the break. Humphries missed a dart at the bull to break and Van Gerwen went 6-5 up.
Humphries missed double 20 for a 94 checkout after Van Gerwen missed a chance to break but he didn’t miss again and MVG went two clear at 7-5 up.
MVG missed three at double nine but Humphries again missed darts at double in two at double 18 from 69. The Dutchman chased round the board though and Humphries broke back for 7-6.
Humphries hit a 180 and double 20 to consolidate as he made it 7-7. It was another maximum for Humphries but Van Gerwen was on 32 if Humphries didn’t hit 103.
He couldn’t find a treble but MVG couldn’t find a double and Humphries went 8-7 and was throwing for a 9-7 lead. It was another 180 for the Newbury ace and he hit a 95 checkout on double 19 to go one away.
Both hit 180’s to begin Van Gerwen’s throw but it was the Dutchman who hit double three after a poor foray from Humphries from there.
Humphries missed two match darts from 81 but Van Gerwen couldn’t get a shot at 107. Two more went begging and Van Gerwen returned for an 80 checkout to send it all the way. A poor decider though allowed Van Gerwen to canter to victory with ease.