Luke Humphries has won his first PDC World Championship title after defeating his opponent, teenager Luke Littler, with a gripping 7-4 win in the final at Alexandra Palace. Littler, who is just 16 years old, was hoping to become darts’ youngest ever world champion after a remarkable run to the final, but Humphries put up a strong challenge to claim the £500,000 first prize. Humphries, the pre-event favourite, who became world number one on Tuesday, won five consecutive sets after trailing 4-2, allowing him to close out victory.
Humphries has been on the rise recently, having won four out of the past five major televised tournaments in the PDC (Professional Darts Corporation). Littler’s progress on his World Championship debut has captured the public’s imagination in the past three weeks and he produced another exceptional, composed performance in the final. However, Humphries’ brilliance ensured the youngster fell just short of completing what would have been an incredible sports fairytale.
The match was even at first as the first four sets were shared, with Littler finding his range and scoring impressive finishes of 142 and 120 in the second set. Littler took the fifth set to lead for the first time and appeared to be gaining momentum when he raced through the sixth set. Humphries gained impetus from a 170 finish at the start of the seventh and managed to level the match with a 121 checkout on the bull before taking a 5-4 lead with a 12-dart leg against the throw. Littler hit a 170 checkout of his own in the 10th set, but Humphries held his nerve, sinking to his knees after landing a shot at double eight to clinch the biggest win of his career.
Humphries hit impressive stats of 23 maximums and averaged 103.67 in the final, compared with Littler’s 13 180s and 101.13 average. The Crewe-based player entered the World Championship as the sport’s in-form player, having won three major trophies at the World Grand Prix, the Grand Slam and Players Championship Finals. Although his path to the final wasn’t easy, requiring him to win two deciding sets and a sudden death deciding leg to advance past the last 16 match against Joe Cullen. In his quarter-final and semi-final victories over Dave Chisnall and Scott Williams, Humphries fully demonstrated the dominant form he had shown recently. This victory establishes Humphries at the top of his sport as both world champion and the world number one
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