Humphries hits nine-darter in World Masters win

Defending champion Luke Humphries achieved a nine-dart finish during a challenging match against Luke Woodhouse in the last 16 of the World Masters, while current world champion Luke Littler also advanced to the quarter-finals on Saturday.

 

Humphries, 30, thrilled the Milton Keynes audience with his perfect leg, taking a 2-0 lead, but Woodhouse, also from England, fought back to tie the match at 3-3. The world number two then missed three match darts, allowing the 37-year-old Woodhouse to force a final leg shootout. Humphries secured his 4-3 victory by hitting double 10.

 

“It was a really close game,” Humphries remarked, noting that he preferred winning without a nine-darter than losing despite one. He is set to face Dutch player Danny Noppert next.

 

Littler, at just 19, successfully advanced to the quarter-finals after defeating fellow Englishman Ross Smith. He struggled against Mike de Decker but won 3-2, then averaged nearly 108 to claim a 4-1 victory over Smith. He will now compete against Northern Ireland’s Josh Rock.

 

Littler expressed his relief at progressing, saying, “It was far better than last night – that is what I had to do against Ross.”

 

Rock, 24, secured his place in the last eight for the first time by defeating Rob Cross 4-1 in the evening session.

 

Noppert delivered a dominant performance, defeating former Masters champion Stephen Bunting 4-0 and finishing the opening set with an impressive average of 107.

 

In other last-16 matches, world number three Gian van Veen overcame Nathan Aspinall 4-2 and will face England’s James Wade next, who defeated Scotsman Gary Anderson 4-3.

 

Gerwyn Price rallied from two sets down against fellow Welshman Jonny Clayton to win 4-3, while England’s Chris Dobey also triumphed over Damon Heta with the same scoreline, setting up a matchup with Price in the quarter-finals.