Sensation at the Darts World Cup
Defending champion Humphries surprisingly fails in the round of 16
12/30/2024 – 4:31 a.mReading time: 2 minutes
Defending champion Luke Humphries caused a surprise. The Englishman lost clearly against the Scotsman Peter Wright.
Defending champion Luke Humphries was eliminated in the round of 16 at the World Darts Championships in London’s Ally Pally. The top favorite lost quietly against Peter Wright 1:4. Former world champion Gerwyn Price eliminated his Welsh compatriot Jonny Clayton 4-2.
The duel between the world number one Humphries and the Scot Wright had cast its shadows. “Snakebite” announced before the tournament that he would “destroy” Humphries and Littler. The Englishman replied: “I’m one world title away from matching his career and I’m about 25 years younger. I think that would surpass anything he’s achieved in the sport.”
When the arrows flew, the old master got off to a better start and Wright secured the first set. Humphries looked for his best game, but even without it he equalized to make it 1-1. However, winning the set had no inspiring effect.
The Englishman repeatedly struggled with his throws, although on average he was on par with Wright, but far below his own expectations. With an outstanding doubles rate of over 70 percent at times, the Scot coldly took advantage of every mistake his opponent made and took the lead 3-1.
In the fifth set that followed, Wright raced away, secured his seventh quarter-final appearance with the decisive throw on the double eight and played his best game of the year.
Price had previously beaten his compatriot Clayton 4-2. After his emotional victory in the nerve-wracking 4:3 thriller against Joe Cullen, complete with moist eyes on stage, the 39-year-old got off to a brilliant start again on Sunday evening and quickly secured the first two sets thanks to a 107 average.
Then an ups and down began. First, Clayton, seventh in the world rankings, found his way back into the game with two high finishes of 121 and 141 points and, aided by several mistakes by the former rugby player Price, equalized to make it 2-2. Then Price had the upper hand again and set the course for victory by winning the fifth set, which he then perfected.
In the quarterfinals he will now face the Englishman Chris Dobey or the Dutchman Kevin Doets, who, among others, surprisingly defeated the world number two Michael Smith. Wright will face the winner of the game between Stephen Bunting and Luke Woodhouse.