Humphries Secures First World Series Title with Dramatic Victory in New Zealand

World number one Luke Humphries clinched his first World Series title with a dramatic win at the New Zealand Masters, overcoming both a thrilling semi-final and a commanding final to secure the championship.

In the semi-finals held in Hamilton, Humphries, who had previously triumphed over rising star Luke Littler in the PDC World Championship final earlier this year, faced a tough challenge. The 29-year-old Englishman found himself trailing 6-2 against the 17-year-old prodigy but mounted a remarkable comeback to win 7-6, showcasing his resilience and skill.

Humphries continued his strong performance in the final, where he faced Australia’s Damon Heta. After initially falling behind in the first leg, Humphries quickly gained control of the match, winning five consecutive legs to establish a dominant lead. He went on to secure the title with an 8-2 victory over Heta, ending the match with a notable average of 102.21 per three darts.

The journey to the final saw Humphries overcome Michael Smith with a score of 6-4 in the quarter-finals. Heta, the 2019 Brisbane Masters winner, had previously defeated defending champion Rob Cross 6-5 in his quarter-final and Peter Wright 7-4 in the semi-finals.

Reflecting on his achievement, Humphries expressed his satisfaction with finally winning a World Series title, which he had been pursuing alongside his quest for a world title. “I’ve been searching for this,” Humphries said in an interview with ITVX. “I didn’t think I’d win a world title before I won a World Series [tournament], but it happened that way. I felt one was coming.”

In the semi-finals, Littler’s performance was impressive, highlighted by five 180s, but it was not enough to hold off Humphries’ resurgence. Despite Littler’s notable efforts, including his previous 6-4 victory over Dimitri van den Bergh, he was ultimately outplayed by Humphries.

Overall, Humphries’ victory at the New Zealand Masters marks a significant milestone in his career, showcasing his ability to perform under pressure and solidifying his status as one of the leading figures in the darts world.