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Luke Humphries enjoys whitewash win to kick-start World Darts Championship title defence

Jamie Shaw in World Darts Championship 16 Dec 2024

Humphries eases past Tricole (Photo by Taylor Lanning/PDC)

Luke Humphries made a perfect start to his World Darts Championship title defence by whitewashing Thibault Tricole to reach Round Three at Ally Pally.

Humphries coasted to victory in nine unanswered legs as he safely got his quest to retain the Sid Waddell Trophy under way on Sunday evening.

French hopeful Tricole ran out a hard-fought 3-1 winner over Aussie debutant Joe Comito in the opening match of the night, but he was blown away by the world number one later in the evening.

Humphries raced to the opening set in brisk fashion, and after landing a clinical 160 checkout en route to doubling his lead, he completed another clean sweep in set three.

“It’s one of the best atmospheres and feelings I’ve ever experienced. The crowd made me feel amazing,” said Humphries, who received a huge ovation on his Alexandra Palace return.

“In terms of the performance, I was nowhere near my best, but all that mattered was that I won tonight. If I had averaged 105 and lost, then I’m out!

“Now I go into the second part of the tournament, and that’s where you can be at your best and really start thinking about being World Champion.”

Humphries is aiming to emulate Phil Taylor, Adrian Lewis and Gary Anderson by becoming only the fourth player to retain the Sid Waddell Trophy, which would cap off a remarkable 18-month spell of dominance.

“I think it’s probably been one of the best years from a World Champion since Michael van Gerwen,” added Humphries, who has featured in six televised finals this year.

“I’ve won three majors including the World Cup, I’ve made another three finals and won a couple of Euro Tours, so I’m pretty proud of the way it’s gone.

“It would be a beautiful way to top it off by becoming back-to-back World Champion. It would probably top last year, which I didn’t think I would come close to.

“There’s five tough, tough games to win before I can worry about that though, so I’m just going to focus on my next game first.”

The opening night saw two other first round ties take place, as Jermaine Wattimena and Keane Barry overcame Stefan Bellmont and Kim Huybrechts respectively.

Wattimena will face four-time semi-finalist James Wade on Monday afternoon, after the 36-year-old kicked off his campaign with a superb straight-sets win over Swiss debutant Bellmont.

The Dutchman averaged 98.5 and pinned 45 per cent of his attempts at doubles to round off an impressive display, after Bellmont had missed a dart at double 12 for a 129 skin-saver in set three.

“I think this has been my best ever year, so James Wade has to prepare himself for tomorrow,” reflected Wattimena, who defeated Wade on his way to reaching October’s European Championship final.

“I can take a lot of confidence from beating James, and then I beat the world number one [Luke Humphries], so then you know your confidence is good.

“I was really happy with that performance tonight, and now I will go into tomorrow with a good feeling. I think I’m more confident going into this tournament than I have ever been.”

Barry, meanwhile, booked his place in the Second Round with a 3-1 success over former quarter-finalist Huybrechts, defying ten maximums from the Belgian to progress.

Huybrechts edged a tight opening set, but after converting a superb 108 finish to level the tie, Barry fired in successive 11 and 12-dart legs to lead 2-1, before wrapping up victory with a 13-darter in set four.

“It’s a great feeling. I’m really happy with that performance,” admitted Barry, who landed three ton-plus finishes to set up a showdown against former World Champion Gerwyn Price on Monday night.

“I have struggled in the past on the World Championship stage, especially with my doubles, but I felt really comfortable tonight.

“I’m feeling confident in my game, and hopefully I can keep playing like that, because I know I’m capable of even better.”

World Darts Championship 2024/25 Day One Results

Sunday December 15

Thibault Tricole 3-1 Joe Comito (R1)
Jermaine Wattimena 3-0 Stefan Bellmont (R1)
Kim Huybrechts 1-3 Keane Barry (R1)
Luke Humphries 3-0 Thibault Tricole (R2)

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Luke Humphries enjoys whitewash win to kick-start World Darts Championship title defence

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