Luke Humphries holds off Jonny Clayton comeback to clinch Winmau World Masters crown
Luke Humphries fended off a remarkable fightback from Jonny Clayton to be crowned the inaugural PDC Winmau World Masters champion in Milton Keynes.
Humphries looked to be coasting to glory as he raced into a 5-2 lead in Sunday’s final, but only for Clayton to mount an incredible comeback with three sets in a row to force a decider.
In a nail-biting climax, Clayton gained a break of throw, but only to see Humphries return the favour to set up a sudden-death shootout.
Humphries landed back-to-back 140s before eventually clinching the title on tops to become the first name on the new trophy and scoop the £100,000 top prize.
“I’m a lucky, lucky boy,” admitted Humphries. “I think was very fortunate there.
“I started to feel the nerves; when I was 5-2 up and I started to miss doubles I was trying too hard to close the game out. Jonny was coming back at me, and when he went five-all I thought the game was gone for me.
“That was a really tough game, I thought I played well in patches but in the middle bit Jonny was so dominant that I feel fortunate that I have won the trophy.
“That double top, I must admit I was shaking, my heart was pounding but it went in so I am really really pleased. It is really nice to be the first name on the rejuvenated Winmau World Masters trophy.
“That’s a seventh major title for me now, I am three away from the great James Wade and for me to be even close to someone like that – I can’t even believe it.”
The final began with the duo trading the opening four sets before Humphries hit the front in fifth, and charged into a seemingly unassailable lead at 5-2 ahead.
Former Premier League champion Clayton had other ideas than to wilt, however, and won six of the next seven legs – including landing a match-high 120 checkout as he levelled at five apiece.
He looked to be going all the way as he led the deciding set, but in a dramatic finale he was unable to take out 120 as Humphries pipped him to the title.
“I had to dig in, he was running away with everything,” said Clayton.
“This guy is a class act; he gave me a few chances which I missed, but I also took a few. I didn’t give up, I wanted to give Luke a great game and I think it was a great game.
“Games like that, you need a winner and one has to lose. All credit to Luke, a fantastic person and fantastic player.”
With over £1 million in ranking money to defend this year, the victory is a huge start to the season for Humphries and means he extends his tally at the top of the Order of Merit to a record £1,904,250.
The triumph was also a seventh career TV ranking title for Humphries in just 15 months since his maiden triumph in October 2023 at the World Grand Prix.
After wins over Joe Cullen and Josh Rock in the opening two rounds, Humphries’ run to the title on Sunday saw him defeat Damon Heta 4-1 in the quarter-finals, before recovering from 2-0 down to see off Danny Noppert 5-2 in the semi-finals.
For Clayton, the weekend was a welcome return to top form as he reached a first major final since the 2023 World Matchplay.
The Welshman kicked off his run with a breath-taking 112 average in seeing off Martin Schindler on Thursday, before following that up with a dramatic 4-3 win over Ryan Searle.
He then dumped out reigning World Champion Luke Littler in the quarter-finals with a sublime display, and followed that by ending the run of nine-dart hero Dimitri Van den Bergh in the semis.
The afternoon’s quarter-finals also saw Noppert overcome 2024 Masters champion Stephen Bunting in a deciding set, while Van den Bergh accounted for Nathan Aspinall with a dominant 4-1 success.
Winmau World Masters 2025 Day Four Results
Sunday February 2
Afternoon Session
Quarter-Finals
Luke Humphries 4-1 Damon Heta
Danny Noppert 4-3 Stephen Bunting
Luke Littler 2-4 Jonny Clayton
Dimitri van den Bergh 4-1 Nathan Aspinall
Evening Session
Semi-Finals
Luke Humphries 5-2 Danny Noppert
Jonny Clayton 5-2 Dimitri van den Bergh
Final
Luke Humphries 6-5 Jonny Clayton
