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Peter Wright sensationally ends Luke Humphries’ world title defence to storm into quarter-finals

Jamie Shaw in World Darts Championship 30 Dec 2025

Snakebite stuns Humphries (Photo by Kieran Cleeves/PDC)

Peter Wright produced a vintage display to stun defending champion Luke Humphries and storm into the quarter-finals of the World Darts Championship.

Wright defied the odds as he put on a masterclass of finishing and averaged 101 in a 4-1 success over the reigning champion at Alexandra Palace.

The 54-year-old, who came into the tournament ranked outside the world’s top 16, converted 70 per cent of his attempts at doubles in an inspired display to end Humphries’ hopes of becoming only the fourth player to retain the PDC world title.

Wright had failed to reach a major ranking quarter-final all season, but saved one of his best performances of 2024 until last as he blew the tournament wide open.

“I felt more confident playing Luke over this shorter distance,” said Wright.

“If I didn’t beat him in this round, I believe he would have retained his title, because I don’t think any other player would have got close to Luke over a longer distance.

“Luke [Humphries] and Luke [Littler] inspire me to carry on playing darts, and I know I can still play this game.

“I felt like I struggled throughout the whole game tonight. I’m over the moon with the result, but I know I can get better.”

The pair traded blows in a compelling start to the contest, but Wright stole a march midway through proceedings, landing a two-dart 96 finish to move two sets to one up.

Wright then fired in a brilliant 12-dart break to move a set away from victory, before delivering a three-leg burst of 12, 13 and 14-dart legs to close out a memorable win.

The colourful Scot was joined in the quarter-finals by 2021 World Champion Gerwyn Price – who fended off a spirited rally from his compatriot Jonny Clayton to complete a 4-2 victory.

Price stormed to the opening two sets, but only for Clayton to reply with consecutive 121 and 141 checkouts on his way to restoring parity at two apiece.

However, Price recovered from his mid-game slump to secure back-to-back sets and advance to his fifth World Championship quarter-final in the space of six years.

“I felt like I was playing really well in the first two sets, but I don’t know what happened after that,” reflected Price.

“I probably wasn’t myself up on the stage today, but I’ll be myself from the quarter-final onwards.

“I know that if I play like I did in the first two sets for the rest of the tournament, then I’m going to be tough to beat!”

Sunday’s double session also saw the remaining four Third Round ties take place, as Callan Rydz, Kevin Doets, Rob Owen and Jeffrey de Graaf moved through to the Last 16.

Rydz delivered another imperious performance, averaging 105.8 to complete a thumping 4-0 whitewash of UK Open champion Dimitri Van den Bergh.

The Bedlington ace was in record-breaking territory midway through the contest, averaging 116 after the opening two sets, before closing out an emphatic straight-sets success to set up a clash against Owen.

“Of course I’m happy with that. I’m over the moon,” said Rydz, who also averaged 107 in his opening round whitewash of Romeo Grbavac.

“Am I one of the favourites? Absolutely not. I’ve not won anything compared to some of the players left in, so you can’t compare me to the likes of Van Gerwen or Dobey.

“Rob is a capable player, so I can’t look past him tomorrow. I’ve got to be focused from dart one like I was today and just get at him early!”

Owen booked his place in the Last 16 with a battling 4-2 victory over Ricky Evans, reeling off three consecutive sets to preserve his PDC Tour Card in the process.

Evans squandered two darts for a 3-1 lead in sets, and that proved critical, as Owen won seven of the last nine legs to extend his landmark run.

Doets, meanwhile, recovered from 2-0 and 3-2 down to edge out 31st seed Krzysztof Ratajski in a deciding set.

Ratajski punished an abject start from the Dutchman to win the opening six legs without reply, yet Doets fought back valiantly to reach the Last 16 of a televised ranking event for the first time.

In the afternoon’s opener, Swedish number one De Graaf defied a sluggish start to run out a convincing 4-1 winner against Paolo Nebrida.

De Graaf accounted for two-time World Champion Gary Anderson in Round Two, and will now face three-time winner Michael van Gerwen after overcoming Filipino trailblazer Nebrida.

World Darts Championship 2024/25 Day 12 Results

Sunday December 29

Third Round

Afternoon Session
Jeffrey de Graaf 4-1 Paolo Nebrida
Kevin Doets 4-3 Krzysztof Ratajski
Dimitri Van den Bergh 0-4 Callan Rydz

Evening Session
Ricky Evans 2-4 Robert Owen
Jonny Clayton 2-4 Gerwyn Price (L16)
Luke Humphries 1-4 Peter Wright (L16)

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Peter Wright sensationally ends Luke Humphries’ world title defence to storm into quarter-finals

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