Humphries Triumphs in Thrilling Nine-Dart Showdown with Woodhouse
Luke Humphries showcased his impressive skills by achieving a nine-dart leg during a thrilling victory over Luke Woodhouse at the 2026 Winmau World Masters. This event, with a prize pool of £500,000, took place in Milton Keynes, featuring an action-packed Day Three filled with exciting matches.
Humphries Triumphs in Nine-Dart Showdown
The reigning champion Humphries faced Woodhouse in an exhilarating battle. Humphries took an early lead, securing the first set, before executing a perfect nine-dart leg, thrilling the crowd at Arena MK. He struck two 180s followed by a 141 checkout, propelling him to a 2-0 set advantage.
Both players maintained high averages, with Humphries concluding the match with ten 180s and an overall average of 105. However, Woodhouse surged back, leveling the contest at 3-3 after trailing. Despite missing three match darts, Humphries ultimately clinched victory by finishing on 54 during the sudden-death shootout.
Reflections on the Match
- Humphries: “When I hit those two 180s, I just felt like it was going to go.”
- Woodhouse averaged just under 103 during the match.
Humphries praised Woodhouse’s performance, noting that the latter has entered a new peak in his career. “The world is your oyster now,” he encouraged him.
Exciting Quarter-Final Lineup
In other matches, Luke Littler maintained his title challenge with a smooth 4-1 victory over Ross Smith. Littler’s performance included legs of 11, 13, and 12 darts, demonstrating his superior technique and finishing. The young champion finished with a match average of 107.88.
Littler now faces Josh Rock in the quarter-finals. Rock impressed with a dominant 4-1 win against Rob Cross, never averaging less than 101 throughout the match.
Other Key Matches
- Gerwyn Price defeated Jonny Clayton 4-3, overcoming an initial 0-2 deficit.
- Danny Noppert achieved a clean sweep against Stephen Bunting, allowing only one leg to his opponent.
- Gian van Veen progressed with a 4-2 win over Nathan Aspinall, completing 56% of his doubles.
- James Wade recovered from 2-0 down to defeat Gary Anderson in a nail-biting 4-3 victory.
Quarter-final matches are set to be held on Sunday, with a thrilling lineup featuring Chris Dobey against Gerwyn Price, Luke Littler facing Josh Rock, Gian van Veen contending with James Wade, and Luke Humphries meeting Danny Noppert.
The 2026 Winmau World Masters promises to conclude with exciting semi-finals and a final that increases in intensity, showcasing the best talents in the darting world.
This prestigious event is being broadcast live on ITV4 in the UK and available through PDC’s worldwide partners, including DAZN and Viaplay.
