Darts results: Luke Humphries completes World Championship-World Matchplay double in Blackpool and also equals an incredible Phil Taylor record

Only Phil Taylor, MVG and Peter Wright have previously held both trophies at the same time while this maiden Winter Gardens triumph means that Humphries now won five of the last eight majors since he broke his duck at October's World Grand Prix.

Humphries, who has also lifted the World Cup with Michael Smith for England in this incredible spell of dominance that's coincided with Ally Pally runner-up Luke Littler thrusting the sport in front of new audiences, also equalled another feat that only Taylor managed in Blackpool - averaging over 100 in all five matches.

The Power did it in three (2010, 2011, 2013) of his 16 title runs on this famous stage but nobody else until Humphries, who managed 108.8 v Ricardo Pietreczko, 102.3 v Stephen Bnting, 101.2 v Dimitri Van den Bergh, 100.6 v James Wade and 100.9 v van Gerwen with the trophy on the line.

And he finished it in style, too, with a tops-tops finish to take out 100 after the Dutchman spurned four darts at double eight across two visits to make it 17-16.

As well as MVG did to claw his way back into the final from 12-9 down when Humphries was looking to turn the screw, he also missed four attempts at double in the previous leg just as he sensed a fourth World Matchplay crown was potentially in his grasp.

The Grand Slam of Darts and Players Championship Finals champion averaged 100.9 compared to van Gerwen's 98.7 while he hit 12 of the 18 180s and although his opponent landed four of the seven 100+ checkouts including the highest of 160, his finishing was ultimately superior as he pinned 18 of his 41 doubles while MVG missed 29 of his 44.

Nevertheless, van Gerwen will be encouraged by his major-challenging run at the Winter Gardens, especially many dismissed his chances before his first-round meeting with Littler that he soundly won 10-6.

Humphries, who was also runner-up to Littler in the Premier League final and also missed match darts to win the UK Open back in March, said: “I feel more emotional than when I won the Worlds. I am really blessed to be up on this stage and be part of such a great such a great sport.

“I feel very privileged to hold this trophy with so many great players. I am emotional, it really means the world to me.

“For me winning things like this, it’s amazing. It has been a fantastic tournament, it shows the standard of what is needed to win.”

Humphries admitted he was worried when he saw Van Gerwen making a late rally.

“I was thinking please don’t, I was getting a little nervy,” he said. “I felt the pressure. When I hit the first tops, I thought just make sure I get that double.

“I was fortunate he missed a few doubles as well.”

More to follow...

Luke Humphries 18-15 Michael van Gerwen: Match stats

AVERAGE

• Humphries: 100.94
• MVG: 98.74

180s

• Humphries: 12
• MVG: 6

CHECKOUT %

• Humphries: 43.9%
• MVG: 34.1%

100+ CHECKOUTS

• Humphries: 141, 131, 100
• MVG: 160, 110, 108, 106

Humphries v MVG: Routes to the final

Luke Humphries

• R1: 10-4 v Pietreczko
  Average: 108.76
  180s: 6
  100+ Checkouts: 0 (High: 68)
  Checkout %: 58.82%
• R2: 11-7 v Bunting
  Average: 102.34
  180s: 4
  100+ Checkouts: 0 (High: 90)
  Checkout %: 39.29%
• QF: 16-10 v Van den Bergh
  Average: 101.21
  180s: 12
  100+ Checkouts: 3 (High: 164)
  Checkout %: 45.71%
• SF: 17-10 v Wade
  Average: 100.64
  180s: 8
  100+ Checkouts: 1 (High: 156)
  Checkout %: 40.48%

Michael van Gerwen

• R1: 10-6 v Littler
  Average: 101.93
  180s: 5
  100+ Checkouts: 1 (High: 146)
  Checkout %: 43.48%
• R2: 11-8 v Cullen
  Average: 95.49
  180s: 8
  100+ Checkouts: 1 (High: 151)
  Checkout %: 44%
• QF: 16-10 v Gilding
  Average: 96.99
  180s: 11
  100+ Checkouts: 2 (High: 136)
  Checkout %: 29.63%
• SF: 17-13 v Smith
  Average: 98.43
  180s: 5
  100+ Checkouts: 3 (High: 161)
  Checkout %: 29.82%

World Matchplay Darts 2024: Tournament results

FINAL

• (1) Luke Humphries 18-15 Michael van Gerwen (2)

SEMI-FINALS

• (1) Luke Humphries 17-10 James Wade
• (2) Michael van Gerwen 17-13 Michael Smith (3)

QUARTER-FINALS

• (1) Luke Humphries 16-10 Dimitri Van den Bergh (9)
• (13) Ross Smith 10-16 James Wade
• (2) Michael van Gerwen 16-10 Andrew Gilding
• (3) Michael Smith 16-7 Rob Cross (6)

ROUND TWO

• (1) Luke Humphries 11-7 Stephen Bunting (16)
• (8) Jonny Clayton 5-11 Dimitri Van den Bergh (9)
• (4) Gerwyn Price 9-11 Ross Smith (13)
• (5) Nathan Aspinall 8-11 James Wade
• (2) Michael van Gerwen 11-8 Joe Cullen (15)
• Krzysztof Ratajski 5-11 Andrew Gilding
• (3) Michael Smith 11-9 Chris Dobey (14)
• (6) Rob Cross 11-6 Ryan Searle

ROUND ONE

• (1) Luke Humphries 10-4 Ricardo Pietreczko
• (16) Stephen Bunting 12-10 Ryan Joyce
• (8) Jonny Clayton 10-7 Raymond van Barneveld
• (9) Dimitri Van den Bergh 10-6 Martin Schindler
• (4) Gerwyn Price 10-4 Daryl Gurney
• (13) Ross Smith 10-4 Josh Rock
• (5) Nathan Aspinall 10-8 Luke Woodhouse
• (12) Danny Noppert 5-10 James Wade
• (2) Michael van Gerwen 10-6 Luke Littler
• (15) Joe Cullen 10-4 Brendan Dolan
• (7) Dave Chisnall 2-10 Krzysztof Ratajski
• (10) Peter Wright 5-10 Andrew Gilding
• (3) Michael Smith 10-5 Gary Anderson
• (14) Chris Dobey 10-7 Ritchie Edhouse
• (6) Rob Cross 13-12 Gian van Veen
• (11) Damon Heta 4-10 Ryan Searle

Darts: Related content

• 2024 PDC Darts Calendar
• 2024 Premier League Season
• What's easier, a nine-darter or a 147?
• Watch: Ranking the major winners in history
• Watch: Royal Rumble and other new tournament ideas
• Watch: How much do darts players earn?
• Watch: Is Luke Littler the next Phil Taylor?
• Watch: Building the perfect darts player
• Watch: How to become a darts professional
• 2024 World Darts draw, schedule & results
• 2024 World Darts Championship guide
• How legends would fare today
• Troubles and triumphs
• Tournament ideas for darts
• 'What If' moments in darts
• Agony of missed match darts
• Good, Bad, Ugly: Nicholson on darts shirts
• Referees in darts
• Calling the shots in darts
• Weird actions in darts
• Hidden talents in darts
• Superstitions in darts
• Routes to glory
• Paul Nicholson's five darts drills
• Paul Nicholson's five mental tips
• Paul Nicholson's five practice games
• Worst losers in darts
• World number ones in darts
• Best players never to be number one
• Five characters in darts
• Do averages lie?
• Greatest Tournaments Ever
• Paul Nicholson's Ally Pally tales
• Watch all the Ally Pally nine-darters
• Players everyone hates to face
• Players everyone loves to face
• How to make it as a pro?
• How much money do players earn?
• Greatest darts rivalries
• Rivalries to cherish
• Be canny with counting
• Phil Taylor's greatest display
• Greatest World Championship displays
• World Cup of Great Darts performances
• Sky Bet's darts odds