Darts results: Luke Humphries dazzles in Dublin to win his third Premier League Darts night in a row

By Sporting Life

Darts

Fri March 22, 2024 · 10M ago

Luke Humphries won his third Premier League Darts night in a row thanks to a string of superb performances in Dublin.

The world number one arrived in the Irish capital fresh from wins in Brighton and Nottingham, and he maintained his dominance with Night Eight success in the Emerald Isle.

Humphries recorded a trio of ton-topping averages to scoop the £10,000 bonus prize, defeating Peter Wright, Nathan Aspinall and Michael Smith to extend his lead at the top of the table to seven points.

HUMPHRIES DOMINATES IN DUBLIN! 🇮🇪

Luke Humphries makes it three nightly wins on the spin with Night Eight success in the Irish capital!

The world number one averages 105 to see off Michael Smith in the evening's showpiece!

📺 https://t.co/gbUt9q25Jh #PLDarts | Final pic.twitter.com/nNUUpHnZMf
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) March 21, 2024

The 29-year-old opened Thursday’s proceedings with a comprehensive 6-1 success against Peter Wright, averaging 106 and producing two stunning ton-plus checkouts in the process.

This set the tone for another memorable night for the World Champion, who crashed in six 180s to overcome a spirited Nathan Aspinall in the semi-finals, in a repeat of last week’s Nottingham final.

Humphries then produced another merciless display to topple Smith in the evening’s showpiece, kicking off the contest with legs of 12, 13 and 11 darts to threaten a record-breaking average.

Smith converted 113 and 125 combinations to win his two legs, although it wasn’t enough to deny Humphries a ninth consecutive victory in the Premier League.

Luke Humphries leads the way

“I’m really enjoying myself,” said the Newbury-born star, who could become the first player in Premier League history to win four successive nights with victory in Belfast next week.

“At the start of the season it felt really tough for me, but now I’m enjoying the game, and that’s when I’m at my best.

“I feel much more comfortable now. I feel like I belong here, and the last three weeks have just been fantastic. I know I’m not unbeatable, but I feel like I’m playing at a level where it’s going to take a big performance to beat me.

“I loved tonight. It was the loudest crowd I’ve ever played in front of. The atmosphere was incredible. As I said last week, I have got Irish heritage in my family, and I’m sure my Mum will be super-proud tonight, so it’s a really special feeling.”

Despite Humphries' heroics, it was another positive night for Smith, who won through high-quality encounters against Luke Littler and Gerwyn Price to advance to his third nightly final of the campaign.

The 2023 World Champion recovered from 3-1 down to sink Littler in the last eight, winning five of the last six legs to secure his third win over the teenager in four meetings.

Smith then survived a match dart to deny Price in a captivating semi-final showdown, firing in six 180s and sealing the deal with a nerveless 104 checkout in the decider.

Earlier in the night, Price ended his run of four straight defeats with a thrilling deciding-leg win over Michael van Gerwen, avenging his defeat to the Dutchman in last year’s Dublin decider.

The Welshman averaged 102 and crashed in six maximums to inflict a fourth consecutive defeat on Van Gerwen for the first time in Premier League history.

Aspinall also won through a last-leg shoot-out in the quarter-finals, sealing a fourth straight win over Rob Cross in a high-quality contest which saw both players average 101.