Two match darts. That is all that stood between Luke Humphries and an exit from the US Darts Masters on finals night at Madison Square Garden. Gian van Veen missed both, Humphries clawed back from 6-3 down to win the semi-final 7-6, and a few hours later he was lifting the trophy for the second year running.
The final against Luke Littler finished 8-7. Humphries averaged 104.05. Littler hit nine maximums and averaged just under 100, and still lost the deciding leg, which Humphries took in 11 darts.
No one had ever defended this title before. Humphries is the first, and it is his third World Series win. “It’s great to go back-to-back,” he said afterwards. “I’m always out to set records and do things that not many players have done.”
Friends on the oche
These two had been on the same side not long before. Earlier in June they won the World Cup of Darts together for England. In New York they were rivals again, the world’s top two, and Littler was playing his first final at this event.
Humphries opened with a 4-1 lead. He then missed darts that would have made it four clear, and Littler cut it to 4-2 before running off four legs in a row to lead 5-4. A 72 checkout from Humphries brought it level.
“Me and Luke always have fantastic games,” Humphries said, “and it’s just another brilliant game in the saga of Luke v Luke.”
The rest of the draw
Sixteen players started on Thursday, June 25, eight from the PDC and eight from North America. Jim Long was the only North American to reach the quarter-finals, beating debutant Josh Rock 6-4. Littler ended his run 6-1.
Stephen Bunting hit a 164 checkout, the highest of the tournament, but lost 6-3 to Humphries. James Wade, who had come back to the World Series, converted every double he tried against Littler in the semi-final and still lost 7-4, winning only four legs.
Littler called the week an “unbelievable experience.” Part of the crowd was English, in town for England’s World Cup game against Panama the next day, and he thanked them for coming.
The winner took 30,000 pounds from a 100,000 pound prize fund. The World Matchplay in Blackpool is next on the calendar, running July 18 to 26.
Sources
- 2026 US Darts Masters – Wikipedia
- HUMPHRIES CLAIMS BACK-TO-BACK US DARTS MASTERS TITLES AFTER BEATING LITTLER 8-7
