REIGNING CHAMPION LUKE Humphries was knocked out of the World Championship by an inspired Peter Wright in a major upset at Alexandra Palace. Two-time former champion Wright turned the formbook upside down to stun big favourite Humphries, who was well below par in a 4-1 defeat. Wright, 54, who lifted the crown in 2020 and 2022, fought back the tears after a convincing win in which he averaged nearly 101 and hit 70 per cent of his doubles.
After producing a 12-dart break to open up a 3-1 lead, Wright kept his foot to the floor, making back-to-back 13-dart finishes and then a 14-darter to close out the match in stunning fashion. The world number 17 said afterwards: “Luke gave me a load of chances there, he didn’t play like he can. “I’ve never had support like this in my life, thank you all.
It’s amazing. I’ve been struggling for form all year and it’s so annoying because I know I can still play darts. “I’ve never experienced anything like (the crowd’s support) in the world.
Luckily I wasn’t playing Luke Humphries from last year because he was awesome.” Former world champion Gerwyn Price earlier became the first man to book his place in the quarter-finals by defeating Jonny Clayton 4-2. Price, who won the title in 2021, was rarely at his best against his fellow Welshman, racing into a 2-0 lead with an average of 107 before Clayton hit back to level it up at 2-2.
Clayton’s mid-match form then deserted him and Price, the 10th seed, got the job done despite.
