Defending champion Luke Humphries has booked his place in the quarter-finals of the PDC World Darts Championship, though he insists there is "another level" to find if he is to retain his title. The world number one overcame a slow start to defeat Dutchman Kevin Doets 4-1 at London's Alexandra Palace on Tuesday evening.
Humphries Demands More Despite Comfortable Win
Humphries, who triumphed in the 2024 tournament, dropped the first set against a determined Doets before finding his rhythm. He then cruised through the next four sets to secure a convincing victory and a last-eight showdown with rising Dutch talent Gian van Veen.
In his post-match interview, the top seed was candid about his performance. "It was a decent performance – it kind of dropped off towards the end," Humphries admitted. "I feel like I’ve played well but I feel like there’s another level in me, which is important. If you’re going to win this tournament, you have to have another level in you."
Anderson Ends Van Gerwen's Decade-Long Run
In the night's other headline clash, two-time former champion Gary Anderson produced a statement win, defeating a below-par Michael van Gerwen by the same 4-1 scoreline. The victory was particularly significant as it marks the first time in a decade that the three-time champion Van Gerwen has been eliminated before the quarter-final stage.
Frequent missed doubles proved costly for Van Gerwen, allowing the experienced Scot to capitalise. A philosophical Anderson said, "I knew Michael misses a few doubles now and again but not that many – happy to get through. I’ve never felt right since I got on the stage tonight and I don’t think he felt right. It was one of those games."
Debutant Hood Stuns Rock with Record-Breaking Display
The shock of the night belonged to debutant Justin Hood, who produced a stunning 4-0 whitewash of 11th seed Josh Rock. Hood was in phenomenal form on the doubles, reeling off a record 11 consecutive successful double attempts before finally missing one when throwing for the match.
The 32-year-old, who is playing his first season on the PDC tour, sealed the victory with a brilliant 119 checkout. The win guarantees him at least £100,000 and moves him closer to his dream of opening a Chinese restaurant. "It’s not a fairy tale – I know what I can do and it’s nice to prove it up there," said a delighted Hood.
Anderson will now face Hood in the quarter-finals, while Humphries meets Van Veen, who eased past 20-year-old debutant Charlie Manby 4-1. The other last-eight ties will see Jonny Clayton face Krzysztof Ratajski, and Luke Littler take on Luke Woodhouse.
