Luke Humphries impressed darts fans with his sportsmanship during his World Matchplay final triumph over Michael van Gerwen.
‘Coolhand Luke’ overcame the Dutchman at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens in a thrilling clash that finished 18-15 in the Brit’s favour. His victory saw him clinch a £200,000 cash prize and etch himself into darts history by becoming the fourth man to win the world championship and the World Matchplay title in the same year after Van Gerwen, Peter Wright and Phil Taylor.
With the Dutchman threatening a comeback against the Leeds native, the clash became tense in the final legs. Yet, in a sport which has seen plenty of sledging and mind games, Humphries chose not to indulge in any gamesmanship
In the 27th leg, Van Gerwen needed a double 10 to keep Humphries within arm’s reach. As the crowd began to ramp up the pressure on Clog Almighty with whistles heard just as he was about to throw, Humphries then turned around and waved his hand to tell them to quieten down. MVG subsequently kept his nerve to hit double 10, and it’s an act from Humphries which impressed the world of darts.
One fan wrote: “Humphries telling the crowd not to whistle as MVG is on a double is all class.” A second added: “Classy from Humphries. The crowd whistling at MVG on the double, but Humphries was waving them down to stop.”
A third said: “Class from Humphries telling the crowd to stop whistling,” before a fourth commented: “Humphries is a class act. Great final.”
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