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Humphries Advances in Thrilling Encounter at the UK Open
Luke Humphries triumphed over Beau Greaves in a fiercely contested match, securing a 10-7 victory to advance to the last 32 at the UK Open held in Minehead.
Greaves made headlines during her UK Open debut by achieving a historic milestone, winning her first three matches against competitors Stefan Bellmont, Rhys Griffin, and Mickey Mansell. Eager to add to her success, Greaves faced Humphries, the reigning world champion for 2024.
The world’s top female player began impressively, showcasing her skill with checkouts of 126 and 124, giving her a 3-2 lead at the first break. Humphries retaliated, leveling the match at 5-5. Greaves managed to draw ahead again at 7-5 with a crucial break of throw. However, a key moment arose in the 15th leg when Humphries seized the initiative with his own break, taking a 8-7 lead for the first time in the match.
With strong scoring that has become his trademark, ‘Cool Hand’ Humphries pushed through to the end, bringing Greaves back onto the stage to receive well-deserved applause from the audience at Butlin’s.
“I really enjoyed the game. It was great fun and Beau played amazing,” Humphries expressed in an interview with ITV Sport. “She is a fantastic player and really brought out the best in me. The women’s game has advanced tremendously, and it’s in part thanks to her talent.”
Humphries acknowledged the pressure Greaves could even pose in a Premier League setting, noting, “If it had been a Premier League game, she could have easily beaten me. She’s probably at a level where she could compete among the top 64 players globally, but I’m cautious about placing too much pressure on her.”
Greaves, reflecting on her performance, recognized her slight dip in form towards the final stages but regarded the experience as fundamentally positive for her career trajectory. “I started well but noticed I faded a bit towards the end. It’s a work in progress,” she stated. “Playing against someone like Luke can only enhance my game. I loved observing his technique.”
Moving forward, Humphries is set to face his friend Ryan Searle in the fifth round.
Luke Littler also made his mark by defeating Peter Wright in a nail-biting finish, sealing a 10-9 win in the deciding leg, which propels him into the last 32 to meet Jermaine Wattimena. Wright, the 2017 UK Open champion, made a comeback with three consecutive legs, showcasing impressive 14-darter finishes. Nevertheless, the 18-year-old world champion held his composure and executed a stunning 170 checkout to secure his spot.
Michael van Gerwen managed to fend off a late resurgence from Dirk van Duijvenbode, ensuring progress into the fifth round against Robert Owen. Despite an early lead for Van Duijvenbode, his missed doubles provided Van Gerwen with openings, allowing him to steal six legs in succession, ultimately winning 10-8.
Jonny Clayton displayed exceptional form by overpowering Gary Anderson, achieving a convincing 10-3 victory. Clayton surged ahead early with a break of throw and a well-executed 121 checkout, never looking back as he maintained a dominant lead throughout the match.
Other noteworthy results included an unexpected loss for Gerwyn Price against Connor Scutt in a decider, alongside Chris Dobey‘s victory over Stephen Bunting, and reigning champion Dimitri Van den Bergh overcoming two-time UK Open champion Raymond van Barneveld with a 10-6 scoreline.
Fourth-round results:
Jonny Clayton 10-3 Gary Anderson
Luke Littler 10-9 Peter Wright
Luke Humphries 10-7 Beau Greaves
Michael van Gerwen 10-8 Dirk van Duijvenbode
Dave Chisnall 10-9 Ricky Evans
Dimitri Van den Bergh 10-6 Raymond van Barneveld
Chris Dobey 10-6 Stephen Bunting
Connor Scutt 10-9 Gerwyn Price
Stephen Burton 10-6 Radek Szaganski
Ryan Searle 10-7 Adam Hunt
Martin Schindler 10-7 Mario Vandenbogaerde
Michael Smith 10-6 Kevin Doets
Danny Noppert 10-2 Daryl Gurney
William O’Connor 10-7 Scott Williams
Alan Soutar 10-7 Matt Campbell
Cameron Menzies 10-4 Mike De Decker
Krzysztof Ratajski 10-4 Joe Cullen
Nathan Aspinall 10-5 Martin Lukeman
Dylan Slevin 10-7 Haupai Puha
James Wade 10-3 William Borland
Mensur Suljovic 10-6 Luke Woodhouse
Ross Smith 10-7 Jose de Sousa
Jurjen van der Velde 10-6 Adam Lipscombe
Josh Rock 10-5 Justin Hood
Danny Lauby 10-9 Brendan Dolan
Madars Razma 10-9 Ricardo Pietreczko
Damon Heta 10-2 Kim Huybrechts
Rob Cross 10-4 Thomas Lovely
Jermaine Wattimena 10-6 Ritchie Edhouse
Gian van Veen 10-4 Nick Kenny
Ryan Joyce 10-8 Andrew Gilding
Rob Owen 10-7 George Killington
Fifth-round draw:
Ryan Searle vs Luke Humphries
Dave Chisnall vs Krzysztof Ratajski
Mensur Suljovic vs William O’Connor
Rob Cross vs Danny Noppert
Josh Rock vs Ross Smith
Madars Razma vs Michael Smith
Alan Soutar vs Jonny Clayton
Gian van Veen vs Stephen Burton
Jurjen van der Velde vs Nathan Aspinall
Cameron Menzies vs James Wade
Rob Owen vs Michael van Gerwen
Luke Littler vs Jermaine Wattimena
Dimitri Van den Bergh vs Chris Dobey
Martin Schindler vs Dylan Slevin
Danny Lauby vs Ryan Joyce
Connor Scutt vs Damon Heta
Looking Ahead to the Premier League
The Premier League continues with Night 5 in Brighton on March 6, featuring a highly anticipated matchup between Gerwyn Price and Michael van Gerwen, a rematch of the 2023 Premier League final. The winner will face either Luke Littler or Chris Dobey in the semifinals. Watch Night 5 of Premier League Darts live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports+, or stream with NOW.
Source
www.skysports.com