Luke Humphries became the first player to win back-to-back US Darts Masters titles in New York after edging Luke Littler 8-7 in a deciding-leg final at Madison Square Garden on Friday night.
The PDC confirmed Humphries retained the bet365 crown on a record-breaking night in the Big Apple, giving the world number one another landmark World Series moment only days after he and Littler had carried England to World Cup glory.
It was not just another Littler-Humphries final. The result gave Humphries a distinct New York claim: the first successful title defence since the event moved into its current MSG chapter, achieved against the sport’s most watched opponent and in front of a crowd the PDC framed as part of darts’ growing American footprint.
Why the New York record matters
Humphries’ route through Stephen Bunting, Gian van Veen and Littler underlined how quickly his World Series profile has hardened from contender to standard-setter. Littler still leaves with another final and more US attention, but this was Humphries’ night to turn the rivalry into silverware again.
For the PDC, the timing is useful too. With Blackpool next on the sport’s summer horizon, Humphries has added a fresh trophy marker before the World Matchplay conversation tightens around the same names. The official PDC report on Humphries’ US Darts Masters defence described the win as a back-to-back Big Apple breakthrough.
