Luke Humphries has turned his US Darts Masters defence into a World Series statement after beating Luke Littler 8-7 at Madison Square Garden on Friday night.
The PDC confirmed Humphries retained the bet365 title in New York after a deciding-leg final, becoming the first player to win back-to-back editions of the event since it moved to the Big Apple.
That matters beyond the trophy lift. Humphries had already reached the Nordic Darts Masters final earlier this month, and this 12-point New York return keeps him firmly in the battle for a seeded place at September’s World Series of Darts Finals.
Humphries Keeps Littler Within Range
The final also gave the Humphries-Littler rivalry another sharp turn. Littler, fresh from England’s World Cup success alongside Humphries, surged from 4-1 down to lead 5-4, only for Humphries to steady himself and close out the match in the last leg.
The PDC’s official report said the pair played in front of a sell-out 5,000 crowd, a record for darts in the United States.
For Humphries, the timing is useful. New Zealand and Australia are still to come on the World Series calendar, and his latest title keeps pressure on Littler and Michael van Gerwen before the Finals picture firms up.
It was not just a New York defence. It was a ranking nudge, a confidence reset, and another reminder that Humphries is still the player most capable of breaking Littler’s rhythm when the stage gets tight.
