Humphries suffers shock defeat in Blackpool

In the first round of the World Matchplay in Blackpool, reigning champion Luke Humphries was humiliated.

Gian van Veen, the 23-year-old Dutchman who is the world’s youth champion, described it as “the biggest win of my career,” while Humphries lost to him at the Winter Gardens with a score of 10-8.

Humphries, who defeated Michael van Gerwen to win the title 12 months later, had been aiming to become the only player to have won consecutive titles.

However, Van Veen, who had six match darts before Rob Cross abruptly lost his debut last year, made a strong start to the best-of-19-leg encounter.

Humphries eventually took the third three, but the 30-year-old struggled with his doubles the entire time.

Van Veen took a crucial 8-7 lead after coming within 5-3 of Humphries’s mark only for Humphries to hit back and go 7-6 up. Despite seeing a few match darts come and go in leg 17, Van Veen resurrected the win in the following leg, sealing the victory.

I’m thrilled to defeat such a fantastic player as Luke, Van Veen told Sky Sports. He is both a great champion and a great person.

I felt the pressure at 6-6 and 7-7, but I was relieved that I could keep up. Luke had some bad chances, but I got the best of them, and it means a lot.

Van Veen will get to meet with fellow compatriot Danny Noppert, who defeated Scottish debutant Cameron Menzies 10-2.