Luke Humphries Exit World Matchplay in Surprising First‑Round Defeat

World number two Luke Humphries was eliminated from the World Matchplay following a surprising first‑round loss to Scotland’s Cameron Menzies.

The former world champion struggled early in the contest, losing his first six legs before finally securing a decisive throw to level the match.

Even after rallying for a four‑leg surge that brought the score to 8‑7, Humphries could not maintain the momentum. Menzies finished the encounter with a flawless 170 checkout, clinching a convincing 10‑7 victory.

The outcome represents a bitter setback for Humphries, who had recently displayed a return to peak form, notably defeating Luke Littler at the US Darts Masters in June after a sluggish start to the season.

For Menzies, ranked 27th globally, the win is a landmark achievement. He stated that “this is a victory I would take to my grave,” becoming only the second unseeded player to reach this stage in the current tournament.

Menzies will next face 15th‑seeded Ross Smith in Wednesday’s second‑round match, following Smith’s 10‑6 win over the Netherlands’ Kevin Doets.

Both competitors maintained averages above 100 and achieved over 50% on doubles, producing a high‑quality match that eventually tipped in Smith’s favour when it mattered most.

Meanwhile, Gerwyn Price survived a narrow threat before overcoming Germany’s Martin Schindler 11‑9.

Price admitted it was “probably a match I should have lost” after trailing 4‑0 and 6‑2.

Although Price rallied to secure a 9‑8 lead, Schindler fired a 121 checkout to level the score, before Price finally closed the match in the 20th leg.

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