Luke Humphries is out of the World Darts Championship after Peter Wright kept his word to slay the reigning world champion in round four on Sunday night.
Wright visibly struggled with illness in his previous match but produced his best performance of 2024 against Jermaine Wattimena on Friday. Yet he topped that by raising his level again at Alexandra Palace with an incredible 4-1 win over Humphries.
Before the tournament, Wright – after a difficult year – had said: “Who drives me on? Luke Humphries and Luke Littler. Because I know I can still compete with them. What I’m doing in practice, I can compete with these guys and actually be better than them.”
Humphries responded before this contest: “He’s had a lot to say over the last couple of weeks, where he says he doesn’t fear me and Luke Littler. He says he’s going to smash us.
“All the pressure’s on him now because if he doesn’t the egg’s on his face not mine. How many times have people said this is going to happen and this is going to happen and it never happens?”
And 17th seed Wright – a world champion himself in 2020 and 2022 – was spared any such egg, keeping his word with a big upset against the world No.1.
Despite Humphries taking out a 161 finish in the opening leg of set two, he couldn’t produce his peak level of performance against Wright who pounded in five 180s and was a clinical 70 per cent on the doubles.
The Scot didn’t drop his throw once all match and averaged 100.93 on his way to a truly unforgettable victory. Humphries could only smile in frustration during the final set which Wright won 3-0.
Wright was visibly emotional post-match as he engaged in a lengthy embrace with a classy Humphries, who clearly had plenty of nice words to say after stressing pre-match how much respect he has for his opponent.
And the dethroned world champion seemed to have tears in his eyes too with emotions high at Ally Pally. Addressing the crowd on stage, Wright said: “I’ve never had support like this in my life. Thank you all.
“I’ve been struggling with form all year and it’s so annoying. I know I can still play darts! I’ve switched to another set there to try and find something.
“This crowd – I’ve never experienced anything like it in the world. Absolutely amazing. Thank you guys. Lucky I wasn’t playing Luke Humphries of last year! He was absolutely awesome you know.
“I thought I played rubbish tonight to be honest but hopefully I can play better and score better in the next round. As long as this crowd is behind me next time, I’ve got a great chance. Happy New Year everybody, love you all!”
It is only the second time ever a reigning champion has been beaten by a former world champion after Michael van Gerwen defeated Gary Anderson in the 2017 final.
Wright will play either eighth seed and Masters champion Stephen Bunting or Luke Woodhouse in the quarter-finals on New Year’s Day. In the semis, he could come face-to-face with Luke Littler in a tantalising tie.
Littler, the beaten finalist this time last year, will now have to deal with the pressure of being the standout favourite to lift the Sid Waddell trophy next week.
The teenager faces Ryan Joyce in his fourth-round match on Monday night. Should he win that, he will take on either 12th seed Nathan Aspinall or Germany’s Ricardo Pietreczko next up and Wright could await in the final four.