Luke Humphries battles to 2025 Winmau World Masters title in Milton Keynes

Newbury’s Luke Humphries survived an incredible fightback from Jonny Clayton to be crowned World Masters champion in Milton Keynes on Sunday.

World number one Humphries was seemingly in control as he charged into a 5-2 lead on his way to the £100,000 top prize, before Clayton produced heroics to drag himself level at 5-5 to set up a tense deciding set.

Clayton took the advantage with a break of throw, only to see Humphries return the favour to set up a sudden-death leg.

With the darts in hand, Humphries hit back-to-back 140s before winning the title on double twenty.

“I am a lucky lucky boy… I think I was very fortunate there,” he said.

"I started to feel the nerves… I was trying too hard to close the game out.

“Jonny was coming back at me, and I thought the game was gone.

"That double top [to win], I must admit I was shaking, my heart was pounding but it went in so I am really really pleased.”

The triumph was a seventh career TV ranking title for Humphries in just 15 months since his maiden triumph in October 2023 at the World Grand Prix.

“To win trophies like this is amazing," he said.

"That’s a seventh major title for me now, I am three away from the great James Wade and for me to be even close to someone like that - I can’t even believe it."

After wins over Joe Cullen and Josh Rock in the first two rounds, Humphries’ run to the title on Sunday saw him beat Australia’s Damon Heta 4-1 in the quarter-finals, before coming from 2-0 down to see off Danny Noppert 5-2 in the semi-finals.

Attention for Humphries will now turn to the 2025 BetMGM Premier League, with the new season getting underway in Belfast on Thursday.