Luke Humphries retained his bet365 US Darts Masters title with a gripping final leg victory against Luke Littler on a barn-storming Friday night in New York.
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Humphries created another slice of history in the Infosys Theater at Madison Square Garden, becoming the first player to win back-to-back titles in the Big Apple.
The world’s top two ranked players, who shared World Cup glory earlier this month, resumed their rivalry in front of 5,000 fans in ‘The Garden’ – a record for darts in the US.
Littler was aiming to lift the coveted crown for the first time in his career, although reigning champion Humphries had other ideas, racing into a commanding 4-1 lead.
The world number one responded with four straight legs to seize the initiative, only for Humphries to produce a late turnaround and celebrate his third World Series of Darts title.
“This is the most iconic venue I think darts will ever go to,” reflected Humphries, who averaged 104 to prevail in a thrilling finale.
“Every year we come here it gets better and better, and the fans have been absolutely amazing. It’s been insane.
“It’s great to go back-to-back. I’m always out to set records and do things that not many players have done.
“Me and Luke always have fantastic games, and it’s just another brilliant game in the saga of Luke v Luke.
“I feel if I can keep performing like this then I can keep pushing him, because he’s unbelievable. He’s the toughest player in the world to beat.”
Humphries was averaging over 107 in the opening stages of Friday’s showpiece, but after squandering two darts for a 5-1 lead, the pendulum appeared to shift.
Littler – who crashed in nine maximums during a pulsating affair – hit back with a trademark mid-match burst to take control, but Humphries stemmed the tide with a clinical 72 kill to level at 5-5.
The pair then exchanged convincing holds in the closing stages, and the advantage of throw proved pivotal for Humphries, who conjured a sensational 11-darter in the decider to complete the fairytale in New York.
The 31-year-old performed magnificently on Finals Day, overcoming Stephen Bunting and Gian van Veen en route to his latest big stage title.
Having averaged almost 106 in a 6-3 win against Bunting, Humphries produced a sensational four-leg flurry to topple Van Veen, overturning a 6-3 deficit and surviving two match darts to triumph.
Littler, meanwhile, followed up his opening round victory over David Cameron by accounting for another Canadian in the quarter-finals, averaging north of 102 in his 6-1 demolition of Jim Long.
The World Champion then fended off a resilient James Wade in the last four, despite the ten-time TV title winner averaging over a ton and hitting all of his four attempts at double.
“It was an unbelievable experience tonight,” admitted the 19-year-old, who was featuring in his maiden US Darts Masters final.
“There were a lot of England fans here who are going to the game [tomorrow] so I appreciate them coming along.
“As the night went on they got louder and louder, and I wish I was in the crowd with them to be fair!”
Earlier in the night, Wade won through a high-quality affair against Gerwyn Price, defying a 103.93 average from the 2024 runner-up in sealing a 6-3 success.
In the evening’s other quarter-final, Van Veen swept aside Jonny Clayton by the same scoreline, averaging north of 106 and converting a brace of ton-plus checkouts in the process.
Following a record-breaking event in New York, the World Series of Darts continues with a double-header in New Zealand and Australia in August, with visits to Auckland and Wollongong preceding September’s World Series of Darts Finals.
2026 bet365 US Darts Masters
Friday June 26
Quarter-Finals
Luke Littler 6-1 Jim Long
James Wade 6-3 Gerwyn Price
Luke Humphries 6-3 Stephen Bunting
Gian van Veen 6-3 Jonny Clayton
Semi-Finals
Luke Littler 7-4 James Wade
Luke Humphries 7-6 Gian van Veen
Final
Luke Humphries 8-7 Luke Littler
—–ENDS—–
Images: Tom Horak/PDC
