There’s a blockbuster Blackpool final at the World Matchplay this evening when Luke Humpries bids to claim his first Winter Gardens crown against three-time Matchplay king Michael van Gerwen.
Humphries got the better of a resurgent James Wade in last night’s semi-final, while MVG defeated former world champion Michael Smith to book his place in the final.
The stage is set for a cracking Winter Gardens finale and we have two selections to complement tonight’s action.
World Matchplay finals
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Luke Humphries -2.5 legs v Michael van Gerwen @ 4/5
Luke Humphries has developed into the dominant force in darts and the world champion is bidding to add a first World Matchplay title to the Grand Slam, Players Championship Finals and World Grand Prix crowns that the Newbury arrowsmith currently holds.
The 29-year-old is the most consistently brilliant performer on tour, and while Luke Littler is a rising star, a Matchplay final against Michael van Gerwen promises to be something special.
MVG was once the clear ruler of planet darts and Humphries is the first arrowsmith to threaten a repeat of the supremacy of Mighty Mike’s glory days.
Cool hand Luke will become the holder of five of the six biggest ranking events on the PDC calendar with a victory in tonight’s Blackpool showdown, with the UK Open the only missing piece, and the 29-year-old was a beaten finalist in that event.
The Newbury arrowsmith cruised past James Wade with a 17-10 semi-final success and Humphries has averaged above 100 in all four of his Winter Gardens games.
Van Gerwen has beaten Littler, Joe Cullen, Andrew Gilding and Michael Smith to reach his fifth World Matchplay final, but his performances have been a little way off those of Humphries.
Clearly, a peak MVG would rate a major threat to Cool hand Luke, but 95.49 and 96.99 averages against Cullen and Gilding are likely to leave Mighty Mike chasing against the world champion.
Humphries has been a handicap winner in all of his matches in this year’s World Matchplay and Cool Hand Luke can be backed at 4/5 giving the Green Machine a 2.5-leg start.
Under 31.5 legs @ 5/6
Every aspect of Humphries’ game is impressive, but the ability to maintain a high level of performance and avoid any major fluctuations over the course of a grueling format is a standout factor of his play.
The 29-year-old has been up against some excellent displays on the Blackpool stage, Ricardo Pietreczko averaged 100.74 when losing 10-4 to Humphries in round one, while Wade put up a 102.38 average when going down 17-10 in the semi-finals.
Those are seriously good numbers, but even ton-plus figures cut no ice against the relentless brilliance of the world champion.
Perhaps Van Gerwen will have his highlights in tonight’s final, but one spectacular leg from Mighty Mike is likely to be followed and preceded by consistent excellence from Humphries and it must be demoralising to hardly ever see a drop off in Cool Hand Luke’s level of performance.
The Newbury man won six of his 17 legs against Wade in 13 darts or fewer and it’s likely to take an almighty effort from Mighty Mike to even keep tabs on the 29-year-old.
At 5/6, going under 31.5 legs looks a bet in tonight’s blockbuster Blackpool final.
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