Defending champion Luke Humphires headlines the evening session as the World Darts Championship returns for the first time since Christmas with Gerwyn Price also in action
The World Darts Championship returns after its Christmas pause with defending champion Luke Humphries the headline name this evening.
Last year’s winner is looking to defend his crown and will take on Nick Kenny at Alexandra Palace as he aims to avoid being the victim of another top seed upset. He’s already seen some of his major competitors crash out – the likes of Michael Smith and Rob Cross.
Humphries saw off Thibault Tricole in his opener and will look to continue progressing with a mouthwatering semi-final against Luke Littler a possibility if both men continue to win their matches. The current holder has already talked up his chances – and admitted Littler will be the man to triumph if he doesn’t.
“A Luke will win it and I think it will be me! I would be silly not to!” he told Sky Sports. “I do believe I can win again. It will be tough, but I know I have the capability to win it and I think every player will believe that. “I know I have a tough run and it will be hard, but you have to believe yourself.”
Gerwyn Price is another man in action this evening. The Welshman, who won this event back in 2021, remains a contender and will face Joe Cullen. The 35-year-old has made headlines after giving some snappy interviews where he claimed he’d been shown no respect.
He was the outsider for his match against Wessel Nijman, whom he ended up beating, before taking issue with the bookies odds.
Peter Wright continues the evening of former and reigning champions. He was the victor in 2020 and 2022 and will face Jermaine Wattimena in the second match of the evening session after coming through his opener – dismissing concerns over his form.
He said: “The support did spur me on. I didn’t want to let them down, I didn’t want to let my family down, and thankfully I got away with it tonight. It’s nice to see Jermaine playing some fantastic darts, so I’ve got to step up, but class is permanent, and form is temporary!”
Today’s order of play
Afternoon session – 12.30pm
Damon Heta v Luke Woodhouse
Jonny Clayton v Daryl Gurney
Stephen Bunting v Madars Razma
Evening session – 7pm
Gerwyn Price v Joe Cullen
Jermaine Wattimena v Peter Wright
Luke Humphries v Nick Kenny
