Humphries starts World Matchplay with emphatic win

World champion Luke Humphries raced done to information 2 of nan World Matchplay successful Blackpool pinch a comfortable triumph complete German Ricardo Pietreczko.

Humphries made an early connection astatine nan Winter Gardens pinch a 10-4 triumph against nan world number 33.

England's Humphries started quickly by winning nan first 4 legs and ne'er looked backmost arsenic he averaged a singular 108.76.

"The week building up to this, it felt really bully but it doesn't ever hap connected nan shape erstwhile you consciousness good," Humphries said.

"Tonight it was perfectly fantastic. I felt a cardinal dollars."

Humphries is appearing astatine nan World Matchplay for nan 4th clip aft a career-best tally to nan semi-finals successful 2023.

He hit Luke Littler to triumph nan World Championship successful January and is bidding to go conscionable nan 4th subordinate to besides scoop nan World Matchplay successful nan aforesaid twelvemonth pursuing Michael van Gerwen, Phil Taylor and Peter Wright.

"It would beryllium beautiful [to triumph some successful nan aforesaid year] but you can't get carried away. It's only nan first round. I've sewage different 4 games to go," said Humphries

"Hopefully, you'll spot maine successful nan last but I request to activity to get there."

Earlier successful nan nighttime connected nan first time of nan World Matchplay, Wales' Gerwyn Price hit Northern Ireland's Daryl Gurney 10-4.

Jonny Clayton, different Welshman, besides booked his spot successful nan 2nd information pinch a 10-7 triumph complete Dutchman Raymond van Barneveld.