Luke Humphries came through a real match with Beau Greaves to wrap a tough 10-7 win and move into the last 32 on the UK Open in Minehead.
Greaves had already created history on her British open debut by winning her first three games on opening day against Stefan Bellmont, Rhys Griffin and Mickey Mansell to move into the fourth round and searched for even more when she went to the world champion 2024.
World # 1 Woman’s player started with a sensational start with the box of 126 and 124, helping her to a 3-2 lead at the first break before Humphries fought back to bring the competition the entire square of 5-5.
Greaves then managed to move 7-5 ahead with a break of throws, but the central moment came in the 15th stage when Humphries found his own break to move 8-7 ahead and led for the first time.
From there, some superior scores from ‘cool hand’ helped him across the line, Humphries brought Greeaves back on stage for a very very deserved appreciation from Butlin’s crowd.
“I really enjoyed the game. It was fun and Beau played amazing,” Humphries told ITV Sport.
“She’s an amazing player and she really had to get the best out in me. The lady’s game has grown massively and that’s because of her.
“If it had been a Premier League game, she would have beaten me. She’s probably a top-64 player in the world, but you won’t put too much pressure on her.”
Greaves admitted to herself that her game fell off in the last couple of legs, but her debut at the UK Open will only be a positive experience for her career.
“I went well and I knew at the end of the match that I fell a little off. That’s what I’m working on in my game, ”she said.
“What experience. To play someone like Luke will only help my game. I just enjoyed watching him toss.
“It’s a learning curve. I’m happy and I’ve had a good game.”
Humphries are now facing close friend Ryan Searle In the fifth round.
Luke Littler Held quite a performance from Peter Wright to pack a 10-9 win in a decisive leg to move into the last 32 where he will meet Jermaine Wattimena.
Wright, 2017 UK Open Champion, won three legs on spin with back-to-back 14-darters to move 3-2 ahead and then found another spell with three ton-plus finishes in a row, followed by a 12-dart break of throwing to take the fight all the way.
However, the 18-year-old world champion stood firmly against the thrown and laid tops from 170 and took it out the first arrow to move on.
Michael van Gerwen held a late fightback from Dirk van Duijvenbode to book his place in the fifth round toward Robert Owen.
On average, over 107 in the first session, Van Duijvenbode managed to get straight ahead with a 3-2 advantage, but consistently let Van Gerwen out of the hook with his doubling, which saw the world # 3 take six legs in a row to move 7-3 up.
Despite fighting back to 8-7, Van Duijvenbode left himself too much to do, and van Gerwen managed to grind the 10-8 victory out.
Jonny Clayton was in imperial form when he demolished Gary Anderson on the main scene in Minehead to create a clash with Alan Soutar.
Clayton drove into a 4-1 lead, a break of throws plus a silky 121-checkout that gives the ‘ferret’ the advantage of a fast pace meeting.
From there, Welshman ran into an 8-2 advantage and wrapped the match on tops for a possible 10-3 victory.
Elsewhere Gerwyn Price was shocked by Connor Scutt In a last leg decision, Chris Dobey beat Stephen Bunting and reigning champion Dimitri van den Bergh Get away with a 10-6 win over two-time British open master Raymond van Barneveld.
Other results then Wattimena Battle past Ritchie Edhouse, Danny Noppert Race past Daryl Gurney, Michael Smith Revenge its World Cups to Kevin Doets and Dave Chisnall Come through one last leg decision against Ricky Evans.
Results in the Fourth Round:
Jonny Clayton 10-3 Gary Anderson
Luke Littler 10-9 Peter Wright
Luke Humphries 10-7 Beau Greaves
Michael van Gerwen 10-8 Dirk van Duijvenbode
Dave Chisnall 10-9 Ricky Evans
Dimitri van den Bergh 10-6 Raymond van Barneveld
Chris Dobey 10-6 Stephen Bunting
Connor Scutt 10-9 Gerwyn Price
Stephen Burton 10-6 Radek Szaganski
Ryan Searle 10-7 Adam Hunt
Martin Schindler 10-7 Mario Vandenbogaerde
Michael Smith 10-6 Kevin Doets
Danny Noppert 10-2 Daryl Gurney
William O’Connor 10-7 Scott Williams
Alan Soutar 10-7 Matt Campbell
Cameron Menzies 10-4 Mike de Decker
Krzysztof Ratajski 10-4 Joe Cullen
Nathan Aspinall 10-5 Martin Lukeman
DYLAN SLEVIN 10-7 HAUPAI PUHA
James Wade 10-3 William Borland
Mensur Suljovic 10-6 Luke Woodhouse
Ross Smith 10-7 Jose de Sousa
Jurjen van der Velde 10-6 Adam Lipscombe
Josh Rock 10-5 Justin Hood
Danny Lauby 10-9 Brendan Dolan
Madars Razma 10-9 Ricardo Pietreczko
Damon Heta 10-2 Kim HuyBrechts
Rob Cross 10-4 Thomas Lovely
Jermaine Wattimena 10-6 Ritchie Edhouse
Gian Van Veen 10-4 Nick Kenny
Ryan Joyce 10-8 Andrew Gilding
Rob Owen 10-7 George Killington
Fifth round draw:
Ryan Searle vs Luke Humphries
Dave Chisnall vs krzysztof rataki ski
Mensur suljovic vs william o’connor
ROB CROSS VS DANNY NOPTER
Josh Rock vs Ross Smith
Madars Razma vs Michael Smith
Alan Soutar vs Jonny Clayton
Gian van Veen vs Stephen Burton
Jurjen van der veld vs nathan aspinall
Cameron Menzies vs James Wade
Rob Owen against Michael van Gerwen
Luke Littler vs Jermaine Wattimena
Dimitri van den Bergh vs Chris Dobey
Martin Schindler vs Dylan Slevin
Danny Lauby vs Ryan Joyce
Connor scutt vs damon heta
Where does the Premier League head go next time?
Premier League continues with Night 5 in Brighton on Thursday 6th March as Gerwyn Price and Michael van Gerwen lock horns in a repeat of the 2023 Premier League final, with Luke Littler or Chris Dobey, waiting for the winner of the last four. View Night 5 in Premier League Darts, Brighton CenterAt Live at Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports+ Stream with now.
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