LUKE HUMPHRIES SENSATIONALLY claimed the scalp of defending champion Rob Cross with a stunning fightback in the last 16 of the PDC World Championship on Friday.
Cross upset Phil Taylor at Alexandra Palace in the previous edition, but he was on the end of a shock result this time around as Humphries won 4-2 to book a quarter-final meeting with Michael Smith, who defeated Ryan Searle 4-1.
Humphries looked down and out as Cross won the first two sets, but he claimed the next three to take control going into the sixth.
Although Cross looked to have regained his composure as he took back-to-back legs, Humphries rallied again and clinched a superb victory with the third of four match darts.
“I can win this and I want to win this. It will change my life a lot,” Humphries told Sky Sports. “Rob’s an inspiration. We’ll all believe we can win it because we’ve seen someone do it.”
Cross added: “It’s going to hurt, but I’ve got the monkey off my back and I’ll bounce back next year.
“This year’s been tough for me. It’s been the harshest learning curve I’ll ever have in life. At the same time, I’ve got so much more to give.”
Dutch great Michael van Gerwen learned the identity of his last-eight opponent as Ryan Joyce upset James Wade 4-3.
Ninth seed Wade passed up five match darts in the sixth set before losing in the seventh.
Dave Chisnall progressed with a dominant 4-0 win over Jamie Lewis to set up a meeting with two-time champion Gary Anderson, while Nathan Aspinall and Brendan Dolan will complete for a place in the last four.
Murray Kinsella, Gavan Casey and Andy Dunne look back on a memorable year for Irish rugby.
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I blame mourinho for Brexit, Trump, and global warming.
@Eamo world class Dunphy: Just because 97% of scientists agree that Trump exists doesn’t mean he does.
A lot of the teams went to had top quality stars in their panels , so it’s obvious some big name was going to suffer, he was successful and got breaks along the way . I would watch with interest if he took over at a club that needed turning around on a modest budget ! But I don’t think a club like this would take the chance on him , or he with them , without a money chest behind them .
@Tricksy: like Porto for example? Or Inter Milan? Oh wait
@Anthony: you miss my point Anthony , he got lucky with Porto , 1 all v Utd in ex time to go on and beat Monaco . Porto were top of their domestic league for years , before Jose came . Inter had world stars in the team . Point : manage a team from a turn around position , limited budget.
@Tricksy: much as I dispise the man he won uefa and champs league with the team he built himself, that will never happen again. A horrible billix tho
No he was just finished