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Humphries breaks!Littler 4-3 Humphries (legs 0-2) Humphries, who is throwing beautifully now, breaks in 11 darts with Littler nowhere. He needed all of his resilience to stay in the game; now he’s a leg away from being level.
That was the 17th break in 32 legs. The two best players in the world aren’t even safe on their own throw, such is the quality of their opponent.
Littler 4-3 Humphries (legs 0-1) A relatively calm 14-dart hold for Humphries, during which he hits the 902nd 180 of the tournament – that’s a new record.
Littler misses D2 to go within two sets of glory, having accidentally hit two T18s on when 112. Humphries, who had been behind for most of the leg until he belted another 180, took out D14 for a 13-darter.
Humphries showed remarkable mental strength to win that set. Had he not done, so I think he’d have lost 7-2 because Littler is hitting him with everything. Instead, the match is back on throw. Not that that’s much of an advantage in this momentous game: only one of the seven sets has been won by the player throwing first.
Set averages Littler 103.48, Humphries 113.22
Humphries wins the seventh set!Littler 4-3 Humphries (legs 2-3) This is about as good as it gets.
Littler breaks back again!Littler 4-2 Humphries (legs 2-2) With Humphries waiting on 48 for the set, Littler nails 122 in the blink of an eye: D18-D18-T7. That is disgusting. Disgusting. Utterly unacceptable in polite society.
Humphries breaks again!Littler 4-2 Humphries (legs 1-2) This is the best set of the match to date. After more punishing scoring, Humphries misses the big number to set up tops from 71. Littler almost takes out 94 on the bull despite a blocker – but it goes just above the wire and Humphries returns to go out in 13 darts.
Littler breaks back!Littler 4-2 Humphries (legs 1-1) Amazing! Humphries has a chance for a 10-darter, but he misses three at double and Littler is waiting to pounce. He needs 84 and starts with a single 5. Before you can say ‘Oh flip man’, he hits T13 and tops to steal the leg.
Finishes like that can break an opponent, even the world No1.
Humphries breaks with a 170! Littler 4-2 Humphries (legs 0-1) That’s his A-game. My word, I can’t keep up with this. Littler was on a two-dart finish, nodded as the last dart forced its way into the bullseye. Game, meet game.
Littler wins the sixth set!Littler 4-2 Humphries (legs 3-0) A cruel and untimely bounce-out for Humphries, who knocks out a T20 and loses another dart in the process. Littler takes advantage to sweep the set against the darts. Both players missed darts at double; Littler had the last dart, and the last word.
Humphries is in big trouble here. He’s won only two of the last 11 legs.
Set averages Littler 104.86, Humphries 93.57
Littler 3-2 Humphries (legs 2-0) Humphries throws six perfect darts and still loses the leg! Littler missed bull for a 170, Humphries missed D18 for a 76 – having not been sure which one to go for – and Littler punished him again. He is rampant. He is 16 years old.
Littler breaks again!Littler 3-2 Humphries (legs 1-0) I’m sorry, this is disgusting. Littler is all over the world No1 and could well be starting to break Humphries’ will. He leaves D8 after nine, misses three and still has time to return for a 13-darter. Humphries needs his A-game, fast.
Littler takes the fifth set!Littler 3-2 Humphries (legs 3-1) Littler breaks emphatically to ensure there’s no last-leg decider! Humphries had a poor leg on his own throw, including one awful attempt at T18 that ended up in single 4. Littler punished him with a 180 to leave 51, which he pop-popped on D16 for an 11-dart break.
Right now, and with the caveat that there are multiple moodswings in most darts matches, he looks the likelier winner. He’s won six of the last eight legs; more importantly, Humphries has started to look ever so slightly rattled.
Set averages Littler 105.48, Humphries 103.88
Littler 2-2 Humphries (legs 2-1) Littler hasn’t yet been ahead in sets, even though he threw first, but he’s a leg away now. Humphries had two at tops for a potentially set-winning break; Littler had already missed three at D8 but returned to take it out at the fifth attempt. The scruffy legs are sometimes the most important.
Littler 2-2 Humphries (legs 1-1) Now Humphries starts with five perfect darts, including his ninth 180 of the match. This time Littler is miles back and Humphries hits D20 at the second attempt for an even jauntier 12-dart hold.
Littler 2-2 Humphries (legs 1-0) Littler starts set five with his sixth maximum. His focus is fascinating and a little scary; he looks at his chosen target the way Francis Begbie looks at people. With Humphries nowhere, Littler misses D8 for a 130 finish, but he’s soon back at the oche for a jaunty 13-dart hold.
Littler started with four perfect darts. Humphries stayed with him for two visits before being left behind in the scoring. Littler missed two at D15, Humphries couldn’t get a shot from 136 and Littler returned to hit D4 last dart. And he had to, because Humphries was on tops.
Littler celebrated by making his increasingly familiar calm-down gesture before strolling off the break. The standard isn’t yet stratospheric – the match average are 99 for Littler and 101 for Humphries – but it has ebbed and flowed beautifully.
Set averages Littler 96.59, Humphries 93.65
Littler wins the fourth set!Littler 2-2 Humphries (legs 3-1) It’s all square, and all four sets have been won against the throw.
Luke Littler reacts after winning the fourth set. Photograph: Ian Stephen/ProSports/ShutterstockLittler 1-2 Humphries (legs 2-1) Humphries holds on, just about, by taking out 73 on tops with Littler waiting on 40. But Littlier has the darts to make it 2-2.
Littler 1-2 Humphries (legs 2-0) A scruffy leg, with poor set-ups and one missed dart apiece, is eventually taken by Littler on D20. That was a very rare 19-dart leg.
Littler breaks!Littler 1-2 Humphries (legs 1-0) This is fantastic stuff. Littler goes out on D10, last dart, with Humphries waiting on a two-darter. We’ve already had eight breaks of throw in 15 legs.
Humphries wins the third set!Littler 1-2 Humphries (legs 2-3) Just as in the second set, Luke has come from 2-0 down to win the set against the darts! He missed the bull for a 12-darter but returned to take out 25 on D8. A bounce-out didn’t help Littler; even so, Humphries controlled the leg. And, ultimately, the set.
Set averages Littler 100.21, Humphries 101.78
Luke Humphries celebrates after winning the third set. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The GuardianLittler 1-1 Humphries (legs 2-2) We’re heading for another last-leg decider. Humphries bangs out 116 on D18 for an everyday 12-dart hold. After a modest first set, the standard is approaching the roof.
Humphries breaks back!Littler 1-1 Humphries (legs 2-1) Now it’s Littler who is bullying Humphries with his scoring – but he misses two darts for the set, one at D20 and one at his beloved D10. Humphries hits D8 last dart in hand for a break. This is already seesawing like a beauty.
Luke Humphries throws. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The GuardianLittler breaks!Littler 1-1 Humphries (legs 2-0) Humphries has started to drop off, one of those momentum shifts that makes darts so compelling. Now isn’t the best time for a dip, because I can confirm Littler has gone into beast mode: he takes out 217 in four darts to move within a leg of a 2-1 lead. He’s won the last five legs.
Littler 1-1 Humphries (legs 1-0) Littler might be going into beast mode. He leads for only the second time in the match after hitting D20, last dart in hand, with Humphries waiting on 60.
“Can we officially start the ‘Darts at the Olympics’ campaign tonight, Rob?” says Simon McMahon. “Forget the 100m final, Humphries / Littler v MVG / Barney would be the hottest ticket in town. Maybe throw in some bar billiards or shove ha’penny. Ok, let’s just bring back Indoor League is what I’m saying.”
Those unfamiliar with Indoor League, please read entry No2 here. In fact read all of it, it’s Scott Murray.
Littler wins the second set!Littler 1-1 Humphries (legs 3-2) An astonishing mini-comeback from Luke Littler! He breaks Humphries in 12 darts, finishing on Shanghai, to win the set against the throw – and having been 2-0 down. He won all three legs in just 37 darts, at a time when Humphries was threatening to get away with him. His mental strength is mind-boggling.
Set averages Littler 109.23, Humphries 111.30. Yep.
Luke Littler celebrates after winning the second set. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The GuardianLittler takes out 142!Littler 0-1 Humphries (legs 2-2) Humphries starts with four perfect darts on the Littler throw. Littler is first to a finish, 142, but Humphries leaves 81 after nine.
He doesn’t get a look: Littler pops T20-T20-D11 for a majestic finish! He’s right back in this game.
Littler breaks back!Littler 0-1 Humphries (legs 1-2) The muscle memory is kicking in! Littler nicks the darts and then hits 180 to leave 106. Humphries does likewise to leave 107. Both men miss a dart at tops – Humphries’ for the set – before Littler returns to infiltrate D15. That’s a superb response.
Humphries breaks!Littler 0-1 Humphries (legs 0-2) Littler is having a bad spell. Humphries breaks on D2 after Littler missed the bull for 128 – but Humphries, who is bullying Littler with his scoring, had a dart at D5 before that. He’s won five legs in a row.
Littler 0-1 Humphries (legs 0-1) Humphries has the darts in the second set. He starts with 135, 137 and then 180 to leave 49 after nine. Littler, who is struggling, is back on 259 when Humphries returns to hit D16 for an 11-darter.