Luke Humphries held off a stunning fightback from Jonny Clayton to win the revamped Winmau World Masters in a deciding-leg shootout and claim his seventh major PDC title.
Humphries opened up a 5-2 lead to move one set from victory in Milton Keynes, only for Clayton to rally to 5-5 and then break the world No 1 in the next leg to earn the chance to throw for the trophy.
However, Humphries – who had missed a match dart at the bullseye in the 10th set before Clayton nailed D19 to ensure there would be an 11th – broke back immediately to set-up a thrilling finale.
Humphries has now won seven major PDC titles, including the 2024 World Darts Championship
Cool Hand then hit tops for the title and the £100,000 top prize after Clayton fluffed a finish of 120 and did not even give himself a look at a match dart.
The Ferret’s consolation is the £50,000 runner-up fee, which moves him up a spot to sixth in the PDC Order of Merit, above Dave Chisnall.
Clayton had beaten reigning world champion Luke Littler 4-2 in the quarter-finals before seeing off an out-of-sorts Dimitri Van den Bergh 5-2 in the semi-finals at Arena MK.
Humphries fought back from 2-0 down to defeat Danny Noppert 5-2 in the semi-finals – a game in which he missed his first eight attempts at a double – after breezing past Damon Heta 4-1 in the last eight.
Premier League next for Humphries after ‘fortunate win’
Humphries will now turn his attention to the opening night of Premier League Darts in Belfast on Thursday – live on Sky Sports from 7pm – after his nerve-jangling victory over Clayton.
He told ITV after his Masters triumph: “I’m a lucky… I was fortunate there. I started to feel the nerves.
“When I was 5-2 up and missing doubles, I was trying too hard. As soon as it went 5-5, I thought the game maybe had gone for me.
Clayton’s epic fightback came in vain in Milton Keynes
“Jonny was scoring so well. It was a really tough game. I played well in patches but Jonny was dominant at times.
“To win trophies like these is amazing and to share a stage with Jonny is a privilege. I am over the moon.
“I am three major titles away from the great James Wade’s 10 and to be close to someone like that, I can’t believe it.”
Clayton added: “Luke was running away with it but I dug in. He gave a me a few chances I missed and a few I took and I didn’t give up.
“I wanted to give Luke a great game and I gave him a good one. It wasn’t my day. It was Luke’s and he is a class act. He is a fantastic person and fantastic player.”
Sunday’s Winmau World Masters results
Final
- Luke Humphries 6-5 Jonny Clayton
Semi-finals
- Luke Humphries 5-2 Danny Noppert
- Jonny Clayton 5-2 Dimitri Van den Bergh
Quarter-finals
- Luke Humphries 4-1 Damon Heta
- Danny Noppert 4-3 Stephen Bunting
- Luke Littler 2-4 Jonny Clayton
- Dimitri Van den Bergh 4-1 Nathan Aspinall
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