Humphries beats Littler to claim back-to-back US Darts Masters titles

Luke Humphries defended his US Darts Masters title in dramatic fashion, defeating Luke Littler 8-7 in a deciding leg at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night. The victory makes Humphries the first player to win back-to-back titles at the event.

The final was a high-quality affair, with Humphries averaging 104 and hitting a sensational 11-darter in the deciding leg. Littler, who averaged over 107 at one stage and produced nine maximums, fought back from 4-1 down to level at 5-5 and then traded legs before Humphries prevailed.

The match took place in front of a sell-out crowd of 5,000 fans, setting a new record attendance for darts in the United States. Both players had earlier partnered England to World Cup of Darts glory earlier this month.

Key moments from the final

• Humphries raced into a 4-1 lead before Littler responded with four straight legs.
• Humphries leveled at 5-5 with a clinical 72 checkout.
• The match went to a deciding leg, where Humphries threw an 11-darter to seal the win.
• Humphries had earlier survived match darts against Gian van Veen in the semi-finals.
• The attendance of 5,000 is a record for darts in the US.

Following his win, Humphries praised the venue and the atmosphere, calling Madison Square Garden "the most iconic venue darts will ever go to." He also acknowledged the rivalry with Littler, stating that both players push each other to perform at their best.

The win is Humphries' third World Series of Darts title. The focus now shifts to the World Matchplay, which begins on July 18 in Blackpool, where both players will be among the favorites.