HUMPHRIES OPENS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE DEFENCE WITH ROUTINE WIN

Reigning champion Luke Humphries is dreaming of creating more history after kicking off his defence of the Paddy Power World Darts Championship with a comprehensive straight-sets win over Thibault Tricole.

Humphries opened his bid for back-to-back World Championship titles with a demolition job against French number one Tricole, winning nine straight legs to secure his place in the third round.

Tricole ran out a hard-fought 3-1 winner against debutant Joe Comito in the tournament’s curtain-raiser, but he was blown away by the world number one in the evening’s headline act.

Humphries raced to the opening set in quick-fire fashion, and after taking out a stunning 160 checkout on his way to doubling his lead, he completed another clean sweep in set three to mark his winning return.