The Main Event
Tournament favourite Luke Humphries opens his challenge at the PDC World Darts Championship on Sunday evening against either Lee Evans or Sandro Eric Sosing.
It has been a remarkable few months for Leeds United fan Humphries with wins at the Grand Slam of Darts, the World Grand Prix and the Players Championship Finals.
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He is as short as 3/1 with some bookies to continue his dominance at Alexandra Palace but the tag of favourite also adds pressure for ‘Cool Hand Luke’.
He told the Yorkshire Evening Post: “Obviously it does put pressure on me, but I relish the challenge. I’ve dealt with that pressure on my shoulders over the last couple of months. The pressure will be more than ever at the World Championships, but I will just focus on my own game.”
WOW! what a feeling! @OfficialPDC World Grand Prix champion!!! 🤩🏆 what an incredible way for me to win my first major title, im absolutely over the moon with how well I played last night in what was a great final with gerwyn! thanks to my family, friends, fans and sponsors ❤️ pic.twitter.com/VClbaFIq4w
— Luke Humphries (@lukeh180) October 9, 2023
Humphries follows another crowd favourite on to the stage, Fallon Sherrock.
Sherrock stole the headlines in 2019 when she beat Ted Evetts and Mensur Suljovic to become the first female winner at the PDC worlds and reach the third round.
Two subsequent visits have not yielded another win but she is confident of making her mark in 2023, starting against Jermaine Wattimena.
She told the PA news agency: “I feel like I need to prove why I am coming back.
“I know I have got the game and every time I have been so close, the scoreline might not have come out the way I thought the game went.
“It has always been so close. I feel like the more games I have played it makes me even stronger every time I go back. It is going to happen again, I don’t know when, but I am going to win again and hopefully, it is this year.”
Order of Play
Afternoon Session (from 1230 UK time)
Ricky Evans v Simon Adams (round one)
Jim Williams v Norman Madhoo (round one)
Matt Campbell v Lourence Ilagan (round one)
Joe Cullen v Van Dongen/Penhall (round two)
Evening Session (from 1900 UK time)
Dylan Slevin v Florian Hempel (round one)
Niels Zonneveld v Darren Webster (round one)
Jermaine Wattimena v Fallon Sherrock (round one)
Luke Humphries v L Evans/Eric Sosing (round two)
How to watch
The PDC World Championship is being screened on Sky Sports in the UK. You can watch the afternoon session from day three on Sky Sports Arena at 1230. The evening session is on Sky Sports Arena at 1900 and Sky Sports Main Event at 1930.
Predictions
Given his form this year, expect Humphries to cruise into round three.
Sherrock may find it tough going, however. Her opponent, Wattimena, is a consistent performer at Alexandra Palace having reached the last 32 in 2018, 2019 and 2021. Unfortunately for Sherrock, she is facing an early exit once again.
Elsewhere, expect wins from Joe Cullen, Ricky Evans, Jim Williams and Niels Zonneveld.
