World Matchplay 2025: Reigning champion Luke Humphries suffers shock upset loss to Gian van Veen as Nathan Aspinall also loses on opening night | Darts News

Gian Van Veen succeeded in a shock and dropped the defending champion Luke Humphries with a 10-8 victory during the opening evening of the 2025 world match at the Blackpool winter gardens.

As expected, it was a tight match between the seeded and the reigning world champion, the 180s, were launched to have fun, but it was Humphries who took a tight advance at the start with a amazing footbridge of 146.

Van Veen continued to show his courage in what was a dramatic competition that saw breaks to throw and a high -speed score. The pair entered 5-5 after two sessions, with a doubling of the Humphries when it threw key opportunities.

The outside ring continuing to disturb `Cool Hand ”, which ended the match with only a success rate of 29% on the doubles and 20 missed doubles, the crucial moment came in the 15th stage when it missed three darts to D5, which allowed Van Veen to jump for a crucial break and 8-7.

From there, the young rising star kept her throwing considerably and won the match on D4 for a historic victory.

“I know I did a lot in my career, but at this point, it looks like the greatest victory in my career,” said Van Veen Sky Sports After his victory.

“Finally, I struck this double winner and as I said, it was the greatest victory of my career.

“Even if it was 6-6, 7-7, I felt the oppressed so I was just happy to be able to follow him.

“Then, at the end, I had a few chances, three darts in D5 missing and I took my chance.

“I am so satisfied with this victory – to beat such a phenomenal player like Luke.

“He even said after the match” I hope you have a good race because you really deserve it “.

“He’s such a good champion, he’s such great guy. I’m just above the moon.”

Beginner Wessel Nijman withdrew the other big upheaval of the night with a 10-6 clinical victory against Nathan Aspinall.

Nijman was effective during the opening session when he took a 4-1 lead. Two breaking breaks and a clinical finish put it at the top and spent the first signs of problem for “ASP”.

The Dutchman meant the business, but Aspinall showed a fighting spirit with the crowd of winter gardens just behind the 2023 champion, a brilliant box of 121 and three legs on the spin helping him to retaliate and bring the game back to 6-4.

Despite the Aspinall mini-vague, Nijman found a pivotal break in the 13th and 15th leg to ward off a leg of a declaration of declaration against one of the favorites of the tournament, guaranteeing the victory over D8 in a huge night for the Dutch darts.

“I think [it is my biggest win]”Nijman said Sky Sports.

“I won a match in Ally Pally, but it’s probably more special than playing Ally Pally with my way of playing.

“I am very happy with the way I played and very satisfied with the victory.

“I didn’t feel too nervous. I played like me.

“I’m just happy to be here. Now I have to see him match by match.”

In the second round, Van Veen will face his Dutch compatriot Danny Noppert which found a 10-2 demolition from Cameron Menzies.

Noppert experienced a start to the flight against Menzies which had a hard time in his early days. A poor bust of 178 launched the objective of the Scottish in the fourth stage while Noppert climbed through the first five legs for a powerful advance of 5-0.

Noppert’s pressure attack continued and Menzies could not shoot the Dutch fairly enough while he was hanging out 8-2 after the second session, a 13-darter and then breaking from Noppert’s reservation in the second round.

In the matchplay 2025 game match, James Wade won a resounding victory of 10-3 against Joe Cullen with his highest average of all time, a 104.4, on the stage of the winter gardens during his 20th consecutive appearance.

Wade entered the competition very early with what was an astonishing average of 108 during the first session, three breaks of launch and a restraint putting it 4-1.

The 2007 champion then started puffy and converted him into an even better second session. Two other breaks of throwing and an incredibly precision on the doubles pushed it 8-2 in the head, leaving Cullen without any response while “the machine” was up to his nickname.

While Cullen then managed to pick up his first grip on the game, Wade was held firm and saw the victory over D5 with his sixth break.

He will now face Nijman in the second round.

What is the next step in the world matchplay?

Sunday, July 20, sees a double session at the Blackpool winter gardens while the first round continues.

The afternoon session will be live from 1 p.m. on Sky Sports + with Damon Heta against Andrew Gilding, Rob Cross vs Dirk van Duijvenbode, Peter Wright vs Jermaine Wattimena and Dave Chisnall vs Mike de Decker.

The Eving session will then be live on Sky Sports + and Main Event from 7 p.m., with Gary Anderson against Luke Woodhouse, Jonny Clayton against Martin Schindler, Luke Little playing Ryan Searle and Stephen Bunting vs Ryan Joyce.

Watch the matchplay World live on Sky Sports from July 19 to 27 or running without contract.