December 28th 2024.
Luke Humphries, the defending champion, easily defeated Nick Kenny to secure a spot in the last 16 round. Despite facing some mind games from his upcoming opponent Peter Wright, Humphries remains unfazed and believes that Wright will end up looking foolish if he loses their match. His victory over Kenny was a smooth one, setting the stage for an exciting clash with two-time world champion Wright.
Wright, who has been struggling with a chest infection, managed to defeat Jermaine Wattimena 4-2 in the earlier rounds to advance to the last 16 phase at London's Alexandra Palace. However, it seems like Snakebite, as he is popularly known, has a lot to say both before and during the tournament. This has only added to the anticipation for their upcoming match on Sunday night.
In an interview earlier this month, Wright had mentioned that players like Humphries and Luke Littler were what motivated him to keep competing. He also confidently stated that he could still outperform them. But Humphries, who comfortably beat Kenny, believes that the pressure is now on Wright due to his bold statements.
During the media session after his victory over Kenny, Humphries stated that Wright is a dangerous player and that he didn't seem too affected by his illness in the practice room. Drawing from his own experience of playing through illness in the past, Humphries believes that Wright played one of his best games in a long time.
Humphries also pointed out that Wright had a lot to say about him and Littler in recent weeks, claiming that he would easily defeat both of them. This has only increased the pressure on Wright, as if he fails to back up his words, he will be the one with egg on his face. Humphries, on the other hand, remains relaxed and confident, stating that if Wright does not beat him, it will only make him look silly.
Humphries also believes that Wright wouldn't keep mentioning his name if he wasn't fearful of their upcoming match. He pointed out that players like Michael van Gerwen have made similar statements in the past, only to end up losing. Humphries also mentioned that Wright's mind games don't affect him or Littler, as they don't fear him.
Humphries was satisfied with his performance against Kenny, even though he admits it wasn't his best game at Ally Pally. He praised Kenny for playing well and acknowledged that the first set could have gone either way. Overall, Humphries remains focused on his game and is looking forward to his next match, with a perfect record of seven wins out of seven so far in the tournament.
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