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Paul Lim creates history in World Darts Championship Alexandra Palace – and then expected lightning to strike twice in opposite directions Luke Humphries,
Lim became the oldest player to win a match at the event, as the Singaporean, who turns 72 next month, extended his own record set in 2020 by defeating Jeffrey de Graaff 3-1.
On that occasion he defeated Humphreys and the pair were reunited in the second round, when the world number two scored eight 180s to beat Ted Evetts 3–1.
Lim considers his win over Humphreys five years ago an even bigger achievement than setting a new era record for the tournament and is a fan of his next opponent.
“I thought it would be really weird if I met Luke Humphries again,” he said.
“Luke Humphries these days is not the Luke Humphries he was a few years ago. He is definitely a force to be reckoned with and one of the best players in the world.
“Moments like this have helped me grow all these years. That moment came and I took advantage of it.
Humphries was in unlucky form since he defeated Evetts but he acknowledged that facing Lim would be an unusual challenge.
“It’s amazing – Paul is a legend. The hardest thing for me is that he loves me so much,” Humphries said.
“I talk to Paul and he says, ‘You’re my favorite player.’ And then I have to go and play with him, so it’s hard!
“Since we played in 2020, he’s always been in touch and said, ‘You’re going to do big things.’ And he is right.
“The crowd will be against me and if I don’t play well, he’ll look for his chances.”
Wessel Nijman also reached the second round with a straight-sets win over Karel Sedlacek, while Germany’s Gabriel Clemens defeated Alex Spellman in the final match of the evening.
Two-time champions in the afternoon session gary anderson Gained a lead in his first round match with Adam Hunt.
And the 54-year-old said the idea of playing in a ‘new’ arena is what keeps him going.
Anderson is a threat to the favorites this year and with the tournament moving to a new, bigger stage at the same venue as part of a new deal in the future, he looks to remain in the mix.
He said of his victory, “I have crossed the line, if you think, you lose.” “If you think and get into it, it’s not good for you – you don’t try to think.
“That’s what it’s all about. I just want to keep moving forward so I can get a chance on a new stage next year.”
In the afternoon session on day three, Andrew Gilding defeated Cam Crabtree 3–1, Luke Woodhouse defeated Boris Krakammer by the same score and David Davis defeated Mario Vandenbogerde.