When Luke Humphries defeated Rob Cross in the final of the 2023 Grand Slam of Darts on Sunday, the best darts betting sites immediately made Humphries (+400) the new favorite to win the 2024 PDC World Darts Championship in the latest darts futures market. This is a huge shift in the betting, as for the first time in years Michael van Gerwen or Gerwyn Price will not start the competition as the betting favorite.
- What; 2024 PDC World Darts Championship
- When; Friday, December 15th, 2023 - Wednesday, January 3rd, 2024
- Where; Alexandra Palace, London, England
- Defending Champion; Michael Smith
- 2024 Favorite; Luke Humphries +400
The favorites tag for the PDC World Darts Championship generally always goes to who the bookmakers regard as the best player in world darts. For years, it was Phil Taylor, and in more recent times, it has always been Michael van Gerwen. In recent years, the likes of Gary Anderson, Peter Wright, and more recently, Gerwyn Price have pushed MVG for favoritism. But it has generally always been the Dutchman who has started the competition as the favorite.
A few short weeks ago, MVG and Gerwyn Price topped the betting. But now, with less than a month until the competition to win the biggest prize in darts gets underway, there is a new betting favorite, and that man’s name is Luke Humphries.
Betting to win the 2024 PDC World Darts Championship
Ahead of the recent Grand Slam of Darts, Gerwyn Price was the favorite at +400, with MVG at +450 and Luke Humphries at +650. After Humphries won the Grand Slam on Sunday, he was cut to +400 to win the 2024 World Championship with BetOnline.
The same sportsbook has Michael van Gerwen and Gerwyn Price at +450. With the defending champion, Michael Smith at +800.
There is not a huge difference in the odds between the three favorites. But in making Humphries the favorite, the best online darts betting sites are recognizing that he is now probably the best player in the world. And in current form, someone who is a serious threat to win the biggest prize in darts.
More PDC World Darts Championship outright winner betting is available on our darts odds table. We have used odds from the best online sports betting sites.
| 2024 PDC World Darts Championship Betting |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Luke Humphries | +400 | +400 | +400 |
| Gerwyn Price | +450 | +450 | +450 |
| Michael van Gerwen | +450 | +450 | +450 |
| Michael Smith | +800 | +800 | +800 |
| Peter Wright | +1400 | +1400 | +1400 |
| Gary Anderson | +1400 | +1400 | +1400 |
| Rob Cross | +1400 | +1400 | +1400 |
| Nathan Aspinall | +2000 | +2000 | +2000 |
| Jonny Clayton | +2500 | +2500 | +2500 |
| Josh Rock | +2800 | +2800 | +2800 |
| Gian van Veen | +3300 | +3300 | +3300 |
| Dirk van Duijvenbode | +4000 | +4000 | +4000 |
| Dimitri Van den Bergh | +4000 | +4000 | +4000 |
| Dave Chisnall | +4000 | +4000 | +4000 |
| Danny Noppert | +4000 | +4000 | +4000 |
| Joe Cullen | +5000 | +5000 | +5000 |
| Chris Dobey | +5000 | +5000 | +5000 |
| Stephen Bunting | +5000 | +5000 | +5000 |
| Damon Heta | +6600 | +6600 | +6600 |
| James Wade | +8000 | +8000 | +8000 |
Who is Luke Humphries?
Luke Humphries isn’t a household name in the world of darts like Michael van Gerwen, Phil Taylor, or Eric Bristow used to be. Humphries is a 28-year-old Englishman from Newbury. He has been playing on the PDC circuit since 2011, only gaining his Tour Card in 2018.
In his early career, Humphries won the PDC World Youth Championship in 2019, and it was around that time that those in darts started to sit up and take notice. Notable performances from Humphries included reaching the last eight of the World Championship in 2019 and 2020 and finishing runner-up at the UK Open in 2021.
In 2022, he again made it through to the last eight of the World Championships, and throughout 2022 and 2023, Humphries gradually climbed the PDC rankings, performing well in European Tour events and Players Championships events.
Breakthrough wins
For the past few months, Luke Humphries has been one of the names in the darts betting markets who could win the big events but invariably came up short. Then, in the World Darts Grand Prix, Humphries finally came of age. Going into the final Gerwyn Price was favored to win the title with best online sportsbooks. But Humphries blew Price away, eventually defeating the IceMan 5-2 (sets format) in the final.
HUMPHRIES HAS FINALLY DONE IT 🏆🚨
It's stunning. It's staggering. WHAT A WAY TO WIN IT! 🤯
An absolutely ridiculous 138 checkout from Luke Humphries to lift his very first TV title 😱
What a moment to win the 2023 @BoyleSports World Grand Prix! pic.twitter.com/tuYfu43WuE
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) October 8, 2023
Humphries then entered the recent Grand Slam of Darts, again as the third favorite (+650). And again, behind Price and MVG. Both the favorites fell in the Round of 16. Price was knocked out by a resurgent Gary Anderson (10-6), while MVG lost to Damon Heta (10-7).
Humphries went on to defeat Gary Anderson 16-14 in a scintillating last-eight match, with an average of 103.56 (Anderson averaged 99.61). He then defeated James Wade 16-10 in the semi-final (this time only averaging 95.80). In the final, he defeated Rob Cross 16-8 to win his second major championship in the PDC.
LUKE HUMPHRIES WINS THE 2023 @MrVegas_Casino GRAND SLAM OF DARTS 🏆
Incredible performance 👏👏 pic.twitter.com/mZZsPgQfP5
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) November 19, 2023
It was during (not after) the win over Rob Cross the bookmakers made Humphries the favorite to win the 2024 World Championship. Rob Cross did little wrong in the final, averaging 103.61, the highest ever by a losing finalist. He came up against an inspired Humphries (averaging 104.69), playing outstanding darts. All his first darts were finding the intended target. This is a huge indicator of a player's form in darts. And on the night, Cross had no answer.
Our Picks and Players to follow
Winning two major PDC championships will have given Luke Humphries major self-belief that he can win the 2024 PDC World Darts Championship. Does this make him one of our early betting picks? Maybe. He is certainly in the frame.
But when he comes up against an experienced performer like MVG (+450) or Gerwyn Price (+450) later in the competition, might Humphries crack? The pressure of a World Championship is like no other. And even though Humphries has won two huge events recently, he is still untested in the final stages of a World Championship.
If it goes to form, Luke Humphries will win. But don’t underestimate MVG or Gerwyn Price in the final stages of a World Championship.
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