Luke Humphries savoured a Riotous return to the Alexandra Palace.
The World No.1, who sank rival Luke Littler in the Final to lift the trophy at the beginning of the year, breezed into the third round. Leeds fan Humphries received a rapturous welcome as the crowd joined in the Elland Road-style chanting of his walk-on tune “I Predict A Riot.”
Humphries reeled off nine unanswered legs to beat Thibaut Tricole and said he was boosted by the incredible reception: He said: “After you experience that incredible walk-on, you want to give the crowd something back. That was wow. One of the best crowds. It made me feel amazing.
“It was one of the best I’ve experienced. One of the best things I have done is change that walk-on song. It’s great for the crowd to have a song they know and can sing back to. It was heartwarming.”
“It’s a special feeling and it makes you really look forward to the game. It wasn’t my best after that, but all that matters is you win. Now you go into the second part of the tournament and can be at your best.
“It was not the best performance from myself. I didn’t fel I was clinical. After the walk on, I took me back a little as they were so amazing.”
Tricole defeated Joe Comito in the tournament’s opening game to set-up the Humphries clash, but the underdog had no answer to the champ’s prowess. Ireland’s Keane Barry set-up a Monday night crunch with Gerwyn Price after a blistering 3-1 win over Kim Huybrechts where the pair exchanged 17 maximums in a classic night-one battle.
Jermaine Wattimena sauntered into a Monday afternoon encounter against James Wade. The Dutchman whitewashed Swiss Stefan Bellmont and said: “I’m really happy. The first set I was so nervous. I want to have a good Worlds and I am ready for James.”
Humphries is in line for a last 32 clash with Raymond van Barneveld provided the Dutch legend sees off either Nick Kenny or Stowe Buntz in Saturday’s second round.