World number one and defending champion Luke Humphries experienced a surprising setback in the opening round of the World Matchplay in Blackpool, losing 10-8 to Gian van Veen. The 23-year-old Dutchman, who described the victory as "the biggest win of my career," showcased remarkable resilience and precision throughout the match.

Humphries, who had triumphed in the tournament 12 months ago by defeating Michael van Gerwen, aimed to join the elite group of players to win back-to-back titles. However, Van Veen, who had previously faced a heartbreaking sudden-death loss to Rob Cross on his debut last year, started strong by winning the first two legs of the best-of-19 encounter.

Despite Humphries briefly taking the lead with three consecutive legs, his struggles with doubles became evident. Van Veen managed to edge ahead 5-3, and although Humphries fought back to lead 7-6, a crucial 15th leg saw Van Veen regain the advantage at 8-7. Despite missing a couple of match darts in the 17th leg, Van Veen sealed the victory in the next leg.

"To beat such a phenomenal player like Luke, I am over the moon," Van Veen told Sky Sports. "He is a great champion and a great guy. At 6-6 and 7-7, I felt the pressure but I was happy I could keep up. Luke missed some chances but I took mine and it means so much."

Van Veen's reward for this impressive win is a match against compatriot Danny Noppert, who comfortably defeated Scottish debutant Cameron Menzies 10-2. Earlier in the day, former champion James Wade also advanced with a 10-3 victory over Joe Cullen.

This match not only highlighted Van Veen's growing prowess but also underscored the unpredictable nature of darts, where even the top-ranked players can face unexpected challenges.