Luke Humphries admitted his whitewash victory over Ryan Searle at the UK Open was bitter sweet.
The world number one averaged 100.2 on his way to an incredible 10-0 win in the fifth round on Saturday.
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Cool Hand sealed victory by pinning double eight in the 10th leg before rolling his eyes as he collected his dart from the board.
Humphries appeared reserved as he shook hands with his ‘best mate’ Searle on stage at Butlin’s Minehead.
After the match, the 30-year-old revealed it was the sort of win which ‘crushes you inside’.
He told ITV: “It was miles [easier than I thought it was going to be]. I didn’t expect that scoreline, to be honest. I thought it would be similar to yesterday, like 10-7.
“His finishing just wasn’t there. To beat Ryan Searle 10-0 is a ridiculous scoreline. That was just a bad day at the office from him.
“I thought I played well. But as the game went on the more legs I was winning, it was a struggle because I didn’t want to beat him 10-0 to be honest.
“He’s my best mate in darts, it kind of crushes you inside, you don’t want to smash someone who is so close to you.
“Of course when you are in this game you have to be ruthless. You can’t give anybody anything. Even if he is your best mate.
“It’s not the most enjoyable 10-0 win I’ve had in my career.
“Ryan is capable of winning tournaments like this. I mean that, I know him. I know how good he is. Today his finishing under pressure wasn’t there.”
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The 2024 world champion had entered the tournament in the fourth round on Friday.
After recovering to beat Beau Greaves 10-7, he was paired up with Searle in the last 32.
Humphries has now been drawn against Ryan Joyce in the sixth round tonight, with the winner going through to the final day tomorrow.
It would be his third appearance in the quarter-finals of the UK Open if he can progress to the last eight.
The two-time runner-up is also looking to avenge his 11-10 defeat to Dimitri Van den Bergh in last year’s final.
Humphries was also previously beaten to the title by James Wade back in 2021.
