Luke Humphries and Referee Kirk Bevins Share Light-Hearted Moment After Rare Scoring Error
During a tense quarter-final clash at the Premier League Darts event in Belfast, world number two Luke Humphries and referee Kirk Bevins shared a memorable light-hearted moment that quickly captured the attention of fans. The incident occurred on night four of the competition as Humphries faced Stephen Bunting in a highly competitive match.
The Viral 'Kirkulator' Mistake That Stole the Spotlight
While the match itself was fiercely contested, it was a small but unusual scoring error from Bevins that became one of the talking points of the evening. The incident happened when Humphries was attempting to check out on 36. After missing his shots at double 18 and double nine, the 31-year-old player found himself in a position where his next throw would go bust, so he decided to aim for 14 instead.
Bevins, known for his exceptional mathematical skills, made a rare mistake by calling out "31" after Humphries' throw. The incorrect call left Humphries visibly confused, with the player looking at the referee with a puzzled expression. Realizing his slip, Bevins quickly corrected himself and said "no score." Humphries then responded by jokingly staring at the referee, prompting Bevins to laugh as he brushed off the error.
The amusing exchange brought smiles to everyone in attendance and quickly went viral on social media platforms. Even the official social media account of the Professional Darts Corporation highlighted the clip, captioning it: "Even the Kirkulator gets it wrong sometimes."
Fan Reactions and Bevins' Impressive Background
Fans quickly reacted to the humorous moment online, with one supporter noting they had to rewind the clip to watch it again and observed that the person sitting next to Bevins also appeared confused by the mistake. Another fan humorously suggested that the error was serious enough to potentially cost Bevins his job, though this was clearly in jest.
The 39-year-old referee is well known for his mathematical prowess, having demonstrated his skills long before joining darts full-time. In 2009, Bevins appeared on the BBC show Countdown, where he won all eight of his heats with a record 925 points and claimed the overall title. He remains the only contestant to achieve a perfect 15-round game on the popular television program.
Bevins began working in darts as a voluntary scorer in 2010 and became a full Professional Darts Corporation referee in 2013, establishing himself as one of the most reliable officials in the sport.
Match Outcome and Bunting's Victory
Despite the humorous interruption, the match continued with Stephen Bunting eventually defeating Luke Humphries 6-4 to advance to the semi-finals. Bunting went on to win the entire night, defeating Gian van Veen 6-2 in the final match.
Speaking after his victory, Bunting addressed doubts that had been expressed about his place in the tournament before it began. The champion emphasized his belief in his hard work and dedication, stating that these big nights are what he lives for as a professional darts player. He also praised the Belfast crowd for their support, crediting them with helping him perform at his absolute best during the competition.
The incident between Humphries and Bevins served as a reminder of the human element in professional sports, showing that even in high-pressure tournaments, moments of levity can emerge and bring players, officials, and fans together through shared amusement.
