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Daily Mirror
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Luke Humphries has clear darts plan ahead of World Matchplay after 'emotionless' admission
Luke Humphries is the man to beat heading into the World Matchplay after an excellent 2025 so far, but the world No.1 hasn't been afraid to speak about his mental wellbeing For all Luke Littler's attention-grabbing exploits, Luke Humphries remains the player to beat in darts. There has been no hangover since his reign as world champion was shockingly ended by an inspired Peter Wright, who rolled back the years with a 4-1 win in the last 16 at Alexandra Palace. While disappointed by the loss, there was an upside for Cool Hand after a memorable but demanding year as world champion. The reigning World Matchplay champion used his unexpected downtime around the New Year to completely switch off from darts and reset mentally. He admitted before the Premier League that he didn't even watch as Littler demolished Michael van Gerwen to replace him as world champion. He said earlier this year: 'My life had been all about darts in December and I just wanted to switch it off for a little bit. 'I could actually wake up on the 31st and not think about darts for a change. I didn't watch any of it, I just wanted to break away from it.' A refreshed Humphries has since won two of the first two majors of the year, adding the World Masters and the Premier League to his glittering CV. Humphries is rightly lauded as a superb ambassador for the game and someone who isn't afraid to speak candidly about his own weaknesses and struggles. After a 6-1 win over Dirk van Duijvenbode at the International Darts Open, Humphries confessed that playing felt like a "chore" and he needed a break for his mental well-being. He said that he felt "emotionless" due to the sport's exhaustive schedule. That led to a social media backlash, with keyboard warriors accusing him of not appreciating his status. Humphries responded with typical candour on X: 'Considering the comments and people not understanding what I meant, it will be the last time I ever confess my real feelings to the public. "Everything I say or ever do just never seems to be good enough for anybody. As long as no one complains when we all give the same answers in interviews like robots and not our true feelings, then everyone I guess will be happy, or usually will still find a way to moan at us." Humphries was in a cheerier mood a couple of months later as he lifted the Premier League title for the first time after beating Littler 11-8 in the final. Reflecting on his previous comments, Humphries said: 'It's about when I had those struggles in March. It felt hard work and everything you dedicate yourself for, it makes it worthwhile when you achieve things like this. "It's emotional because you work so hard, you're away from home for so long to get those trophies. It means the world. I do believe I've got that mental strength. I said earlier, if I win the title, I know I'll have won it by mental strength and belief. I feel like that was the case. "In the final, I was 3-0 down and could easily have let that slip away from me but I used mental strength to keep myself in the game." At just 30, Humphries can rack up more titles over the next decade. The next big prize in his sights is the World Matchplay. "I'm still relatively young in the game and I'm only a couple of titles away from being possibly the third-most successful darts player [ever behind Phil Taylor and Van Gerwen]," said Humphries, who begins the defence of his World Matchplay title against Ryan Searle on Saturday night. "But when you reach 10 major titles, you're in some unseen territory so I'll keep pushing. I want to get over 10 so hopefully I can do that in the next couple of years."
Daily Record
19-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
James Wade opens up on health battles after ending three year darts title drought
The Machine opens up on struggles following first triumph since 2022 as he beat Scott Williams 8-3 to return to PDC winners circle Proud James Wade blew his rivals away with a milestone return to the PDC winners circle. The Machine made all the right noises to win his first darts ranking title since 2022 at the 19th Players Championship event of the campaign. Wade had been all over social media in build-up to Thursday's tournament after an incident of breaking wind earlier in the week during a match against Peter Wrigh t was caught on TV camera. But the headlines around the 42-year-old are all about the arrows after his brilliant win which was sealed by a 8-3 success over Scott Williams in the Final. Wade has battled against health struggles during his victory drought and revealed how it has impacted his career. He said: "Everyone forgets I had pancreatitis. It's a serious health condition and I went from World No.3 to plummeting down and out of the rankings. "I just think everyone takes it for granted their health. The public and probably the organisation didn't realise I was really ill. 'I went from world number three to 27. It wasn't because my darting ability disappeared it was because my health disappeared. So give me a little bit of a break! "Today I felt really proud of myself because I've never been a press favourite or an organisation favourite, but you now, when I've gone against what I've gone against, not knowing if I I'm going to play darts again, today is a milestone. 'I've put myself under quite a bit of pressure over the last 12 months so today it has been really nice. I'm really pleased and happy. It's been a bloody long time, that is for sure.' The 42-year-old smashed in two ton-plus checkouts to overcome Gian van Veen 6-4 in the quarter-final, hammered Andrew Gilding in the last four before seeing-off Williams. Wade's success made him the third different winner of the lengthy week in Leicester after Stephen Bunting produced a string of outstanding performances to clinch his fourth title of 2025. The Bullet backed-up World Series titles in Bahrain and Copenhagen this year and a maiden European Tour crown in April's International Darts Open with a win on Wednesday. Bunting said: 'I'm so happy that my consistency is there. I'm playing with a smile on my face and, when I've got a smile on my face, I'm dangerous.' The previous day, it was Bunting's Premier League colleague Chris Dobey who took the spoils when he claimed Event 17 in dramatic fashion at the Mattioli Arena. The Geordie was able to ride a wave of momentum during his day with crucial victories over Wade and van Veen which earned him a spot in the final against Dirk van Duijvenbode. Dobey kept cool to beat the Dutchman in a deciding leg and said: 'This is my second win of the year, but just to win one tournament is an achievement. "I want to be competing with the top boys to give myself more chances of getting to the top.'
The Irish Sun
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Darts star, 39, had ‘Barney attack' on stage and smashed trophy into ‘a thousand pieces' in rage
KIM HUYBRECHTS had a 'Barney attack' on stage before his trophy smashed into 'a thousand pieces'. The 39-year-old is one of the top darts stars around. Advertisement 1 Kim Huybrechts has opened up on his dismal performance at the International Darts Open Credit: Rex Yet he has not added to the two European Tour titles that came earlier in his career. And he followed that up two years later with success at the European Darts Grand Prix. However, Huybrechts was unable to land a third trophy in 2016 at the International Darts Open. Advertisement READ MORE IN DARTS He ended up losing 6-5 to Mensur Suljovic in Germany and missed NINE match darts. He has now opened up on the brutal event, making light of fellow darts star Raymond van Barneveld while also revealed his runner-up trophy didn't make the cut. Huybrechts told the 'We were given a trophy, of course. And naturally, I got the runner-up trophy. Advertisement Most read in Darts Exclusive BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS 'You have to do the photos first — I wasn't exactly smiling in those. I even gave a few sarcastic thumbs up to the crowd when they announced me as the runner-up. 'No middle fingers, although I really wanted to. Luke Littler taunts fans with 'crying' gesture after Man Utd fan suffers abuse at Premier League Darts in Leeds 'After the final, I went backstage and, of course, it was a beautiful glass trophy. Advertisement 'Well, it didn't survive the trip. It ended up in a thousand pieces with the camera crew. 'At the next tournament, someone turned up with a cardboard box and said, 'You forgot something in Riesa.' "I opened it up, and inside were all the shards of the trophy.'
Scottish Sun
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Darts star, 39, had ‘Barney attack' on stage and smashed trophy into ‘a thousand pieces' in rage
But his crew had a special surprise later on DART OF WAR Darts star, 39, had 'Barney attack' on stage and smashed trophy into 'a thousand pieces' in rage Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) KIM HUYBRECHTS had a 'Barney attack' on stage before his trophy smashed into 'a thousand pieces'. The 39-year-old is one of the top darts stars around. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Kim Huybrechts has opened up on his dismal performance at the International Darts Open Credit: Rex Yet he has not added to the two European Tour titles that came earlier in his career. Huybrecht's first triumph came at the Dutch Darts Masters in 2013. And he followed that up two years later with success at the European Darts Grand Prix. However, Huybrechts was unable to land a third trophy in 2016 at the International Darts Open. READ MORE IN DARTS GERRARD SLIPS AGAIN Blow to Gerrard as he loses eye-watering sum after pal's firm closes He ended up losing 6-5 to Mensur Suljovic in Germany and missed NINE match darts. He has now opened up on the brutal event, making light of fellow darts star Raymond van Barneveld while also revealed his runner-up trophy didn't make the cut. Huybrechts told the Darts Draai Door podcast: 'That's when I had a 'Barney attack' on stage. 'We were given a trophy, of course. And naturally, I got the runner-up trophy. BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS 'You have to do the photos first — I wasn't exactly smiling in those. I even gave a few sarcastic thumbs up to the crowd when they announced me as the runner-up. 'No middle fingers, although I really wanted to. Luke Littler taunts fans with 'crying' gesture after Man Utd fan suffers abuse at Premier League Darts in Leeds 'After the final, I went backstage and, of course, it was a beautiful glass trophy. 'Well, it didn't survive the trip. It ended up in a thousand pieces with the camera crew. 'At the next tournament, someone turned up with a cardboard box and said, 'You forgot something in Riesa.' "I opened it up, and inside were all the shards of the trophy.'
Scottish Sun
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
‘It's hard to go through' – Luke Humphries opens up on ‘wobble' after backlash for his honest social media post
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LUKE HUMPHRIES admits he had "wobble" as being honest on social media backfired. The World No1 opened up earlier this month during the International Darts Open, saying he felt "emotionless" on stage due to tiredness and needed a break from the sport. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Luke Humphries has opened up about his struggles at the oche Credit: Rex 2 Cool Hand was criticised for a social media post earlier this month Credit: Rex But Cold Hand then received a backlash from fans online and said the next day: "That's the last time I ever confess my real feelings to the public. 'Everything I say or ever do just never seems to be good enough for anybody. "As long as no one complains when we all give the same answers in interviews like robots and not our true feelings." Humphries has won the World Masters so far this year. READ MORE ON DARTS EVERY LITTLER HELPS 'Voice of Darts' Bray's side hustle earnings double thanks to Littler And he has been remarkably consistent in reaching six of the 12 Premier League nightly finals, winning two of them. But in an interview with Sky Sports' Polly James and Stuart Pyke this week, he confessed it had been a tough moment to deal with. He said: "It doesn't matter what line of work you are in, you can get tired. "We are all the same. We all work hard, feel down and a bit tired. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK 'I went through a little wobble. That's what we do in life. "Sometimes it's nice if some people are nice to you in that moment. It's hard to go through. Luke Humphries takes a tumble and loses shoe as Belgian Darts Open clash with Mike De Decker turns into nightmare 'Mentally I felt OK. I just felt a bit tired. I'm happy to be here and go again. 'Some times you say things that don't do you any favours. "That's why it's best off not to say anything at all. 'I do understand that you do have to give a bit to the fans. Premier League Darts 2025 THE Premier League Darts is back with eight players vying for massive prize money and Luke Littler's crown. The teenager, who went on to win the world title in December, won the Premier League in 2024 and will be looking to defend his crown over 18 thrilling weeks. There were two new entries this season, with Stephen Bunting and Chris Dobey replacing Peter Wright and Michael Smith. Luke Humphries, Rob Cross, Michael van Gerwen, Gerwyn Price and Nathan Aspinall keep their place in what will be a hotly-contested title race. INFORMATION Full schedule and results, dates, TV and live stream info Latest standings as we head to Finals night How much prize money is on offer in the Premier League? LATEST DARTS NEWS Aspinall reveals shoulder was DISLOCATED before Premier League tie Michael van Gerwen will NOT represent the Netherlands at the World Cup Luke Littler to appear in special outdoor darts event SEASON SO FAR Night One - Belfast Night Two - Glasgow Night Three - Dublin Night Four - Exeter Night Five - Brighton Night Six - Nottingham Night Seven - Cardiff Night Eight - Newcastle Night Nine - Berlin Night 10 - Manchester Night 11 - Rotterdam Night 12 - Liverpool "Let them know how you are feeling. That's why I did what I did. 'But it felt like it backfired. It was a shame. "I felt it was a good thing for me to be honest.'
