Humphries dreaming of PDC World Darts Championship glory: "I always seem to turn up and play my best darts here"

Luke Humphries has reached multiple Quarter-Finals at the PDC World Darts Championship and will aim to make the next step after the best year of his career so far seeing him dominate the European Tour and reach multiple major semi-finals.

Now the belief is there that 'Cool Hand Luke' who will be installed as one of the favourites for this year's title can go all the way.

“Michael [van Gerwen] and Peter [Wright] are the only two to have done that, so what I’ve done this year has surpassed my expectations,” said Humphries.

“When you win that first title, it gives you belief. Winning breeds confidence and I’m high on confidence right now.

“I know I’ve got the game to make the next step, which is winning a televised title, but there’s going to be a lot of great players standing in my way.”

“I believe I can be World Champion,” added Humphries.

“I always seem to turn up and play my best darts here, and this year I’m a different proposition.

“I’ve progressed a lot, I’ve won a lot of titles, so I’ll be going into it more confident than ever.

“I think if I can produce what I know I can on the stage, I’m a danger for every major title.”

Another facet of Humphries' rise has been his weight loss and he believes it has not only helped him in a darting regard but also his personal life.

“Mentally it makes you feel better, more comfortable. I think because of my size I was more socially anxious, and that probably led to the bad period I went through,” Humphries continued.

“It has been massive for me. It’s helped me in my darts, and my personal life.

“I just did it in a natural way, by going on the exercise bike five or six times a week and eating healthily. I lost four stone in about six months, and I wasn’t doing anything excessive.

“Darts is changing now. Gerwyn Price was probably the advocate for that. All of a sudden, our world number one wasn’t what people expected, and I think a lot of young people look up to that.”