"I just think I'm worthy of a top 32 player" - Martin Lukeman hoping positive World Darts Championship can springboard him back into the world's elite

Martin Lukeman caused a sensation at the 2024 Grand Slam of Darts by reaching the final after having come through the qualifier. In it he lost particularly badly to Luke Littler, but the 39-year-old Englishman nevertheless heads to the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship with his confidence high.

The current world number 38 starts his World Championship campaign on Thursday, December 19, with a duel against Indian Nitin Kumar. If Lukeman wins, 21st-ranked seed Andrew Gilding awaits in the second round. "I don't know if you know, but I've built a new dart room lately, I've been in there every day, just grafting it out, and I'm starting to see the results now," Lukeman tells Sky Sports. "I want to have a good run at the Worlds, this is my third attempt, so I want to do well there, at least go on a good run. I want to get past that Christmas point, that Christmas break point, because I've never done that yet, so I want to try and do that, then I'll work on it game after game."

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"I play Super League three nights a week, still play County, when I can that is, when I'm not busy, and I'm doing three or four hours a day, at least. My practice partner is Connor Scutt, so he's at home practising, I'm playing him while he's at home and I'm at home, so it's just brilliant," continues the down to earth 'Smash'. "I'll go to local competitions still, and go to my Super Leagues. I play Super League Monday, Wednesday and Friday, when I can turn up. I'll go to County, I'm going to Somerset to play County. It's just all my pals. They see me go from a pub player to where I am now. If I'm free one weekend and they need me and I'm available, I'll go down there for them. They've looked after me."

Martin Lukeman reached the final at this year's Grand Slam of Darts

Lukeman briefly ranked in the top 32 earlier this year, but after dropping back out, he now wants to use the upcoming World Darts Championship to consolidate himself as one of the best players in the world. "I want to get back in that top 32. I was in it this year for about four days. I got in there and at the same time I went to my manager and asked for my invoice submission for my bonus," Lukeman laughed. "Before they even got it to me, I was already back out of the top 32, but I got the bonus. I was in it officially."

"I just think I'm worthy of a top 32 player," concludes the Grand Slam of Darts runner-up. "If I just get my consistency right, which is coming now, I'm starting to hit them 95 pluses on a regular to 105. I'm not going to be hitting 120 averages, I'm not that sort of player, but I can be consistent 105 to 95. That's good enough to win competitions."

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