"I still regard him as the favourite": Michael van Gerwen still man to beat at World Darts Championship believes Luke Humphries

Luke Humphries goes into the World Darts Championship with a potential date with destiny as Michael van Gerwen likely looms as his semi-final opponent. Taking it one game at a time though, he is looking to aim grounded as his rivalry continues with a player who he still sees as the best in the world.

This is despite Humphries going off as the betting favourite after being dominant in the final majors of the season including defeating Van Gerwen in a scarring defeat in Minehead recently.

"He's been bantering me already in the practice room and I've been bantering him back," he said to Online Darts.

"We've got a lot of games to think about before we get to the semi-finals. I've got a really tough run-in, regardless of whether people tout me as the favourite or whatever. I've got a lot of tough games to win, it's not going to be easy for me. I'm going to have to play the way I have for the past two months to even a stand a chance.

"It's a rivalry but it's a healthy rivalry. It's just two players that seem to play well against each other. I've had some really big triumphant wins over him and he's had some great wins over me in majors. I love playing against him because obviously he is the best in the world. He's the great of my generation and it's a privilege to share the stage with him. If I was to make my first World final, I'd love to be beating him of course. There's no better way to do it.

"I think he is the favorite regardless of what bookmakers say, he's been there and done it. He's done it three times, I've not done it before. Over the last 10 years, he's been the most consistent player so I still regard him as the favorite in my eyes."

On being the favourite, he sees it as a compliment but one he has to now utilize and actually succeed in. "It's a massive compliment. Just shows how much my game has come on, how much I've improved and how much people believe in my ability. I've got to make sure I don't let that sit on my shoulders too heavy. I need to do it for myself, I've wanted to be World Champion for my whole life."

One likelihood is that he will play in the Premier League finally next season and he said that it's a strange feeling knowing that due to his majors and ranking, he won't be waiting for the famous phone call if he is teetering on the edge like this season.

"I always thought when I was going to be in the Premier League that I'd look up on the screen in the World final and seen my name. It's different this time, I can't physically be caught at World Number Five. It's a great thing for me, I've always dreamed of it."