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"I will be dedicated and more motivated than ever to prove that I deserve to be where I am" - For Luke Humphries, world title is not an endpoint
PDCSunday, 07 January 2024 at 12:00
Luke Humphries has emerged in recent months as the very best player in the world. And in 2024, he wants to do at least as well, if not better.
Humphries closed out 2023 with three major wins and added the big one, a first world title at the beginning of the new year. "Over the last three months it’s just been like a dream,” Humphries told the PDC. “From the moment I picked up my first major title, I never envisaged becoming World Champion so quickly, but it’s one of those feelings that is just indescribable."
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“You always dream of how it’s going to feel and how you would react, but it never compares to how good it feels in reality," he continues. “You almost feel like you’re dreaming and you’re going to wake up and it’s not going to be true, but fortunately for me it is. I have worked incredibly hard to be in this moment and I’m going to thoroughly enjoy it.”
Role of family
Humphries also does not want to underestimate the role of his family. "They have been a massive part of my journey. I couldn’t have done it without my Mum or Dad. They sacrificed a lot to take me around the UK at the start of my career, when I was a youth player," he explains.
"When I first became a professional I couldn’t drive, so my Dad would take days off work to drive me to Barnsley, so he is definitely the main reason I am where I am today. I am very lucky to have such a great family around me. My parents, my girlfriend – their support has been incredible, and I’m very privileged to have them by my side.”
Humphries started the recent World Championship with difficulty, but he reached his best level in the closing stages. "I always pride myself on being a tough player to beat. This is a winning run that will end one day, but I’m going to keep going as far as it will take me,” he says of his refusing to be denied during thrillers against Ricardo Pietreczko and Joe Cullen. “It’s been an incredible period for me and I’ve now achieved everything I have always wanted to, but this makes me more hungry and more determined than ever to go on and win a lot more in the future."
Although Humphries also realizes that everyone will want to beat him now. "There is that aura where you feel invincible, you feel like you’re on top of the world, but that can all come crashing down at any moment. I have a target on my back now, and everybody will want to beat me, so it’s important to stay focused, because I have a duty to perform as a World Champion and world number one.”
Viewership record
Tye sport of Darts continues to grow as well. For example, the past World Championship final broke viewership records on Sky Sports. "This sport has grown to incredible levels; levels I thought it would never get to. Darts is hot property right now. Everyone wants to be a part of it, and I really believe it’s going to get bigger and better."
"We have seen so many celebrities and sports stars watching the darts, and that is thanks to Luke Littler! He has built the sport to new levels, and I’m incredibly excited to be the flagbearer of the sport over the next 12 months. It’s going to be some year! I will be dedicated and more motivated than ever to prove that I deserve to be where I am.”
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