"I'm probably playing the best darts I've ever played" - Luke Humphries bullish over form concerns heading into PDC World Darts Championship

Luke Humphries isn’t tiptoeing into Ally Pally — he’s marching in playing what he calls “the best darts I've ever played.” The former world champion may no longer have the No.1 next to his name and won’t return as defending champion, but he insists the pressure hasn’t eased, the target on his back hasn’t shrunk, and his level has never been higher.

With Grand Prix, European Championship and Grand Slam numbers he believes surpass even his peak, Humphries heads to the PDC World Darts Championship sounding every bit like a man expecting to win it back.

Humphries might not be the world number one any longer, but that hasn't changed too much. “It feels different, but actually it doesn’t,” he says in conversation with Online Darts. “Last year I thought I was going to feel an enormous amount of pressure as the defending champion, but I didn’t. And this year will be the same. There’s always pressure, whether you’re the holder or not.”

Even without the trophy in his hands, the hunt for him hasn’t disappeared. “Of course there’s still a target on my back because everybody wants to make that world final,” he says. “There are 63 other players wanting to take me down and stop me making that final, and then whoever you play in the final is going to want to take you down as well. So yeah, there is a target on my back — but obviously Luke’s going to have a much bigger one on his.”

Humphries’ reflections on his own title defence remain strikingly calm. “I didn’t feel the pressure last year, even though I didn’t play very well. I thought I was going to feel it a lot, but I didn’t. I don’t think Luke will either, to be honest. When you’ve won so many titles, it just feels like another one that you’re defending — something you’ve already done before.”

The world-ranking battle has dominated discussion for months. Humphries doesn’t mind that the noise has eased — but he knows it’ll flare up again if he has a strong Worlds.

“If you’re in the conversation, that’s a good thing,” he says. “If you’re not being talked about, it means you’re nowhere near. I tried dragging it out as long as I could and almost kept it going, but if you look back at the last two years he’s definitely been the best player of everyone. I’ve got a chance to get it back if I win the Worlds.”

For the first time in years, Humphries may play twice before Christmas — and unlike some players, he sees that as a positive.

“Last year I played my first game and then didn’t play for about 11 days — that won’t happen this time,” he says. “You play, then probably have five or six days off, then play again. You’re not having that long break that can hinder you. Having all 128 players in the same position feels fairer. You’re not having someone play a match before you even get to the oche.”

The venue itself remains a source of confidence. “I’ve achieved a lot there — made three quarter-finals, obviously won it,” he says. “When you’ve got those memories, you feel like once you get yourself into that quarter-final situation you can really push on and win the title. I look at it like two different tournaments: you’ve got to get through the early rounds first, get yourself into the period after Christmas — that’s when the real tournament starts.”

Humphries’ form heading into the Worlds is undeniably strong. He’s naturally self-critical, but even he admits he might be playing better than ever.

“Over the last couple of months I’ve probably played the best darts I’ve ever played on a big stage in a consistent way,” he says. “My World Grand Prix was a better tournament average, my Grand Slam was a better average than when I won it, and the European Championship was the best running average I’ve had. Players Championship didn’t go my way, but you can’t make deep runs every single time.”

He credits rhythm — and a key technical adjustment. “One thing I notice is that when I’m playing a lot — major after major — I feel at my best because I’m not having three or four days off and losing that sharpness. After the Premier League I was a bit subdued because I wasn’t practising as hard and saw a dip in form. But once the season got back into full swing, I was playing really well again. Slowing my throw down has really helped me — it’s turned me into a player who feels much more confident up there.”

“I don’t think I’m chasing anybody,” he says. “I’m chasing my own dreams of winning more world championships. I’m not worried about anyone else. Whether there’s one person in front of me or ten, chasing people never works out well.”

He’s unmoved by debates over prize-money versus points rankings. His stance remains clear: it doesn’t change the reality. “If I make the final they won’t be over because it’ll be mentioned again — I can get it back,” he says of the number one talk.

Looking back on 2025, he calls it “good, but not simple”. “On paper it’s a fantastic year. But when you get yourself into the quarter-final situation you can really push on — I didn’t quite do that in the second half of the year. But I take things on the chin. Peaks and dips are part of the game.”

He famously complained during the Grand Slam that he wasn’t getting enough acknowledgement as world champion — but he’s cooled on that now. “Will I get more attention if I win it again? Probably not,” he says. “That’s down to the media. But I’m not too bothered. I’ve achieved things in an era where one of the best players ever is playing. That’s hard enough.”

Asked whether he actively avoids the spotlight, Humphries is blunt. “I don’t need to be the centre of attention,” he says. “Yeah, I get recognised a lot, but for me it’s about appreciation for what I do, not being famous.”

And if darts hadn’t worked out?

“I’d still be a roofer,” he says. “I did it for seven years. And honestly, I was really good at it — but I’m just that little bit better at this job.”