"It could work like the FedEx Cup" - Luke Humphries proposes radical format change to Premier League Darts

On his Premier League Darts debut, Luke Humphries made it all the way to the final of the playoffs, at the O2 Arena in London. Eventually though, Luke Littler proved too strong in that final.

Nevertheless, it's hard to look back upon Humphries debut Premier League Darts campaign as anything other than successful. Reflecting on his first experience of the gruelling 17-week test of darting endurance, Humphries admits he understands those fans who urge the PDC to change the current format, which sees a quarter-finals, semi-finals and final every Thursday night with more points on offer the longer you last on the night.

"It's my first year so I can't sit here and say I don't like it because I can't really have that opinion yet," Humphries tells SportsBoom, with the world champion and world number one actually having an idea to improve upon the current format.

"I actually had a good suggestion that maybe they could do a league format where everyone plays each other once for the ten players," he explains. "So, nine games we play each other once, then two get relegated and then go to the league mini-tournament format back to what we're doing now. It could work like the FedEx Cup, you’d have the first phase with ten players, and then start again with the different format for phase two, with the person who won topped the table starting on eight points, and so on, if you finish top you see the rewards."

With the current Premier League format supposedly the most enjoyable for fans at the arena, Humphries admits that at the end of the day, he will do what's best for the audience. “I’m happy to play in what the fans want, to be honest. Whatever the fans want in the Premier League," he clarifies. "Whether it’s one night, one game a night or it’s the league format you won’t see me moaning about because it’s all about the fans."

After the disappointment of missing out on Premier League Darts glory in the playoffs, Humphries returns to action at the iconic Madison Square Gardens in New York for the US Darts Masters, with 'Cool Hand Luke' using his pre-tournament time in the Big Apple wisely by proposing to his long time partner.