"It will take something special to stop us” - Luke Humphries ready to write more history on World Cup of Darts debut

Luke Humphries has said it will be a "surreal feeling" when he makes his long-awaited debut at the World Cup of Darts in Frankfurt on Saturday. World number one Humphries will lead England's title fight at the Eissporthalle, where he will form a top duo with former world champion Michael Smith.

England - as one of the four highest seeded nations - will begin the second round of the tournament on Saturday and it will be another milestone moment in Humphries' career. "It will be a surreal feeling," said Humphries on the PDC's website. "It’s like the World Championship win. You don’t really think it’s going to happen to you until it does! It’s going to be a very special moment for me and my family. I’ve always wanted to represent my country, so I’m really looking forward to it.”

Humphries was embroiled in an exciting battle for World Cup of Darts qualification with Rob Cross 12 months ago. The two Englishmen eventually met at the 2023 European Darts Grand Prix, and the winner of that duel would represent England. The victory at the time went to Cross. However, the 29-year-old Humphries believes that disappointment was the motivation for the incredible success that followed.

"I was so close to qualifying last year," the world number one acknowledged. "People were saying to me: ‘Don’t worry, next year will be your year’, but in the back of your mind, you’re thinking: ‘Will it happen next year?’ When Nathan [Aspinall] then won the World Matchplay he was about £100,000 ahead of me on the Order of Merit, so I knew I had to produce something big. I certainly did something big, and my World Championship win has probably given me the gift of being able to play in it next year as well, so I’ve got two cracks at it. I really want to go on and win it this year though, because I think we’ve got a great chance. We just need to make sure we play to the strengths of our team.”

Since the World Cup of Darts began, England and the Netherlands have each won four titles. However, England's last title dates back to 2016. Phil Taylor and Adrian Lewis are the only players to have led England to victory in the unique pairing event, and Humphries is confident he can make more history this weekend in Frankfurt.

"Phil is obviously the greatest player of all-time, and Adrian [Lewis] is a legend of the game too," Humphries stated. "For me and Michael to join them in winning the World Cup for England, it really would mean the world to us. There’s a chance for us to go on and create our own history. We’re both really up for it, so hopefully everything goes well, because if it does, then we stand a great chance. Me and Michael both get along very well, we’re both heavy scorers and most of the time we’re good on our doubles, so if we put that all together, it will take something special to stop us.”