"Like I've been playing for two weeks straight": Luke Humphries jaded but ready for 'one more day' as World Grand Prix Final awaits

Luke Humphries says it feels like he’s been “playing darts for about two weeks straight” after battling through to his third consecutive World Grand Prix final in Leicester — but the world number one insists fatigue won’t stop him chasing another major title on Sunday night.

Humphries saw off Danny Noppert in a dramatic semi-final at World Grand Prix, firing in 14 180s and producing bursts of brilliance either side of a mid-match dip to seal his place in yet another major showpiece as he spoke to the media including DartsNews.com post match.

Asked to sum up his performance, Humphries admitted it was a rollercoaster but said his stunning start set the tone. “Yeah, I think you summed it up pretty well — I can’t say any more,” he smiled. “At the start it was so perfect and everything felt really good. It was reminiscent of last year against Ryan Joyce, and unfortunately I sort of fell off the bandwagon a little bit.

"So yeah, it was an up-and-down game. But that start obviously helped me win the game because Danny was really, really good at the start. If I hadn’t finished those crucial finishes — if he’s 2–0 up and I’m 2–0 down — he probably would have won the game 5–3 instead of me. As much as it’s a bit annoying that it didn’t go well in the middle part, that start really did help me out to win the game.”

Humphries’ intensity visibly lifted between the seventh and eighth sets, roaring back to his best form when the match hung in the balance.

“I just splashed my face with a bit of water and said, I’ve got to fire myself up,” he said. “Sometimes the body gets a little bit too relaxed and I’m kind of just pushing the darts. I said to myself, ‘Now or never — you really have to show Danny you still want to win this.’ Because if I come out 4–3 down thinking, ‘I’ve still got two sets, I can afford to lose this one,’ that’s the wrong mindset. I didn’t want to lose that set. I came out a bit more aggressive — come on, get my head on, get the energy level up — and it seemed to work.”

Before the tournament, Humphries spoke about creating a legacy for himself, and reaching a third successive World Grand Prix final places him in elite company — joining only Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen.

“Of course, three finals is always great,” he said. “But if you only win one out of the three, then it’s not as good as it could have been. I missed an opportunity last year — as much as Mike [de Decker] was really good and probably deserved to win, I missed an opportunity in that second set to go 2–0 up. Who knows what could have been after that?

"Whatever happens tomorrow is still a great achievement. This is a really, really tough tournament to do well in. Making three finals on the trot is amazing for me — but now you want to go on and win it. I’ve won my last three major finals, so hopefully it goes well tomorrow. If it doesn’t, you have to accept that you’re going to lose some finals. But I feel really confident and I’m hoping tomorrow goes really well.”

Humphries’ recent record in televised finals has been flawless — lifting titles at the Masters, Players Championship Finals, and Premier League — and he’s determined to keep that streak alive.

“Yeah, of course,” he said when asked if that gives him confidence. “The last three finals I’ve played in have been good. The Players Championship final was good, the Masters final was a bit like this — I started well, Johnny [Clayton] came back at me, and then I managed to reel off the last set in good form.

Then the Premier League final was really good as well. So yeah, I’m going to think positively, not negatively. Hopefully tomorrow I can produce what I did in the first three sets tonight more consistently. You’re not going to do that for the whole game — best of 11 sets is tough — but hopefully I can bring a bit more of that consistency.”

Reflecting on his fast start against Noppert, Humphries said confidence, rather than hope, fuels his best form.

“You’re not really hoping — you just believe it’s going to keep going on like that,” he explained. “Then when it doesn’t, you’re like, ‘Oh!’ because you were so fixated — everything just felt like I can’t miss.

The first dart was going in and I’m thinking, this is nothing less than a 180. But sometimes in darts it goes well for a minute and then it doesn’t. That can be annoying, but you have to pick yourself up a bit.

I did — 4–1 up it was great, 4–3 down it wasn’t so great — but I managed to perform really well in that eighth set. That’s what champions do.”

With victories over Gerwyn Price and a defeat to Mike De Decker in the last two Grand Prix finals, Humphries knows how it feels to be both in control and chasing a match.

“They were two completely different games,” he said. “When I beat Gezzy, I was always in control of that game. Against Mike, except for being 1–0 up, I was never really in control. So I know how it feels both ways. The only thing I can take from those two finals is that when I’m in control, I can finish it off — and when I’m not, I can still come back. I was 4–1 down to Mike and managed to bring it back to 4–all. I’m experienced enough to know I can cope under pressure — I think this is my 13th or 14th major final.”

Since lifting his first major at this very event two years ago, Humphries admits his mentality has completely changed. “Two years ago, when I won my first one, I remember saying that just reaching the quarters was OK,” he recalled. “Now, it’s win or nothing. Making finals is still amazing — if I don’t win tomorrow, it’s still a great achievement — but nothing pleases the brain and body more than actually winning anymore. I’ve kind of won everything, so yeah, it’s win or nothing for me tomorrow.”

The final will see Humphries face either Luke Littler or Jonny Clayton — both beaten by him in major finals this season — but he’s not reading too much into that record. “Not particularly,” he said. “They’re both fantastic players. Whoever wins, it’s going to be tough for me — and I’ll make it tough for them.

It’ll be a good game regardless, and both are great double-hitters as well. My starting has been pretty good in patches, so whoever it is, may the best man win. It’s going to be a tough game — you don’t play an easy major final.”

Humphries’ power scoring has been a standout feature of his game all week, and his 14 maximums against Noppert proved decisive.

“Yeah, the 180s were pretty good,” he said. “Starting off was good and the scoring helped me too, but I was actually more pleased with the finishing in certain points than the scoring itself.

When the first dart’s going in, that’s when I’m dangerous. Usually I’m more of a 140 hitter because the first dart doesn’t always land, but tonight it did. I’m really pleased with that — hopefully I can match it tomorrow because I’ll need it.”

After a packed schedule that’s included ProTour events and exhibitions in the build-up to Leicester, Humphries admitted the grind has taken its toll — but insisted there’s enough left in the tank for one final push.

“Very, very hard,” he said of the workload. “I played the Pro Tour Tuesday to Thursday, then exhibitions Friday and Saturday — my own fault. I went home Saturday night, then away again Sunday for this, so you’re six days away.

Mentally, that’s what gets you — not the physicality. It kind of feels like I’ve been playing darts for about two weeks straight. But one more day is all I need. Just one more day.”

Humphries’ young son, Rowan, will be in attendance for the final — something the world champion hopes will inspire him to produce another fairytale finish.

“Yeah, he’s going to come up tomorrow,” Humphries revealed. “He’s number one — darts is number two. Family always comes first.

It’d be a great belated birthday present for him. When I won my first one, he’d just turned one and didn’t have a clue. Now he understands — he watches me on TV. It’d be a lovely full-circle moment: two years ago I won my first, and now I could win my ninth. Fairy tales don’t always come true, but I’d love to see Rowan celebrate a trophy with me.”