"Logistically it's a nightmare": Luke Humphries explains decision to snub Slovakia European Tour as World Series of Darts travel a huge factor

Luke Humphries and Luke Littler are set to miss the opening European Tour event in Slovakia between 19 June - 21 June. They are notable by their absence with Gian van Veen, Michael van Gerwen and Jonny Clayton painting a very familiar picture as top names in Bratislava.

But Humphries, when this news was reported of the entries and was called 'disappointing' that he was skipping the first ever European Tour in the country, said that it was for a reason, and that is the US Darts Masters.

It is at a bit of a logistical bind for the top names with New York taking place between June 25-26 the week after and Humphries and others also being needed to acclimatise the jet lag and also do media before the tournament begins at Madison Square Garden.

Albeit Clayton, Price, James Wade, Stephen Bunting, Josh Rock and Gian van Veen will all at the moment play in Bratislava then play in the US Darts Masters as they are part of both line-ups.

"I would have gone mate, but New York is the next week later and logistically it’s a nightmare as I fly out on the Monday, and can’t get back from Slovakia on the Monday in time to make the flight to New York," said Humphries in a response to the tweet surrounding the Slovakia line-up which is the ninth European Tour of the year.

"Fair. Let's hope the PDC can find a better date for the event next year, the Slovakian fans deserve their shot at the world's best players too," responded Jetze Jan Idsardi on X to which Humphries himself went on to say that it is the wrong timing for such an event and that Littler likely would've played too if timing wasn't a factor.

"I agree! Probably wrong timing for that event this year really, I think Luke would of gone as well if they wouldn’t of clashed," he wrote. With both deciding against playing quite a lot of European Tour events, it seems to be logistics over them deciding for a weekend off, and it throws into question the timing of such an event when wanting to grow the game in Bratislava with a European Tour.

The US Darts Masters already struggles of sorts in a World Cup year, but it seems like the knock on is also that many of the top names won't play in Slovakia either, including Humphries and Littler. Humphries will return, though, next weekend in Riesa, so he does have European Tours in his plans.