"It didn’t look safe for players"- Luke Humphries injury sparks questions over Madison Square Garden walk-on

Luke Humphries’ entrance at the US Darts Masters in New York was anything but smooth. As he made his walk-on at the iconic Madison Square Garden, a moment of fan enthusiasm turned painful: a spectator accidentally yanked on his thumb, leaving the Englishman nursing a painful injury before he'd even thrown a dart.

But in true “Cool Hand Luke” fashion, Humphries wasn’t about to let it throw him off. He battled through the discomfort, dispatched Stowe Buntz in the opening round, and went on to lift the title — injury and all.

The incident was discussed in the latest episode of the Darts Draait Door podcast, where host Damian Vlottes was joined by former pro Vincent van der Voort, who was on-site for the tournament and spoke with Humphries after the match. “He showed me his thumb the next day — it was really swollen,” said Van der Voort. “But clearly, it didn’t hold him back too much. You simply don’t play that well if the pain’s unbearable.”

According to Van der Voort, the injury affected Humphries most during the first day, which, fortunately, featured just a single match. By day two — which included the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final — the swelling had subsided enough for him to play relatively unimpeded.

What raised eyebrows, though, was the way the walk-ons were handled in New York. Unlike in Europe, where players make their entrance behind barriers, safely separated from the crowd, the Madison Square Garden setup had them walk straight through the fans — a recipe for chaos, and in this case, injury.

“It really didn’t look safe for the players,” noted Vlottes, who watched the incident unfold live on TV.

Van der Voort echoed the concern and called for greater care in managing player walk-ons at future events. He pointed to Raymond van Barneveld as a prime example of someone who gets it right: “Barney always fist-bumps with his non-throwing hand. He says, ‘I don’t want those beer-soaked hands anywhere near my darting hand.’ More players should take a leaf out of his book.”

In the end, Humphries handled the drama with class and composure. Just the very next day, the world number one was lifting the trophy in one of the world’s most iconic venues — a truly memorable victory in a truly unforgettable setting. But one thing’s for certain: he won’t forget that walk-on in the Big Apple anytime soon.