"My girlfriend Kayley telling me, ‘You’ve got it in you, you know you can do it": Luke Humphries goes from miracle needed to Premier League play-offs with a week to spare

It hasn't been the easiest year for Luke Humphries by his own admission but 'Cool Hand Luke' admits that it is what has given him the grit and determination to make it to Premier League play-offs with a week to spare.

Humphries averaged 110 to vanquish Luke Littler and then defeated Gerwyn Price in the final in Birmingham on Night 15. Albeit for Price in particular, it was a dead rubber. His won the game and sealed his spot at The O2. For Humphries, it was a must-win, or he would have to go to next week.

But pressure makes diamonds, and Humphries shone in Birmingham, dealing with what was in front of him to seal a superb win. The relief was etched on his face as he spoke to Emma Paton and Wayne Mardle on the stage for Sky Sports afterwards about how he is trying to make positive changes and be a better player and banish his issues of before.

“Yeah, do you know what, it’s obvious, it’s relief. You could see from the way I felt at the end there. It’s been a struggle this year, it’s no lie. It’s been hard work and I’m not going to bow over it, it just hasn’t been the best for me this year," said Humphries on Sky Sports, speaking to Emma Paton and Wayne Mardle.

“I worked incredibly hard over the last three weeks. I changed back to my old points and old flights and it just worked for me. I’ve played the way I’ve been playing before, so I’m just proud of myself for battling through.

“We’ve all been through those stages where everything feels easy and you’re winning, but it shows true grit when you can come back from a position like I was in. I was looking at the table and I was five points behind, so for myself to go and win it on this night and get through, that takes determination. I’m really proud of that.”

Paton and Mardle joked that he was even worse off at one point than he was and that he was even seventh which he joked around about but he also spoke about changing the way he plays and how that now feels more natural to him.

"Do you know what, sometimes you just have to try something new and see if it works. I did it in the Grand Slam and the Grand Prix and it worked for me, but then I did it at the Worlds and it didn’t work," he continued.

“Sometimes you just have to adapt. It’s working one minute and not the next. Last week, there was a bit of a breeze, so I had to throw a bit harder and a bit quicker. I thought I played well, so I decided to stick with that tonight. Maybe next week I’ll go slow again, I don’t know.

It is also pride though for 'Cool Hand Luke' who said that ultimately he gets written off a lot as a player and so he is glad to prove those wrong who may have doubted him in heading towards defending his title.

“But I’m just incredibly proud of myself, honestly, probably the most proud I’ve ever been in my life. For the last two Premier Leagues it’s all been very easy, where you get to Week 14 and you’re basically playing for nothing.

“For the last three weeks there’s been a lot of pressure on my shoulders, so to make three finals and win one means a lot to me because it shows I’ve got that great determination, I get written off a lot as a player."

Was there a point though for Humphries that he didn't think he'd make it? He admits there was as when he was adrift and wasn't winning any weeks it was a tough school but after reaching multiple finals the real grit and determination showed.

Now with a week to spare Humphries already has his O2 spot booked and is joined by Littler, Clayton, Price and himself and the only real storyline in Sheffield is who plays who in said semi-finals. But for Humphries being in is all that counts.

“Oh yeah, definitely. When you’re looking at being five points away from the top four, you kind of think, ‘Wow, you need a miracle here.’ But in the back of my mind, deep down, and with my girlfriend Kayley telling me, ‘You’ve got it in you, you know you can do it,’ sometimes I just need someone to tell me I can do it.

“I believed in myself over the last three weeks, and that’s what mattered. I’m just incredibly proud because, for me, not even having the chance to try and retain the title at the O2 would have hurt me a lot. As much as I wouldn’t have admitted it, it would have hurt me. So I’m really, really happy that I can go back there at the O2 and at least give it a chance.”