"My thumb is incredibly swollen": Luke Humphries still suffering with bizarre walk-on injury after scooping glory in New York

The King of New York! Luke Humphries celebrated a sensational win on Saturday night as he saw off Nathan Aspinall 8-6 in front of a rabid North American crowd loving every moment at the US Darts Masters.

It is only a second World Series title for Humphries who wanted this one more than ever and in what was a thrilling affair, it showed. He lauded the crowd in particular as he saw off Danny Lauby, Gerwyn Price and then finally Aspinall.

"It was really special," said Humphries. "I thought the crowd yesterday were just as good, absolutely fantastic. I don't know the figure like 3,000 people but the exciting fact for us is if you can treble or quadruple that you're going to create one of the best atmospheres darts has ever seen so it's exciting for us as players to know that we can grow it over here. Next year maybe sell more and go into the bigger room, that's what I'm excited for."

"I think the American crowd has been absolutely amazing and I really enjoyed my time over here. America is such a massive fanbase for sport, they've got so many great sports. Baseball, American football, Ice hockey, basketball but we'd love to put darts along them lines. I believe we can, it's not going to be easy. You're not going to do it in one or two years but if we can put it along those great sports they already have then it gives Americans another sport they can enjoy."

"I love America to bits, I've been here many many times but it's really special for me to win as well."

He also had special praise for Nathan Aspinall and said that to see him back playing the way he has been is special. He called him one of his best friends on tour and was ecstatic to see the support he got over the weekend especially for his song Mr Brightside.

A tune written by Americans but made massively famous in the UK so was perhaps a small shock to see it make such headway in New York.

"He's one of the nicest guys, he's one of my best friends on tour. I know it's biased of me to say it's better with him here but it is. Everyone knows that, he's such a credit to the sport. You see that with the amount of support that he got from the crowd. He's had a few injuries over the last two or three years and it's not nice to see as a friend. It's just nice to see him back playing fluent, just the way he can."

"I was very fortunate tonight, I managed to miss a few doubles here or there. I let him off in moments, he let me off in moments. But it makes me want to be better. We always seem to have good games."

His parents were also there and he said that they've never seen him lose this year so the lucky omen continues for 'Cool Hand Luke' as he heads onto the next tournament ready for an important summer.

"This is the real special one for me on the World Series. This is the biggest one, this will always be the most iconic venue darts is going to go to or I'll ever play at. It's one of the top five best venues in the world. So they're very special. When I come here two years ago, I always dreamt of winning this one."

"It means the world, they said earlier we don't want to jinx you but they've been to every tournament I've won this year. They've not seen me lose.

While it was all great for Humphries he did also say that his thumb is still an issue and he needs to get it X-rayed when he returns home but that he gave it his all to get over the line whatever it takes.

"My thumb is incredibly swollen. It's hard to play through. I was struggling with the grip. I couldn't hold my thumb in the same position. I don't want to make it all about that. The guy when he pulled my hand back he really hurt it. I'm going to have to go home and get an X-ray, I don't think it's broken as it doesn't hurt to squeeze it."

"It's not in good shape, it's incredibly swollen. I said to my family I'm going to give it everything if I injure my hand I don't care. I tried my best and it was good enough so really pleased. I wasn't at my best but I managed to win."

He continued in his praise of the States and asked about having a major tournament in the country, he said that the old adage of if you build it they will come and said that if the American fans get behind it the PDC will have no choice.

"I've won World Championships, Matchplays, Premier Leagues, Masters, all these big titles but it kind of felt like I won another major. For me winning in America, it feels like winning a major. One of the biggest sporting countries in the world. To play your sport in your country and win in it. You add all that up, it's very very special."

"I genuinely believe the way the crowd were this weekend and a lot of players said it. You're creating better environments than we have on Premier League nights for 8-10,000. I think there's a major coming in the next two or three years or four-five years here. We just have to have the support of the American crowd, we really love it. We want to come. We're more than happy to come for big major tournaments."

Before that though, they perhaps need to be angling towards the big venue at Madison Square Garden and he had the same sort of feeling that they want to play in the big arena but need support to achieve that mission.

"We want the big venue, we're so blessed to have the Theater. But we would love to have it in the big arena. But we have to have the support from the Americans to come. I was at a Rangers game last year and when they scored it was an amazing atmosphere."