"Peter Wright said I wasn't ready, I was ready": Luke Humphries harks back to World Grand Prix turning point before Ally Pally glory

Luke Humphries became World Champion to go alongside being World Number One in sheer darting destiny for 'Cool Hand Luke' who came from 4-2 down to defeat Luke Littler 7-4 with all eyes on the 16-year-old, but he upset the apple cart and showed why he is the best player in the world.

LIke many great champions, he has rode his luck at times over the last few weeks with wins over Joe Cullen and Ricardo Pietreczko nearly seeing him tumble out of the tournament and these scares were on his mind as turning points.

"It's an unbelievable feeling, it's something I never believed would be said to me," said Humphries.

"It's something you work incredibly hard for, it never comes easy. I've said in many interviews over the last couple of weeks that sometimes you've just got to get through those games that don't go well. The Ricardo (Pietreczko) game and the Joe (Cullen) game I was lucky to get through them. I took all that luck, ran with it and managed to become World Champion with it so I'm incredibly pleased that I've finally realised a dream that I've always wanted to do."

A turning point for Luke was more darting destiny as he won the World Grand Prix in October with 'Cool Hand Luke' defeating Gerwyn Price and opening his major floodgate and he harked back to the words of Peter Wright who said he wasn't ready to be a major winner.

"I think a lot of people were thinking that major was going to come, obviously the Matchplay was close, the World Series Finals was close and I finally got over the line at the World Grand Prix and I got a bit of luck against Peter Wright who said I wasn't ready, I was ready. I felt the performance in the World Grand Prix and the win in that allowed me to go on to achieve more."