"Three months later I lost about four stone, so in a way it helped my career": No revenge just thanks for Luke Humphries towards Paul Lim after previous loss

Luke Humphries began his 2026 World Darts Championship campaign with a win against Ted Evetts that was as revealing as it was encouraging, producing heavy scoring, moments of complete control and a timely reminder to himself that even world champions cannot afford to switch off on the sport’s biggest stage.

The former World Champion described the contest as “a game of two halves”, admitting he raced into the match playing some of his best darts before momentarily losing focus and allowing his opponent back into contention.

“The first two sets were really good and I was on it from the start,” Humphries said. “I felt like I was the real Cool Hand Luke and then all of a sudden I kind of fell asleep and had a little nap. When you’re playing so well you can relax too much and feel like everything’s just going to keep happening. Then you get a little reality check and you have to get back on it.”

Despite that lapse, Humphries still averaged over 102 in every set he won and left the stage confident that his overall performance marked a personal milestone at Alexandra Palace.

“That’s probably the best I’ve ever played in a first-round World Championship match,” he said. “Usually I’m a bit average, 92 or 93, and just get through the game. This time I actually played really well, so that’s something different for me to take from tonight. My scoring was really good. The doubles were the Achilles heel, but if I get them right I’ll be able to average 100 comfortably.”

Humphries was quick to credit his Evetts for capitalising on that brief drop in intensity, admitting the moment served as a useful reminder of the unforgiving nature of the tournament.

“Ted saw a little bit of a weakness in me and jumped all over it,” he said. “Fair play to him. Sometimes you need that wake-up call at a World Championship. The positive for me is that when the game started to get taken away from me, I managed to get back on it again.”

Looking ahead, Humphries now faces Paul Lim in the next round, a meeting that inevitably recalls their clash on the same stage five years ago. However, the former world champion was adamant there is no sense of revenge attached to the encounter.

“There’s no revenge in darts,” he said. “If anything, I’m thankful to Paul for winning that game back then because it changed me as a player and as a person. Three months later I lost about four stone, so in a way it helped my career. I’m a big fan of Paul and he’s a big fan of me too, but of course it’s business in the next game.”

Humphries is also full of admiration for Lim’s longevity, with the Singaporean still competing at the highest level at the age of 71. “He’s a warrior,” Humphries said. “He loves darts, loves travelling and loves playing. I don’t think we’ll ever see another over-70-year-old as good as Paul Lim. It’s incredible.”

On his own form, Humphries rated his opening performance a seven out of ten, acknowledging that one poor set prevented it from being something special statistically. “There were three really good sets and one bad one,” he said. “You can’t be too critical. That one set cost me a better stats performance, but who cares? I’m through. Whether you average 98 or 28, it doesn’t matter — you’re through.”

The victory also appeared to confirm that Humphries is settling quickly into the tournament, something he admits has not always been the case in previous years.

“Usually my first game is the one where I’m not so great,” he said. “Apart from that third set I was really good, so it’s a good sign that I’m off the mark pretty quick. When my scoring and doubling come together, I’m one of the toughest players in the world to beat.”

Humphries rejected the idea that he feels freer this year without the burden of defending a title, instead pointing to improved form and stronger statistics as the source of his confidence. “I don’t feel freer, I feel in better form,” he explained. “The stats show I’ve played better this year than when I was winning majors in 2023. That gives me confidence. I love darts, I love being here and I was really eager to get back on that stage.”

That confidence has been a recurring theme in Humphries’ outlook, particularly after his bold declaration earlier in the season that he intended to win the World Championship. “Of course that mindset’s still there,” he said. “You have to have confidence, not arrogance. All 128 players in this tournament should be telling themselves they’re going to win it. If you don’t believe that, you won’t win it.”

Family remains central to Humphries’ motivation, and he admitted having his loved ones in the crowd added to the significance of the night. “Spending time with my family is the most important thing to me,” he said. “My son understands what’s going on now and loves being there. That’s why this is one of my favourite tournaments of the year — you get to spend that Christmas time together.”

Humphries also confirmed he does not currently work with a sports psychologist, explaining that talking to himself on stage is simply his own way of refocusing when needed. “It’s just my coping mechanism,” he said. “It helps me play better.”

When asked to pinpoint the decisive moment of the match, Humphries had no hesitation. "The third leg of the fourth set,” he said. “If he wins that, it’s game on. That was the most important part of the whole game for me.”

There were no nerves before walking on stage either, only excitement. “I was buzzing,” Humphries said. “I love performing in front of crowds like that. If you can’t enjoy moments like this, you shouldn’t be doing it.”