"We’re all under the cosh because you just can’t play in everything": Luke Humphries sees Premier League as reason behind big names in Minehead trouble

Luke Humphries booked his spot in the quarter-finals of the 2025 World Series of Darts Finals with a composed display against Dutchman Kevin Doets, and afterwards reflected on his performance, the crowd in Amsterdam, and the challenges still to come.

Humphries admitted he was impressed with the way Doets performed, but was particularly pleased with the atmosphere inside the AFAS Live as he reached the final day at the World Series of Darts Finals.

“Yeah, I think Kevin played really well there, to be honest. What I liked about the crowd was they were really respectful of me. I know they were kind of harsh to Cor Dekker earlier on, I heard, but they were fantastic towards me there. There was no trying to put me off," he said to Online Darts."I just enjoy being in environments where it feels like you’re getting a fair game. They were amazing tonight – the atmosphere in there was really good.”

The reigning World No.1 acknowledged his own game reflected recent trends. “I felt like in moments they weren’t so great, and then in moments they were really good. That’s kind of a fair assumption of my game from the last couple of months – sometimes in legs it’s proper good, and then sometimes it’s not so great. But it’s still a good average, still a good performance. I did what I had to do to win. That’s all you can really ask of yourself.”

Humphries looked more relaxed compared to his opening round, and he put that down to getting through the tricky first hurdle. “I think I’m one of those players where the first round is the one to take me out. That’s when I’m the most vulnerable as a player, to be honest. When I’m not taken out in the first game, usually you see me – not always, but most of the time – going on good runs.

"Once you’ve won a first-round game, you relax a little bit. No one wants to lose first round, that’s what I’m saying. Once I got through that, you kind of relax a little bit. That’s my attitude anyway.

"It was a lot smoother tonight. It felt a lot more of an accomplished performance. Yesterday there were a couple of bad legs, but today was a little bit better.”

At the time it wasn't sure who he would face but he lauded praise on Van Gerwen who later prevailed in a last leg decider. "He’s beaten me every time I’ve been here. He’s a great friend of mine. I absolutely love Michael to bits. He’s one of the funniest guys on tour, one of the nicest guys I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. He’s looked after me over the years, being in the same management group. I’ve got a lot of time for him, but of course, it’s business tomorrow. He thrives on being in the lion’s den, in his own environment. That will be a really, really tough game."

Asked later if it could be a case of “third time lucky” against Van Gerwen in Amsterdam, Humphries laughed: “I’m hoping that’s not going to be the case! Michael thrives in this environment, in his home country – I know he lives very close to here. If I have to face him tomorrow, it’s going to be a tough task, because the crowd will be behind him. But I’ve played him in this environment many times. I beat him in Rotterdam in the Premier League last year, so I’m experienced enough that I won’t let it affect me too much.

With four major ranking titles still to come before the World Championship, Humphries is clear-eyed about what’s required if he wants to reach world number one. “It’s not like I’m relishing it, to be honest. I could win all four of the back-end ranking majors and not win the Worlds, and still not be number one. It’s not something I’m really thinking too hard about.

"If I want to be number one next year, it’s all going to come down to the World Championship. If I don’t win that, then I don’t think I’ll be. But if I go into the Worlds and win it, then I’ll be world number one.

"I’d love to win one more of the next four majors and hopefully win the Worlds and make the magic number 10 majors. I’d love to be a multiple World Champion. But I’m not thinking too much about what I’m defending, because if you do, it just eats away at you and you won’t do well.”

Humphries is also fighting to secure his place at the Players Championship Finals, with just seven events left to play.“Yes, I will play in all of them. Even if I win one, I’ll probably still play in all of them, to be honest. It’s the situation I find myself in – not one I’m regretting. If I didn’t make it, I feel like I should, but I wouldn’t be regretting anything or disappointed. I had to take time off, and I’ve had to spend more time with my family.

If it becomes the scenario of missing out, of course I’ll be gutted – but it won’t be the end of the world. I want to be in every major, so I’ll be playing in all of them. It’s up to me to go and earn my spot. I had a couple of really good performances in the week but just didn’t get over the line – there’s nothing to say that won’t happen again in the next seven.

"I’m under no illusion that it’s not guaranteed. When you’re in the Premier League – me, Michael, Luke, Nathan – we’re all under the cosh because you just can’t play in everything. With seven more tournaments left, in my own mind I feel like I should qualify, but if I don’t, then unfortunately, I won’t be there.”

Looking ahead, Humphries was enthusiastic about the European Tour expanding into new countries in 2026, including Poland and Slovakia. “Yeah, I think it’s great. It’s really good for the sport. We’ve spent so much time in Germany, but now we’re branching out a little bit more. There are so many other places I’d love to see the European Tour go in the future, but it’s not going to happen straight away. I did an exhibition in Bratislava a couple of months ago and it was absolutely amazing – the atmosphere was so good. I see why that’s happened. Poland is another great country. Europe is a hotspot for great crowds and great atmospheres. Hopefully in the next five years, you’ll see 15 European Tours in 15 different countries. The sport has grown so much – we’re very lucky.”