“When you’ve got someone as dominant as Luke Littler, you have to chase him” – Luke Humphries admits world No.1 rivalry is driving him forward

Luke Humphries once again demonstrated why he belongs among the very best in the world. With an average comfortably above 100 and clinical finishing, the Englishman powered into the next round of the UK Open with a convincing victory.

Yet there was little sense of celebration afterwards. Instead, Humphries remained notably critical of his own performance.

The reigning world champion proved far too strong for Luke Woodhouse in the fourth round, securing a 10-3 win in Minehead.

Even so, Humphries believes there is still more to come from his game, a mindset that could make him even more dangerous for the rest of the field this weekend.

On paper, the result looked emphatic. An average of more than 105, consistent scoring and excellent finishing ensured a comfortable passage into the next round.

For many players that would be reason enough to be fully satisfied. Humphries, however, sees things differently.

“It sounds strange, but I still thought I could have played a little bit better,” he said after the match in conversation with dartsnews.com. “When I came off I saw Wayne and he said, ‘Was that not 100 average? Was it that good?’ I didn’t really feel like it was.”

Humphries admitted that certain moments in the match left him feeling he could have produced an even higher level, although his finishing proved decisive. “The doubles were good,” he explained. “There were frustrations in the game, but my finishing was undeniable.”

The world number two also recognised that the draw had not been especially kind. “I really rate Wessel as a player. I think he’s a really tough player to face. When you see the draw and you get him, you think it’s not the best draw in the world.”

That made the convincing victory even more satisfying. “So for myself to win quite convincingly like I did is a really good result.”

Like many top players, Humphries follows a strict preparation routine before stepping on stage. Watching the draw live is part of that process. “I came over around four o’clock,” he explained. “When you’re playing at eight you have to prepare for that. Three and a half hours is about the time I like to prepare.”

By following the draw, he was able to estimate when his match would likely take place. “When you saw Michael against Nathan you kind of thought that would probably be fourth on. So I thought I’d probably be second or maybe first.”

That prediction proved correct, allowing him to structure his preparation accordingly. “You’ve got to be prepared,” Humphries added. “If I’d been last I could have gone back to the chalet and had an hour out, but it’s always best to prepare in case you’re on early.”

Despite regularly posting high averages, Humphries admits that results have not always followed as he would like this season. “Yes and no. Of course when you’re playing well and not getting the results you want it is frustrating,” he said.

But the Englishman believes patience is key. “If you keep playing like that, the results will come.”

In the Premier League Darts he feels his performances have often been solid, even if decisive moments have sometimes slipped away. “My performances have been decent, but maybe in those clutch moments they haven’t been there at the right time.”

However, his finishing against Woodhouse showed that he remains capable of delivering when the pressure is on. “Tonight I showed I can do it under pressure on the doubles.”

One of the defining storylines in modern darts is the rivalry between Humphries and fellow English star Luke Littler.

Humphries admits that Littler’s rise has pushed him to keep evolving his own game. “But when you’ve got such a dominant force in Luke, you’re kind of thinking right, you have to try and chase him.”

That mindset has led Humphries to make subtle changes to his setup as he searches for marginal gains. “I’ve changed a few things this year and they have been working,” he said. “I do believe I can make it more consistent.”

Humphries currently sits outside the top four in the Premier League standings, but the situation is not something that worries him.

“Never,” he said when asked if his position in the table was a concern. “For me I’ll never hope for points. I’m just there to entertain the crowd and keep pushing myself to put in good performances.”

Even if results do not immediately follow, he believes the focus must remain on effort and performance. “If it gets to week 16 and I’m fifth, sixth, seventh or eighth, it doesn’t matter as long as I’ve put the effort in and tried my best.”

His objective remains clear. “I couldn’t care less whether it’s fourth, third or second. As long as I’m at the O2, that’s what I’m pushing for.”

A key part of Humphries’ approach is his constant search for small improvements to his equipment. “I’m always looking for that extra one or two percent that might make me even better,” he explained.

That might involve experimenting with small details such as flights or points. “You don’t want to change too much though because trying to improve one or two percent could make you worse if you overdo it.”

According to Humphries, the overall level in professional darts continues to rise rapidly, particularly among players just outside the elite. “There are so many players outside the top 16 now who are really good,” he said.

He specifically highlighted the strength of rising talents on the circuit. “Outside the top 16 it’s going to change a lot because there are so many great players.”

That reality makes constant improvement essential. “For me it’s important to keep improving and stay ahead of that.”

Despite his already impressive list of achievements, Humphries believes his current form may still not represent his peak. “My performances this year have actually been really good,” he concluded. “But there’s always that lingering feeling that they could be even better.”