"You shouldn't backtrack on your statement the very next day” – Vincent van der Voort laments 'cowardly' Humphries after Copenhagen crowd troubles

The final day of the Nordic Darts Masters in Copenhagen not only delivered fireworks on stage, but also sparked plenty of debate away from the matches. Both Michael van Gerwen and Luke Humphries were involved in incidents with the crowd, while the atmosphere in the arena was a talking point throughout the weekend. Former pro Vincent van der Voort watched the events with disbelief and was particularly critical of the way Humphries rowed back on his earlier comments afterward.

Humphries had to concede defeat to Van Gerwen in the final, with the Dutchman adding a fine title to his resume. The Englishman looked visibly frustrated afterward. In the post-match interview he showed little joy and hinted that he had been annoyed by the fans’ behaviour all weekend.

According to Van der Voort, that reaction was understandable. “"He was quite irritated; he was completely fed up with the crowd,” said the former professional on the Darts Draait Door podcast. “Even afterwards in his interview. You could see it on his face: he wasn't in the mood for anything.”

According to several players, the crowd in Copenhagen showed an uglier side. Various darters were booed during their matches and had to deal with disruptive reactions from the stands. Humphries was not the only one annoyed by it, but he was one of the few to speak openly about it.

That’s precisely why Van der Voort regretted that the world number two shared a conciliatory message on social media a day later, in which he thanked the fans for their support during the event after all. “Afterwards, he came out with such a cowardly statement on his social media in which he thanked the fans after all,” said Van der Voort. “That is all being handled by his management.”

The Dutchman believes players should be free to speak honestly when the crowd misbehaves. "I actually think it's good that he says it for once. That they come to Copenhagen to entertain the crowd and then get booed every time. Then you shouldn't backtrack on your statement the very next day."

Michael van Gerwen also produced striking scenes during the tournament. In his quarterfinal, the three-time world champion was visibly irritated by a fan dressed as Elvis Presley standing right next to the stage. The supporter repeatedly drew attention with his eye-catching white outfit and movements along the side of the playing area.

Van Gerwen eventually decided to intervene and asked the organisers to remove the man from that position. The incident immediately sparked debate on social media, with some arguing that the Dutchman overreacted.

According to Van der Voort, the reality is more nuanced. "He was completely fed up with it," he said of a phone call he had with Van Gerwen afterward. "But he was also realistic. If you are throwing well, you hardly notice it. If things aren't going well and you see that Elvis walking back and forth all the time in his flashy white suit, then you start to get annoyed."

The former pro therefore understands why Van Gerwen raised the issue. “It makes sense that he would say something about it then.”

The events in Copenhagen have reignited the debate about the role of the crowd at major darts tournaments. The sport is known for its festive atmosphere, exuberant costumes, and noisy fans. At the same time, criticism is growing that some supporters are pushing boundaries by deliberately distracting players or booing them throughout.

For Van der Voort the conclusion is clear. Atmosphere belongs in darts, but respect for the players should always come first. “Supporters can have fun and make noise—that’s part of darts. But if it mainly becomes about hindering players, you’ve gone too far. In the end, those lads are there to play a match and give the crowd a great night.”

Given the attention the incidents have received, the debate about crowd behaviour seems unlikely to fade anytime soon. One thing is certain: Van Gerwen’s play earned him the title, but the conversations afterward were at least as much about what happened off the oche.