The world is talking about Luke Littler, the 16-year-old darts prodigy who smashed his way to final of the World Darts Championship. But there he was beaten by the impressive new world No 1 and world champion, Luke Humphries.
Humphries was among the favourites coming into the tournament after a stellar year which included three titles – the World Grand Prix, the Players Championship Finals and the Grand Slam of Darts – along with a big rise up the rankings, and his run to this final ensured he jumps to the top after the tournament.
Nicknamed ‘Cool Hand Luke’ – a riff on the 1967 prison-drama film of the same name – Humphries is a calm, understated figure, which has led to accusations from some quarters that he lacks the domineering personality to take over the darts world.
But the Berkshire-born thrower has come through plenty of adversity to get to the top of the game. For a long time, Humphries struggled with anxiety attacks on stage, which is partly why he is only now, aged 28, enjoying a breakout year at the elite level. Such was his torment that he almost quit darts entirely.
Humphries suffered an anxiety attack midway through a tournament in 2019, he could not have thought five years later he would become world champion. He was playing in the German Open when he was suddenly immobilised at 5-2 up against James Wade and went on to lose 6-5. It was his darkest moment and he felt so bad he seriously considered quitting the sport he loves.
But it proved a pivotal moment in his career as in the aftermath he chose to speak out about his battle with his mental health.
“There was a time in my life when I was really depressed, and I didn’t think this would be for me,” he said. “I couldn’t do it on the big stage and went through a lot of problems. To go on to become world champion and world No 1 has proved a lot about my mental ability. I’m not the only sportsman in the world that goes through it. I’m definitely not the only person in this room that goes through it.”
Humphries also used to tire in the latter rounds of tournaments, until he put himself on a strict fitness regime to transform himself into a leaner, more energetic player. He is now one of the few players at the top of the circuit who looks more like a footballer or a tennis player than a darts champion in waiting.
He recently told Sky Sports: “I think that being fitter and healthier helps with longer days and it is no coincidence that I never used to be able to get to those quarter finals, semi-finals because I would run out of energy.
“The European Tour finals, they are the longest possible days you could imagine and I am doing them at a canter now and I could probably go three more games after the final. So losing the weight is a key part of where I am now because I don’t think I would be where I am now as the unfit and unhealthy version of me. It is another piece of the puzzle to make me where I am now.”
All of which makes his ascent to the top of the sport even more impressive. He thrashed Scott Williams 6-0 in their semi-final on Tuesday night and came past Littler with a 7-4 victory in the final. In recent days a picture has circulated on social media showing Littler and Humphries together after a match in a pub in Hayling Island four years ago, when Littler was only 12. How far they’ve both come.
