Luke Humphries had to find a new set of darts recently but it didn’t affect his game (Image: Getty)
proved he is in good shape ahead of the by hitting a barrage of 180s – despite losing a set of Cool Hand begins the defence of his world title on Sunday night against the winner of the first round tie between Thibault Tricole and Joe Comito.
Humphries has enjoyed another fine year, stretching his lead at the top of the world rankings and winning two more majors, the World Matchplay before defending his Players Championship Finals title. Like many players in the build-up to the Alexandra Palace, Humphries, 29, has been honing his game by taking part in exhibitions, including one in Finland.
However, the trip didn’t go according to plan after his first-choice set of arrows were lost in transit. Darts legend Bobby George was at the same event and revealed how having to use new equipment didn’t affect Humphries’ game. He said via “He’s playing really great. I was with him last week.
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“I’ll give you an example; he was in Finland and he lost his darts – his baggage got lost at the airport. So he came back with a brand-new set of darts and he said, ‘I don’t like playing with these’, especially with the World Championship coming up.
“In his exhibition match, he hit eight 180s. I’d said, ‘tell the airport not to worry about the case!’ He’s got the humour. He’s got everything. He doesn’t mind taking glory as such.
“He doesn’t care about that and being in the spotlight. He just thinks of his darts and that’s what he’s got to do.”
In the view of some, namely Gary Anderson and James Wade, Humphries hasn’t had enough credit for winning the world title, with teenage sensation Littler getting more attention.
Bobby George says Luke Humphries is the perfect world champion (Image: Getty)
“I think in the first few months, maybe he didn’t get the respect he should have got as the world champion and the world number one player,” said George, 78, otherwise known as the ‘King of Bling’ for his penchant of walking to the stage bedecked in jewellery during his darting heyday.
“Obviously, the media was all over Luke Littler during the World Championship. But after a few months, it started creeping away. He’s [Humphries] starting to get the respect he deserves.
“He’s not that sort of boy, he wouldn’t worry about a perceived lack of respect. Having that attitude and also having someone like Luke Littler in the spotlight, it eases the pressure. Humphries wouldn’t mind the lack of attention.”