‘If I walked away from this sport tomorrow I’d be very happy with what I’ve achieved’ – Darts ace opens up on pressure

LUKE HUMPHRIES wants that “special feeling” of being a multiple world darts champion by the time he hangs up his arrows.

Yet Cool Hand Luke admits he was not prepared with how to deal with the exposure and fame that comes with lifting the Sid Waddell Trophy for the first time.

Rex

Luke Humphries is aiming to defend his Ally Pally crown[/caption]

PA

Humphries defeated Luke Littler to win last year’s title[/caption]

Just six men have won the crown more than once and only Phil Taylor, Adrian Lewis and Gary Anderson have ever retained the title.

Reigning world champion Humphries is determined to join that small but illustrious list, hopefully on the third day of the new year.

The No 1 seed said: “If I walked away from this sport tomorrow I’d be very happy with what I’ve achieved.

“Because every young player wants to be world champion — and not everybody can. I’ve achieved that.

“So, if I never went on to be world champion again, I’d still be very, very proud if I retired in 20 years because that always stays with you. It’s a lifetime achievement

“Of course, I want to win more. There’s a special feeling when you’re not just a one-time world champion, you’re a two or three-time champ.

“I really want to achieve more. But you have to accept that it might not work that way.

“You’d love to do it twice because there have been a lot of one-time world champions over the years. But it’s a rare occasion to be a double world champion.”

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Humphries’ quest to defend the world crown continues on Friday against unseeded Welshman Nick Kenny in round three.

He continued: “We’re in the business end of the tournament and it’s important that you look after yourself and not indulge too much over Christmas.

“I had a nice Christmas dinner. But I’ll make sure that, when I come back, I’m in a physically and mentally good place.

“And put myself in a great position to go on and try to be back-to-back world champion.”

Dad-of-two Humphries — who turns 30 in February — has bought a new house with his huge winnings and treated himself to a £100,000-plus BMW i7 car.

I really want to achieve more. But you have to accept that it might not work that way.

Luke Humphries

This year he has been away from home more than 200 days in his capacity as the figurehead for the sport.

One event included a trip last January to No 10 Downing Street to throw darts with former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

The Berkshire-born, Cheshire-based player has been an excellent ambassador for the sport and that has been reflected in his dealings with the public.

The world No 1 said: “It’s always harder the second time around — I went into the unknown last year. Didn’t know what to expect.

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“I’ve enjoyed the niceties you get with being world champion. People congratulate you and shake your hand. Say congratulations. Or amazing achievements.

“It’s changed my life for the good and it will stay with me forever. Something I can hold onto and be very proud about.

“It’s nice when you’re out shopping and strangers say, ‘The way you carry yourself is amazing’. They are happy for you that you’ve achieved something. It’s nice to get that attention.

“There’s no prep. You don’t get taught how to deal with it. You’ve just got to learn on the job.

“You get thrown into this environment that you’re not used to.

“Your life can change very quickly and over the last 15 months, my life has changed incredibly. I’ve achieved so much in a short period of time.

“When you sleep in a different hotel every week, you never get as good a night’s sleep as at home.

“But what do you want to do? Be a world champion or complain about the travelling?”