Luke Humphries is set to begin his title defense at the World Grand Prix next Monday, and he’s ready for another big challenge. ‘Cool Hand Luke’ will face Stephen Bunting in the opening round—just days after beating him 8-7 in a thrilling final at Players Championship 26.
Humphries, now the world number one, has fond memories of last year’s World Grand Prix, where he won his first major title. “The World Grand Prix will always hold great memories for me,” Humphries said. “Winning that tournament was the turning point in my career, and without it, the past 12 months could have been completely different.”
Since then, the 29-year-old Englishman has been on fire, capturing multiple major titles, including the prestigious World Darts Championship. Reflecting on his journey, Humphries said, “When I won the World Grand Prix, I thought: ‘That’s a great start with my first major, and I’d love to get another title in the next year.’ But to follow it up with back-to-back titles and the World Championship was beyond incredible.”
Humphries has now made eight or nine major finals in the last year alone. “Sometimes I have to pinch myself to believe it,” he admitted. “It’s tough to keep up this level, but I’m just working hard, playing well, and hoping to lift more major trophies.”
Aiming to join Taylor and Van Gerwen
As Humphries aims to retain his World Grand Prix title, he’s aware of the history at stake. Only Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen have successfully defended their World Grand Prix crowns. “I’m not putting too much pressure on myself to win every trophy again—it’s nearly impossible to repeat what I did last year,” Humphries said. “But my goal is to win a couple of major titles each year, and if I do that, I’ll stay in the top four for a long time.”
Being compared to legends like Taylor and Van Gerwen is an honor for Humphries. “I grew up watching Phil Taylor win everything, and when I started playing seriously, it was the Van Gerwen era. To be mentioned alongside them now feels amazing,” he added. “Having a year of dominance like they had is something special, and I’ll always cherish it.”
Humphries enters the World Grand Prix with confidence, ready to defend his title and continue his remarkable run at the top of the darts world. Will he add another chapter to his story next week? Time will tell!
