August 12, 2024 • 7 mins
It's been a whirlwind year for World Number 1 Darts player Luke Humphries, starting off with winning the World Champs.
He's in New Zealand for the Hamilton Darts Master
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Sport, the latest from the land and just great rock.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
It's the Country Sport Breakfast with Brian Kelly on gold Sport,
your home of live commentary.
Speaker 3 (00:15):
Oh yes, well, well that little ballad from Chas and Dave.
Here on the gold Sport Breakfast we catch up and
talk darts. The New Zealand Darts Masters returning to Hamilton's
Globe Box Arena this coming weekend sixteenth seventeenth, Friday and
(00:36):
Saturday nights and joining us on the show this morning
is the world number one, the world match play Champion,
Luke Humphreys out of the UK morning, Luke, Yeah, very well.
More importantly though, how you doing.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
I'm doing all right to me. I've only got a
yesterday in Australia, so I'm still a little bit jet lagged,
to be honest. It's trying to find my sleeping partner,
but I feel all right at the moment.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
This will be your first visit to playing down Under
in New Zealand, in particular in Hamilton.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
Yes, it will be my first time. I was supposed
to be a last year but unfortunately couldn't make it
this year. Obviously a lot's changed. World number one, world champion,
so you know, what better way to introduce myself done
this year?
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Absolutely, and of course we recall that wonderful match between
you and the teenage sensation Luke Littler. That was a
real classic, wasn't it.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
Yeah it was. It was a fantastic final. You know,
it's two players at the top of their game. We
put on a great skeptical for the fans, and you know,
Luca's obviously achieved so much already at such a young age,
and you know, we had nothing to lose in that
final and everything to gain, and the pressure was on
me a little bit. I'd say we put on a
great final. We both played really well and it'd be
(01:47):
a game that'd be remembered for a long time because
you know, the youngest two players ever a combined agent
in a world final. So I think we did ourselves
justice and did really well. But of course over the
moon that I wanted and achieved my dream of being
world champion. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
Absolutely, that must have done a wonderful thing for d
not just in the UK, but also around the world,
having two young champions going HD to hear it.
Speaker 1 (02:10):
Yeah, I think it was great. It was a great
advocate for the sport. You know, darts over the last
sort of fifteen twenty years has much been an older
person sport. Most of the people you'd see in finals
would have been forty to fifty year old men, whereas
now you're seeing a younger generation coming through. Not just me,
not just Luke, there's many other young players coming through
and it's starting to become that young player sport, which
(02:32):
is obviously fantastic. It looks great and you know, we're
all fresh, full of energy, and it's harder for the
older players now to keep up with us because we've
paid so much good We just love it. So yeah,
it was great for the sport, to be honest, and
obviously great for Luke as well, being so young and
achieving making a world fun on such an early part
of his career. But like I said, I was happy
that I won it and finally got my dream.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Was that life changing for you winning that championship?
Speaker 3 (02:56):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (02:57):
Massively life changing for me. It really did change my life.
You know, I can't really go anywhere anymore without being
recognized in the UK, to be honest, you know, you
get loads of people stop you and congratulating you of
being world champion and stuff like this. And then ever
since that World final, I've achieved more as well, being
the Matchmay champion and stuff like that. So yeah, it
changed my life massively, and you know, being world champion
(03:18):
stays with you forever, and that's something that is obviously
amazing to have other on my accolades for the rest
of my life.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Now, So how did Luke Humphreys become We're getting to
Dad's How did it all start for you?
Speaker 1 (03:28):
Luke? My mom and dad used to have a spare
room and there used to be a dubtwood in them.
My mom and dad used to play, and they obviously
stopped when I was born and then went back into
playing dubts when I was about eleven, and obviously I
see what they were doing. I'm thinking, well, I want
to give this a go. You know, you do what
your mom and dad you following their footsteps, so I
had to go. At thirteen, I won my first league
(03:48):
singles tournament in the pubs and the clubs, and obviously
I was the youngest of a person to do it,
and it'll stem from there. To be honest, it was
definitely because my mum and dad they played and I
just copied what they did. But lucky enough for me,
I was better than me did.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
And so you know, that's all you've ever play, really
is a youngster dads, that's it.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
I mean, in my younger years they used to play football.
I was a really good goalkeeper. So you know, there
was the opportunity that could have gone well for me
one day. Who knows, but I think rightly I went
into the right sport and you know, to make it
at the top. And this one is a privilege for
me and also my family because they're followed DUTs all
their lives, so to see their son as the number
one the world chap and it's probably a really uplifting
(04:27):
feeling for them as well as it is for me.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
What's life now like as a professional darts player touring
the world playing dats.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
I mean, one thing I could say is very busy
really obviously, you know I'm here, there, everywhere, and I've
got a young family, so it's hard being away from
them a lot. But this is a real dream destination
of mine and my dad's. You know, my dad's with
me this weekend. I've always wanted to come to Australia,
always wanted to come to New Zealand. As well, you know,
two fantastic countries, so to be in and not be
(04:55):
a holiday, to be a darting adventure, it's just extra special,
to be honest, And I'm really excited to play darts
as well in front of the fans this weekend and
next weekend as well.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
And playing in some of the world's greatest venues like
we you know, we see all the action coming out
of Ely Pelly, Alexandra Pelace, Medicine, Square Garden and so on.
Have you got a favorite venue you love playing it?
Speaker 1 (05:17):
Yeah, I think for me is the Winter Gardens in
Blackpool the World Max play. It's an incredible venue. The
crowds were always absolutely fantastic, and you know, they just
they just they're real proper dart fans, and I think
us as players really love that. Obviously, the World Championships
is great as well, and the O two obviously a
massive venue is great. But you know, I've heard some
great stories about how great the crowds are an Australia
(05:39):
New Zoom as well, so you know, they could be
another favorite added to my list this week, this weekend
or next weekend as well.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Do the crowds lift you when you're actually up there throwing.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
Yeah, they do. They give you a buzz to they
give you They give you an uplifting feeling. You know,
when you feel that crowd and they're buzzing and they're
joining it, you know, it really gives you an uplifting
feeling and it really does help you in moment, especially
when they're supporting you and cheering you on. It really
does give you that lift sometimes that you need if
you're not playing. Is great. So yeah, I do get
a massive buzz from that, that that great crowd feeling.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
Most of the players have got nicknames. Have you got one?
What's yours?
Speaker 1 (06:14):
Yeah, mine's quite similar to my name, So mine's called
an Luke. Obviously the film with Corl Newman. I don't
know if you've ever seen it, but it sort of
rings true obviously with the cooland you've got to be
cool under pressure, and obviously it's a hands thrown sport,
so mixing with me names, so yeah, which I think
works really well.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
And what about your walk on music? What have you chosen?
Speaker 1 (06:35):
Probably probably not the most advocate best walk on song
at the moment, but it's kind of the chief side
predicted riot. Probably not great from what's going on the
UK at the Yeah, that's mine. It's more of an
interwiting thing with my football team Lead United. The couse
of you are from the from Leeds as well, so
it adds a little bit of a special connection to
me and it's a great song to us. It's good
(06:56):
good for the crowd as well well.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
Cool Hen and Luke. We look forward to seeing you
playing at Globox Arena in Hamilton. Thank you for your time,
Thanks for joining us mate on the show.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
Thank you as a pleasure. Thank you for having me, Luke.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Humphreys joining us here. Yeah, number one in the world.
And I tell you what the World Series of Darts
representatives that are going to be here headed by Luke
Humphries out of England, Michael Smith, Gerwin Price from Wales,
Rob Cross out of England, Peter Wright, Luke Littler, the
new Star, the Teenage Sensation. It's going to be absolutely
(07:27):
brilliant as well, Dmitri Vanderburgh and Damon Hetter out of Australia.
And then we've got the Key We representatives headed by
Hupai Pooha, Simon Whitlock. Just the name of
Sport, the latest from the land and just great rock.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
It's the Country Sport Breakfast with Brian Kelly on gold Sport,
your home of live commentary.
Speaker 3 (00:15):
Oh yes, well, well that little ballad from Chas and Dave.
Here on the gold Sport Breakfast we catch up and
talk darts. The New Zealand Darts Masters returning to Hamilton's
Globe Box Arena this coming weekend sixteenth seventeenth, Friday and
(00:36):
Saturday nights and joining us on the show this morning
is the world number one, the world match play Champion,
Luke Humphreys out of the UK morning, Luke, Yeah, very well.
More importantly though, how you doing.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
I'm doing all right to me. I've only got a
yesterday in Australia, so I'm still a little bit jet lagged,
to be honest. It's trying to find my sleeping partner,
but I feel all right at the moment.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
This will be your first visit to playing down Under
in New Zealand, in particular in Hamilton.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
Yes, it will be my first time. I was supposed
to be a last year but unfortunately couldn't make it
this year. Obviously a lot's changed. World number one, world champion,
so you know, what better way to introduce myself done
this year?
Speaker 2 (01:16):
Absolutely, and of course we recall that wonderful match between
you and the teenage sensation Luke Littler. That was a
real classic, wasn't it.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
Yeah it was. It was a fantastic final. You know,
it's two players at the top of their game. We
put on a great skeptical for the fans, and you know,
Luca's obviously achieved so much already at such a young age,
and you know, we had nothing to lose in that
final and everything to gain, and the pressure was on
me a little bit. I'd say we put on a
great final. We both played really well and it'd be
(01:47):
a game that'd be remembered for a long time because
you know, the youngest two players ever a combined agent
in a world final. So I think we did ourselves
justice and did really well. But of course over the
moon that I wanted and achieved my dream of being
world champion. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
Absolutely, that must have done a wonderful thing for d
not just in the UK, but also around the world,
having two young champions going HD to hear it.
Speaker 1 (02:10):
Yeah, I think it was great. It was a great
advocate for the sport. You know, darts over the last
sort of fifteen twenty years has much been an older
person sport. Most of the people you'd see in finals
would have been forty to fifty year old men, whereas
now you're seeing a younger generation coming through. Not just me,
not just Luke, there's many other young players coming through
and it's starting to become that young player sport, which
(02:32):
is obviously fantastic. It looks great and you know, we're
all fresh, full of energy, and it's harder for the
older players now to keep up with us because we've
paid so much good We just love it. So yeah,
it was great for the sport, to be honest, and
obviously great for Luke as well, being so young and
achieving making a world fun on such an early part
of his career. But like I said, I was happy
that I won it and finally got my dream.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Was that life changing for you winning that championship?
Speaker 3 (02:56):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (02:57):
Massively life changing for me. It really did change my life.
You know, I can't really go anywhere anymore without being
recognized in the UK, to be honest, you know, you
get loads of people stop you and congratulating you of
being world champion and stuff like this. And then ever
since that World final, I've achieved more as well, being
the Matchmay champion and stuff like that. So yeah, it
changed my life massively, and you know, being world champion
(03:18):
stays with you forever, and that's something that is obviously
amazing to have other on my accolades for the rest
of my life.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
Now, So how did Luke Humphreys become We're getting to
Dad's How did it all start for you?
Speaker 1 (03:28):
Luke? My mom and dad used to have a spare
room and there used to be a dubtwood in them.
My mom and dad used to play, and they obviously
stopped when I was born and then went back into
playing dubts when I was about eleven, and obviously I
see what they were doing. I'm thinking, well, I want
to give this a go. You know, you do what
your mom and dad you following their footsteps, so I
had to go. At thirteen, I won my first league
(03:48):
singles tournament in the pubs and the clubs, and obviously
I was the youngest of a person to do it,
and it'll stem from there. To be honest, it was
definitely because my mum and dad they played and I
just copied what they did. But lucky enough for me,
I was better than me did.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
And so you know, that's all you've ever play, really
is a youngster dads, that's it.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
I mean, in my younger years they used to play football.
I was a really good goalkeeper. So you know, there
was the opportunity that could have gone well for me
one day. Who knows, but I think rightly I went
into the right sport and you know, to make it
at the top. And this one is a privilege for
me and also my family because they're followed DUTs all
their lives, so to see their son as the number
one the world chap and it's probably a really uplifting
(04:27):
feeling for them as well as it is for me.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
What's life now like as a professional darts player touring
the world playing dats.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
I mean, one thing I could say is very busy
really obviously, you know I'm here, there, everywhere, and I've
got a young family, so it's hard being away from
them a lot. But this is a real dream destination
of mine and my dad's. You know, my dad's with
me this weekend. I've always wanted to come to Australia,
always wanted to come to New Zealand. As well, you know,
two fantastic countries, so to be in and not be
(04:55):
a holiday, to be a darting adventure, it's just extra special,
to be honest, And I'm really excited to play darts
as well in front of the fans this weekend and
next weekend as well.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
And playing in some of the world's greatest venues like
we you know, we see all the action coming out
of Ely Pelly, Alexandra Pelace, Medicine, Square Garden and so on.
Have you got a favorite venue you love playing it?
Speaker 1 (05:17):
Yeah, I think for me is the Winter Gardens in
Blackpool the World Max play. It's an incredible venue. The
crowds were always absolutely fantastic, and you know, they just
they just they're real proper dart fans, and I think
us as players really love that. Obviously, the World Championships
is great as well, and the O two obviously a
massive venue is great. But you know, I've heard some
great stories about how great the crowds are an Australia
(05:39):
New Zoom as well, so you know, they could be
another favorite added to my list this week, this weekend
or next weekend as well.
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Do the crowds lift you when you're actually up there throwing.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
Yeah, they do. They give you a buzz to they
give you They give you an uplifting feeling. You know,
when you feel that crowd and they're buzzing and they're
joining it, you know, it really gives you an uplifting
feeling and it really does help you in moment, especially
when they're supporting you and cheering you on. It really
does give you that lift sometimes that you need if
you're not playing. Is great. So yeah, I do get
a massive buzz from that, that that great crowd feeling.
Speaker 2 (06:10):
Most of the players have got nicknames. Have you got one?
What's yours?
Speaker 1 (06:14):
Yeah, mine's quite similar to my name, So mine's called
an Luke. Obviously the film with Corl Newman. I don't
know if you've ever seen it, but it sort of
rings true obviously with the cooland you've got to be
cool under pressure, and obviously it's a hands thrown sport,
so mixing with me names, so yeah, which I think
works really well.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
And what about your walk on music? What have you chosen?
Speaker 1 (06:35):
Probably probably not the most advocate best walk on song
at the moment, but it's kind of the chief side
predicted riot. Probably not great from what's going on the
UK at the Yeah, that's mine. It's more of an
interwiting thing with my football team Lead United. The couse
of you are from the from Leeds as well, so
it adds a little bit of a special connection to
me and it's a great song to us. It's good
(06:56):
good for the crowd as well well.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
Cool Hen and Luke. We look forward to seeing you
playing at Globox Arena in Hamilton. Thank you for your time,
Thanks for joining us mate on the show.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
Thank you as a pleasure. Thank you for having me, Luke.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
Humphreys joining us here. Yeah, number one in the world.
And I tell you what the World Series of Darts
representatives that are going to be here headed by Luke
Humphries out of England, Michael Smith, Gerwin Price from Wales,
Rob Cross out of England, Peter Wright, Luke Littler, the
new Star, the Teenage Sensation. It's going to be absolutely
(07:27):
brilliant as well, Dmitri Vanderburgh and Damon Hetter out of Australia.
And then we've got the Key We representatives headed by
Hupai Pooha, Simon Whitlock. Just the name of
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