HUMPHRIES ADMITS FRUSTRATION AT OCHE

By Aaron Nijjar 

LUKE HUMPHRIES admitted he is frustrated with his form at the oche after he tumbled out of the European Darts Trophy in the quarter-finals on Sunday. 

Former World champion Humphries was beaten 6-1 by tournament winner Nathan Aspinall who averaged a remarkable 106 in their bout. 

World No. 1 Humphries has struggled for form in March after three consecutive quarter-final exits in the Premier League. 

‘Cool Hand’ failed to win a match at the Belgian Darts Open at the beginning of March, where he was knocked out by eventual runner-up Mike De Decker in the second round. 

Humphries said: “It’s frustrating for myself, I come up here feeling really good but it’s just not happening.

“I’ve only won one big stage title this year [so far], the last few years it’s been going better than that.

“Losing in the first-round last week or two weeks ago was a little bit disappointing.

“I want to prove something for myself.” 

Despite enduring a difficult month, Humphries has shown his class this year on the PDC tour. 

The 30-year-old defeated Boris Krcmar 6-4 in round two at Göttingen where he averaged an impressive 101 and sealed the match with a 134 tops tops finish.  

Seven-time major winner Humphries followed this up with victory over 2023 World champion Michael Smith in the last 16. 

Humphries has secured two nightly wins in the Premier League and currently sits second in the table. 

The Cheshire thrower also won the World Masters and reached the final of the Players Championship Six. 

Humphries returns to action this Thursday against Chris Dobey as the Premier League returns to Newcastle for Night Eight.  

Image by Taylor Lanning.