HUMPHRIES UNDER SCRUTINY FOR RECENT DEMEANOUR AT OCHE

LUKE HUMPHRIES’ on-stage demeanour has come under increasing scrutiny.  

World No. 1 Humphries reached the final of the New Zealand Masters last week before losing 8-4 to Luke Littler.  

‘Cool Hand’s’ runner up finish was all the more impressive given he was struck down by illness just a week earlier at the Australian Darts Masters. 

Cheshire thrower Humphries exited the competition in Wollongong on the back of a brutal 6-0 defeat to Mike De Decker. 

Former pro Andy Cornwall questioned Humphries’ body language at the oche in recent weeks. 

He said on the Mission Darts Podcast: “What made Phil Taylor so good? What made Van Gerwen so good when he was at his best? 
 
“Right, go back into the archives. Watch Phil at his best, guess what? 
 
“He still throws bad darts. There is not a player alive that doesn’t throw bad darts even when they’re playing at their best.   

“You tell me if you can tell with Phil that he’s just thrown bad darts. 
 
“No emotion, nothing. No signal to the opponent of weakness. No signal that, oh, I’m even slightly bothered of it, 41, because I’m coming back with a 180.”
 
He added: “I’ve noticed lately Luke Humphries caring too much when he’s not hitting a big score. Like why have I not hit a ton? Why have I not hit a 140? 
 
“Even, even, two darts in the treble oh, I can’t believe I’ve missed the 180. That’s like, that’s weird behavior. 
 
“If I’m stood behind him, I’m thinking, wow, everything’s winding you up here great. 
 
“So that’s my own take on it, you never saw that with Phil or Michael at their best. You only saw it with Michael when he started to not be dominating as much anymore.
 
“But at his best, you never saw it.” 

Eight-times major winner Humphries secured a maiden Premier League crown in May but since then has crashed out of the World Cup and Matchplay at the first hurdle.

Image by Taylor Lanning.