MARDLE: HUMPHRIES IS BEST IN THE WORLD
21/02/2026 By Aaron Nijjar
WAYNE MARDLE believes Luke Humphries is the best player on the planet right now.
‘Cool Hand’ crashed out on Night Three of the Premier League, squandering two match darts in a dramatic 6-5 semi-final defeat to Gian van Veen.
World No.2 Humphries currently leads the field with a tournament-best rolling average of 102.63 yet finds himself down in fifth place in the table.
Former pro Mardle insists Humphries remains the most consistent force in the game.
He said: “I still think Luke Humphries is playing the best darts on the planet right now, the most consistent darts on the planet.
“Yes he has trouble beating Littler, but who doesn’t?
“If Luke Humphries plays to this level for another month he could sew up the playoffs already, he could win three weeks and I believe he is playing so well so often, I don’t see it going wrong or him going off the boil.”
Humphries admits he isn’t getting carried away despite his impressive form.
He added: “I mean, stats would possibly say that, to be honest. It’s not always the No.1 who is playing the best darts in the world.
“But at the moment, consistently with these big 100 averages, maybe I am. But I don’t really think about these types of things.
“I am just up for winning as many games as I can and tournaments as I can, and let the pundits say what they want.
“Of course, it is a great compliment. With the way I am playing, I definitely am close to being one of the best players in the world.”
Humphries has had a great start to the year reaching the final of the World Masters before losing to Luke Littler.
The Cheshire thrower returns to action on Saturday evening, taking on home favourite Krzysztof Ratajski at the Poland Masters.
Image by Taylor Lanning.
