Humphries reveals huge weight loss after food poisoning

LUKE HUMPHRIES has revealed he lost over a STONE due to food poisoning.

The World No3 won his fourth Players Championship of the year beating Niels Zonneveld in the final in Leicester on Wednesday night.

But Cool Hand admitted that a good bug forced him to pull out of the European Championship last month and then struggling with huge weight loss and a lack of practice.

He said: “It was more about coming back and seeing what my energy levels are like because I’ve obviously been very ill for the last two weeks.

“I’ve had food poisoning and I’ve not really moved about a lot for three and a half weeks.

“I’ve lost a stone. Well I did when I went on the scales after eight or nine days. I weighed myself and I’d lost 15 pounds. Jesus, what the hell. I couldn’t eat.

“I’d never miss a major if I could. I think that’s the first one I’ve ever missed.

“I was devastated to miss the European Championship because I was on a good run after winning the Grand Prix.

“I didn’t win the Swiss trophy but I played really good.

“So I thought to myself I feel like I’m a little bit back here and I can maybe go on and do something great this year and that’s a backward step when you have to miss a tournament.

“I didn’t practice for two weeks. I had a few throws the last four days. It re-evaluates that confidence again that makes you think you carried on from where you left off.

“To come here and win it takes you back a little bit. So obviously I know the game’s there to win these things. But the way I’ve been the last few weeks it’s an unexpected win for myself.

“I’ve had a good year. I still want to win another major. If it’s not the Grand Slam or Players Championship, I want it to be the World Championship.

“I think that’s the thing I really search for now. Put my name in the legacy of some of the greats that’s ever been.”

Humphries had a tough route to the final, beating Gerwyn Price 6-2 in the quarters and then Gary Anderson 7-4 in the last four.

Zonneveld beat Dirk van Duijvenbode in the last eight before dumping Michael van Gerwen 7-2 in the semis.

Images by Taylor Lanning.