Darts world champion Luke Humphries reveals what his girlfriend did to help him turn his form around

9 months ago 52

LUKE HUMPHRIES has credited his girlfriend for turning round his form this year – by letting him sleep in.

Cool Hand Luke won the PDC world darts title for the first time on January 3 by beating Luke Littler in the final – and banked £500,000.

Luke Humphries has returned to form of late[/caption]

But after that, by his own admission, he had a stinker in the opening rounds of the Players Championship, despite the expectation that comes with being the new world No.1.

Early exits in the Bahrain Darts Masters and Dutch Darts Masters in January, as he dealt with the death of his beloved gran, saw some label him the worst world champion ever.

But he says his Crewe-based partner Kayley makes a massive difference at home as she looks after their two children, Rowan and Grace.

Certainly his form has picked up in recent weeks as he reached the UK Open final and then won a first Premier League night in Brighton.

Humphries, 29, said: “Credit to my girlfriend. She could easily have me up at 6am, looking after my son who wakes up at that time. But she allows me to sleep in.

“She understands the importance of rest. If she wanted me to get up at those times, I’d do it.

“But she’s the most supportive woman in the world towards me. I give a lot of credit to her.

“She allows me to come home from darts and have that rest time I need. Whereas a normal dad may get up at 6am for the kids.

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“I got home from the UK Open in Minehead at 4am. My week would have been ruined.

“All the credit to her for allowing me to have that relaxed time. She works incredibly hard at home, I work incredibly hard at darts.

“Your home life is really, really tough, especially when you’re away a lot. But I love spending time with my family.

“She allows me to sleep in. I know it sounds crazy but that extra rest I really do need is what I get from my girlfriend.

“Mentally I’m in the best place possible since the worlds. I feel like I have achieved everything I ever wanted. But you have to work harder and harder.

“You go to your family and you realise that there’s more to life than darts.

“I will make sure I take the breaks that I need throughout the year.”

I’m at that stage where I’m not going to allow anybody to drag me down

Luke Humphries

Humphries is going to take a back-step from social media and try not to respond to anyone who gives him negative feedback.

The Newbury-born star said: “I comment back to people sometimes on social media, which I shouldn’t do. I am not going to do it anymore.

“I feel like my game is in a good place, my mental state is in a good place.

“I’m at that stage where I’m not going to allow anybody to drag me down.

“This is a future for me if I want it for many, many years.

“I don’t tend to go on social media as much anymore. Unfortunately it’s not full of love, it’s full of hate sometimes.

“I don’t want to think too much about the negativity, it’s all about the positivity for me.”