Luke Humphries issues worrying message ahead of Players Championship Finals

Ahead of the 2024 Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals, world number one Luke Humphries issues a worrying message to his rivals.

Humphries, who is one of the favourites for the competition, also revealed to Ladbrokes that's once again looking forward to playing darts again now.

• "Obviously, I'd have loved to have been in the Grand Slam right until the very end, but I'm treating that early exit as a blessing in disguise, really, because it's probably been the longest time I've spent at home in the last 15 months."
• "I'm actually looking forward to playing darts again now. The last 15 months or so have been a bit of a blur for me, playing pretty much day-in, day-out. But I didn't pick the darts up for a full week."
• "I'd really love to be able to defend one of those titles I won last year... this would be a great one to win again."
• "You need to be good for three weeks at the Worlds, whereas you only need to be good for a couple of days here. The Worlds offers a different task, but a strong run in Minehead definitely puts you in good stead and give you confidence going into the next few weeks."
  

I'm feeling good, going back to Minehead as reigning champion, having not really been there in the Grand Slam last week, but unfortunately you can't win everything! You have to accept that early exits from major tournaments are sometimes going to happen; I'm not going to take anything else from that week. I'm confident heading into the Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals, and hopefully I can retain that trophy. 

Obviously, I'd have loved to have been in the Grand Slam right until the very end, but I'm treating that early exit as a blessing in disguise, really, because it's probably been the longest time I've spent at home in the last 15 months. I've really enjoyed it, because I've been able to spend some time with my son, who doesn't get to see his dad all that much at the moment, so I've fully embraced my time at home, really enjoyed myself. I'm feeling nice and refreshed, and I'm actually looking forward to playing darts again now. The last 15 months or so have been a bit of a blur for me, playing pretty much day-in, day-out. But I didn't pick the darts up for a full week; I put them down and just wanted to take a bit of a break from it. But now I'm refreshed and ready to go again.

I've got Gabriel Clemens on Friday night, and I know he can be quite hot and cold. You know, sometimes he can be absolutely exceptional, and other times he can blow a bit cold and not be as great. But I will only ever base people on what they're like when they're on their A-game, and ultimately Gabriel has got a great A-game, so I know that I'm going to have to bring mine to make sure that I don't give him a sniff; really I want to get the game done in quick time, but of course, winning is the most important thing. 

My last three appearances in Minehead have led to a semi-final, a win and a final; I've made the final session of the last three events down there, which is a really good feeling for me, and it gives me great confidence to know that this is a certain place where I go and will always perform. I'd really love to be able to defend one of those titles I won last year... this would be a great one to win again.

Whatever happens this weekend, if you're not going to win the trophy, you're going to want to put in a good couple of performances to put you in good spirits heading into the World Championships. But I know myself, if things don't go your way in Minehead, it doesn't mean you won't win the Worlds, and if it does go your way, it doesn't mean you will win it! The World Championship is a completely different calibre of tournament to the rest; you have to have a lot of mental strength and technical ability to win a world title. You need to be good for three weeks at the Worlds, whereas you only need to be good for a couple of days here. The Worlds offers a different task, but a strong run in Minehead definitely puts you in good stead and give you confidence going into the next few weeks.

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