World Champion Luke Humphries has admitted he almost gave up darts after suffering from anxiety on stage.
Humphries shot to fame in the 2019 World Championship where he completed a comeback win against defending champion Rob Cross in the third round.
The then 24-year-old was thrust into the limelight after the breakout win and the accompanying media attention took its toll.
Though ‘Cool Hand’ has bounced back to capture a plethora of major trophies, he revealed he nearly gave the sport up after his mental health struggles.
Luke Humphries opens up about anxiety battles in darts
The world number one is the centre of attention in the sport given his recent heroics.
Five years ago, however, he was unfamiliar with the spotlight, and he told Chris Murphy of the Modus Super Series how his newfound fame affected him after his victory over Cross.
He said: “That’s when I feel the anxiety creeped in and I let it all get to my head.
“It started to throw me into this panic spiral and that’s when it all started for me.
“The panic of me wanting to win so desperately just come over me, my heart was pounding, and I just couldn’t wait to get off the stage.”
He added: “That’s when I sat there and thought, ‘Can I be a professional dart player?’ I contemplated giving the game up.”
Humphries the perfect role model for young players to look up to
Humphries has often been hailed as a great ambassador for darts and it’s hard to argue the contrary.
He speaks with eloquence and oozes class on and off the oche.
The sport has seen many promising youngsters touted as the ‘next big thing’ who have fallen away for various reasons.
The 29-year-old battled through adversity though to establish himself as one of the greats of his generation.
On top of mental health struggles, Humphries also dedicated himself to a weight loss journey which transformed him.
The results changed him as a player and unlocked the potential it was clear he possessed from a young age.
Teenager Luke Littler has received advice from the World Champion and if more youngsters take inspiration from Humphries, the sport’s future will look bright.