Luke Humphries hasn’t always been a fan favourite but delivered an emotional message last night after lifting the World Matchplay trophy.
Humphries has now won an astonishing six majors in nine months and has become the third person after Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen to win the Matchplay and World Championship in the same season.
The 29-year-old prevailed 18-15 over Van Gerwen as the Dutchman was punished for a host of missed doubles towards the match’s conclusion.
The Winter Gardens crowd serenaded the newly crowned champion and speaking to Darts Now, Humphries revealed how much the support means to him.
Luke Humphries says fan love more important than winning trophies
Humphries has suffered from hostile crowds in the past.
Notably, he was whistled and jeered in a heated match with Ricardo Pietreczko at the World Championship, and in the early nights of the Premier League.
He said: “The love I’ve felt this year since that first Premier League game that I played in Wales, where I felt really down, no one really likes me.
“It kinda hurts you because, not that you want to be liked but I don’t see what I’d done wrong to be honest, and now I feel there’s a bit more love towards me and it just fills my heart with joy to be honest.”
An elated Humphries added: “It feels great, it feels better than winning major titles.
“I just want to give the fans great darts.”
Humphries is a generational talent
There are not enough superlatives to adequately sum up the year ‘Cool Hand’ has had.
Headlines were understandably dominated by Luke Littler, but the world number one has experienced a legendary year.
For perspective, James Wade has competed in the PDC for 20 years and is third in the all-time major list with ten.
Humphries has accumulated six since last October.
He also became only the second person – after ‘The Power’ himself – to lift the Phil Taylor trophy whilst averaging over 100 in every match.
In sport, it’s hard to truly appreciate greatness whilst in the midst of something special.
In many years, however, we will look back at Humphries’ accomplishments in the past 12 months with unparalleled awe.
The most frightening fact of all – the 29-year-old may just be warming up.