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LUKE HUMPHRIES’ classy comments to a retiring referee after he became world darts champion can be revealed for the first time.
Cool Hand Luke banked £500,000 when he lifted the Sid Waddell Trophy on January 3 following a 7-4 victory over Luke Littler in North London.
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It capped his status as the best thrower on the planet and the Englishman, a dad of two, will attempt to defend that crown this Christmas and New Year.
For Russ Bray, the Ally Pally final was his last appearance as a PDC referee after 28 years on the oche.
There was no special celebration or tribute post-match as Humphries took the acclaim of the 3,300-strong crowd.
Yet Humphries’ class as a bloke shone through as he made a point of wishing Bray well for the future.
Writing his autobiography All About Darts, Essex-born Bray said: “Luke is so talented it was always going to work out for him.
“He got to the UK Open final in 2021, and two years later was winning the Grand Slam, Grand Prix and the Players Championship.
“Then in 2024, he beat Luke Littler in the World Championship final, which was to be my refereeing swan-song.
“After he threw the winning dart, he told me: ‘I wanted to win this one because it’s your last tournament.’ Oh, mate. I was so touched by that.”
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It was not that long ago that Humphries considered quitting darts because of a heart scare and crippling anxiety and panic attacks.
It was a “long, hard road” for the ex-roofer to scale the summit of world darts.
After beating Phil Taylor in an exhibition in December 2017 on the Isle of Wight, Berkshire-born Humphries woke up the next day at 5am and his heart started to give him concerns.
Though his ticker was found to be fine, it was one of several anxiety attacks that he ended up having to contend with.
Episodes that made him think if playing this sport at the highest level, with all its pressures and pitfalls, was really worth it.
Nothing specifically was the trigger, it could sometimes happen when he sat down at home while watching the TV. Or occasionally when he flew abroad.
It was only during the Covid lockdown period, in which he sought professional help, changed his diet and lost FOUR STONE, that he managed to keep his mental health issues under control.
Bray said: “Luke worked hard on his darts and on himself.
“When he was on the development tour, he was a bulky lad. He decided to improve his lifestyle and fitness, and he slimmed right down.
“Now, he’s in terrific shape. He looks like a Premier League footballer. An athlete.
“It’s yet another sign of how much the game has changed.
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“Back in the day, Eric Bristow or Jocky Wilson would go out to get hammered after a match.
“Now, players go back to their hotel rooms with their families.
“They all get on, but the boozing culture that darts used to have is history.
“For me, Luke Humphries is the model of a modern darts player. He looks the part, he’s a fantastic thrower, and he’s smart and articulate in interviews.
“I don’t think that anything can stop him from being right at the top of the tree for years to come.”
All About Darts: The Ultimate Guide to the World’s Greatest Sport by Russ Bray (£16.99) is out now
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