Darters show pity for Luke Humphries: 'First world champion to receive less media coverage than the number two'

Last Thursday in Leeds, Luke Humphries claimed the weekly title in the 14th round of Premier League Darts. With this victory, ‘Cool Hand Luke’ reinforced his position as the world number one, a status that still faces occasional doubts from others.

On the Darts Draait Door podcast, hosted by Sportnieuws.nl, Vincent van der Voort and Kim Huybrechts discussed the Englishman’s striking situation. Despite his achievements and standing, Humphries feels somewhat undervalued. Former pro darts player Van der Voort offers a critical take, responding to Humphries' concerns about motivation: "I think that’s a bit quick," he says.

Van der Voort understands the source of Humphries' discomfort: “What’s hardest for him is that he’s been world number one for two years, but all the focus has been on Littler. Humphries is still often referred to as second everywhere.” According to Van der Voort, that’s tough for a player at the pinnacle of his sport to digest.

Kim Huybrechts shares Van der Voort's sentiment, observing how Humphries has received remarkably little media attention despite being world champion. "Humphries is the first world champion to receive less media coverage than the number two," he remarks, a sharp point that Van der Voort agrees with. "That’s unfortunate for him. For Humphries, the entire year after his world title was overshadowed by Littler. And right now, what’s the match people are eager to see? Littler versus Van Gerwen. Not Humphries…”

The Belgian also notes a broader trend in the sport. As players maintain their dominance longer, the dynamics shift. "When you're number one for so long and keep winning, the hunger fades. The desire for success becomes weaker once you’ve already achieved it. Van Gerwen has said the same thing several times. He still enjoys winning, but that intense hunger isn’t there anymore. And Humphries is experiencing that for the first time."

However, the challenges Humphries faces go beyond sporting pressure. Huybrechts points out that Humphries is simply less marketable to the general public. "Humphries is a fantastic player, but for the rest... meh. He doesn't make you go, ‘Oh nice!’"

Van der Voort agrees, noting that while this is beyond Humphries' control, it doesn’t make his situation any easier. "It’s frustrating. On paper, he’s the best player in the world, but no one really thinks so—except for him."