'Don’t have to do the hoovering now do I?' - New robotic vacuum cleaner gives Luke Humphries peace of mind in World Matchplay hunt

Saturday, July 19, is the start of the World Matchplay. Luke Humphries, last year's Phil Taylor Trophy winner, looks set to prolong his title. In addition to his sporting achievements, 'Cool Hand Luke' also has it on the line next to the oche. With a brand new house, a new car in the driveway and ... a robotic vacuum cleaner.

He proudly showed off on his Instagram account his new acquisition: an automatic vacuum cleaner. “I don’t have to do the hoovering now do I? I’ve got a big house and it’s a big job doing all the hoovering. I’m glad the robot can sort that out now!," he sounded.

Still, the move was not ideal, as Humphries left for his dream home in the middle of the Premier League campaign. “I didn’t want to wait until after the Premier League had finished to try and get it over the line. I might not have got it. Obviously my family being happy in a place that they love is more important to me than playing darts.

“It was tricky but we got there. I managed to win the Premier League through all the stress of moving house If you’ve done that.”

As mentioned earlier, "Cool Hand Luke" is also doing well on the oche. With wins at the World Masters, US Masters and aforementioned Premier League, among others. Still, he remains ambitious. "Life’s great and I can just chill now. But you still need to practice and work hard. I don’t think I’ve been putting in enough effort over the past six to eight months.

“I’ve been playing so much that when I get home I don’t have that want to practice. I feel like I need to get that back in me a bit more.

“I’ve been a bit more dedicated over the past couple of weeks. I don’t think I’ve been at my best even though I’ve been winning.”

On Saturday, the former world champion can embark on his mission to become the fourth player ever to reclaim his World Matchplay title. Only Phil Taylor, Rod Harrington and Michael van Gerwen preceded him so far.

“It would be special. After so many exclusive clubs over the last few years, with the Triple Crown one, being the first person to win the World Championship, World Cup and the Matchplay in the same year. There’s so many exclusive clubs that I’ve done, I’d love to join another one. And it just shows you how hard it is to do that.

“Those three people doing it and no one else doing it. It’s quite impressive if I could do it and be the fourth. I back myself, and I can do it. But I know it’s going to be a tough one.”

“It’s my favourite out of all of them. It is an iconic venue. It’s been there since the start. The trophy is the same since the start. It’s just a great tournament to play in that the fans are always brilliant, and I just love it and enjoy it, and just everything special about it.

“For me to have obviously won last year was really, really special for myself, but it’d be even more special to do it again, back to back.”