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'I put my success down to the way I lost weight' - Luke Humphries hails weight loss journey as career transforming

Originally posted on Dartsnews.com | By Kieran Wood | Last updated May 23, 2025 9:26 AM ET

World number one Luke Humphries says shedding 25 kilograms has been pivotal in transforming his darts career. The former world champion believes that losing weight gave him the energy and mental sharpness he needed to take his talent to the very top of the sport.

Back in 2021, ‘Cool Hand’ crashed out of the World Darts Championship in the first round at the hands of veteran Paul Lim. At that point, his career seemed to be at a crossroads. But everything changed when the Cheshire-born star made a firm commitment to improving his health. Fast forward to today, and Humphries has seven major titles to his name — including the 2024 World Championship.

For Humphries, there’s no doubt that his physical transformation was the catalyst for his breakthrough. “I honestly do put my success down to the way I lost weight," he recently revealed. “I was very fatigued when I was overweight. Darts is a non-physical sport but you’re on your feet all the time. When you carry any excess weight, it just tires you out."

“I felt like when I lost the weight, I was much more energetic, exercising more and could cope with the longer days much better," continued Humphries. “It was the missing ingredient in my game – I was always very good but not good enough for long enough.”

The turning point came through a simple but effective routine: 30 minutes a day on a stationary bike and a strict diet not only improved his game but changed his life. “The best way to put it into perspective is that I started losing weight in January 2021 and by the start of March I made my first major final," he explains. “A week later I made another final on the pro tour and another one six weeks later. I was already noticing things that weren’t happening before."

“All of a sudden, I was making finals and performing at a higher level more consistently," Humphries concluded. “It was a slow progression up the ranks, but I noticed the changes really quickly.”

While the journey took time, Humphries quickly noticed the benefits — and he’s never looked back. Most recently, he secured a spot in the Premier League Darts semi-finals, set to take place next Thursday at London’s O2 Arena, where he’ll face Nathan Aspinall.

️ “When I lost the weight, I was much more energetic and could cope with the longer days much better. It was the missing ingredient in my game.”

Luke Humphries has credited losing four stone for transforming his career.

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