Luke Humphries aims to be peerless in Blackpool again
Humphries sealed a maiden title in Blackpool last year and is aiming to join Rod Harrington, Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen in winning it in successive years.
He is used to joining select clubs after a stellar 18 months at the oche and wants another membership.
'It'd be special. After so many exclusive clubs over the last few years, with the Triple Crown one especially, being the first person to win the World Championship, World Cup and the Matchplay in the same year,' he said.
'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.'
Humphries begins against Dutchman Gian van Veen on Saturday and comes into the tournament feeling like he has another level to find.
Having won nine major titles, including the World Championship, since October 2023, that could leave the rest of the field feeling nervous.
'I'm still feel confident that I can go to the Matchplay this week and get back to the clinical best that I'm at,' he said.
'And if I do get better, of course, I'm going to be even harder to stop, but I'm happy with where my game's at.
'I know I can get a little bit better, but it's important that you don't think you can get too good, because anybody can beat you.'It's important that you believe in yourself. I think for me I'm quite resilient, if things aren't going my way, I can manage to turn it around and also keep up a high level for a long, long period of time.
'I think that's a really important thing. To win Matchplays, Grand Slams and World Championships, you've got to be good for a long period of time.
'You can't be good for five minutes and then drop off. You've got to be on it for a long period of time. I think that's something in my game I do have.'
His main rival will be Luke Littler, who begins his quest to win the title for the first time on Sunday, against Ryan Searle.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
6 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Nicolas Jackson's transfer to Man United gains new momentum
Manchester United have been offered the chance to sign a striker from their direct rivals. Striker search ongoing After the signings of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, United aim to complete their attacking revolution with a number nine. The Red Devils have missed out on top targets Liam Delap and Viktor Gyokeres and are now currently assessing other options. Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins and Red Bull Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko are seen as potential options on the list. Another player who is allegedly on the club's radar is Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson. Jackson keen on a move It has already been reported that the Senegal international has rejected SSC Napoli and AC Milan this summer as he prefers to stay in the Premier League. Nonetheless, United do face massive complications for a deal as it has been reported that Chelsea have placed the eye-watering valuation of £80m and £100m on the player, a price United cannot and will not pay this summer. Way around price Despite the huge valuation, Fabrizio Romano reports that there could be the opportunity for Ruben Amorim's side to strike a deal for the striker. It is reported that, 'sources reveal that in recent days, Manchester United have been approached with the opportunity to proceed and start talks for Nicolas Jackson.' The Italian journalist adds that, 'according to sources close to the negotiations, Chelsea still maintain an interest in Alejandro Garnacho as an option in case Manchester United want to open a proper negotiation for Nicolas Jackson.' Consequently, 'United are aware of Chelsea's potential interest in Garnacho and they are open to discussing conditions of a swap deal involving Nicolas Jackson.' At this moment in time, the Red Devils are still weighing up their options and have not started the process of any sort of official bid. It has also been highlighted that Jackson would be open to a move to United, even without Champions League football, which could certainly speed up any potential deal. Featured image Stuart Franklin via Getty Images Follow us on Bluesky: @
Yahoo
6 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Liverpool in ‘direct talks' to sign Real Madrid star
Rodrygo to Liverpool? Real Madrid Star Linked with Anfield Switch Direct discussions show Liverpool's intent In the blur of transfer season speculation, there are moments when rumour starts to flirt with reality. This feels like one of them. According to Foot Mercato's Santi Aouna, Liverpool have entered 'direct talks' with the representatives of Real Madrid forward Rodrygo, in a move that could signal the most audacious signing of Arne Slot's tenure. 'Liverpool advance for Rodrygo,' Aouna reports, adding: 'There are direct talks with the LFC and Rodrygo's camp… Discussions between the English club and the Brazilian's entourage have begun.' Notably, there is still 'no talk between the clubs', but 'the interest is growing.' That detail matters — it implies groundwork being laid, a deliberate courting of a player long admired. And with Luis Díaz reportedly edging closer to Bayern Munich, Liverpool may soon have both the funds and the squad space to act decisively. Rodrygo: A proven winner in limbo Rodrygo's career to date reads like a precocious prodigy living up to the billing. Since his arrival in 2019, he's made 270 appearances, winning three La Liga titles and two Champions League medals. His Champions League performances alone have hinted at the kind of player who thrives under pressure, delivering when it matters most. And yet, as L'Équipe and others have noted, the 24-year-old is no longer a guaranteed starter. Under Xabi Alonso, Rodrygo has found himself increasingly peripheral. He didn't start a single match during Madrid's Club World Cup campaign this summer — a telling signal in a club where the line between valued and expendable is razor-thin. For Liverpool, that presents opportunity. Photo: IMAGO Liverpool's ambition, Madrid's dilemma If Bayern Munich meet the reported €75 million valuation for Díaz, it would hand Liverpool the financial leverage required to test Madrid's resolve. As Fabrizio Romano notes, any Rodrygo deal would begin at €100m (£86m) — a steep figure, but arguably reflective of both his pedigree and potential. Rodrygo is not simply a winger — he is a multi-functional attacker, equally comfortable in wide roles or central spaces. His arrival could future-proof Liverpool's front line, offering depth, versatility and Champions League experience in one. For Madrid, the decision will hinge on how much they value Rodrygo's long-term role. With Endrick, Vinicius Jr., and others jostling for wide attacking spots, the Brazilian may feel it is time to find a new stage. Timing could be everything While there is no formal negotiation between the clubs yet, the trajectory of this story feels familiar. Player contact. Growing interest. A possible outgoing sale. It's a transfer with all the elements of modern football drama — high-value figures, elite institutions, and strategic timing. And should Liverpool pull it off, it may prove more than just a statement of ambition. It may be the moment their new era properly begins. Our View – Anfield Index Analysis If this is truly on the table, Liverpool fans should be buzzing. Rodrygo isn't just a flashy name — he's a top-tier European forward, and more importantly, one with a winning pedigree. He knows how to deliver on the biggest nights. That's not something you can easily teach. Yes, €100 million is steep. But with Díaz possibly heading out, that outlay becomes far more manageable — and frankly, Rodrygo looks like an upgrade in terms of consistency and tactical flexibility. Under Arne Slot, Liverpool will likely place more emphasis on possession and fluid movement, and Rodrygo fits that model better than Díaz ever did. Of course, Madrid won't let him go easily. But if there's even a sliver of willingness to talk, Liverpool must push. Rodrygo could be the cornerstone of a new Anfield front three. He's got the talent. He's got the pedigree. Now let's hope we've got the pull.
New York Times
8 minutes ago
- New York Times
More decisive substitutions and another second half surge help England reach another final
By the end, even the most ardent England supporter had to have some sympathy with Italy. 'We were one minute away from the final,' said manager Andrea Soncin after the game. 'Our players deserved a different end. Unfortunately, sometimes you don't get what you deserve.' But this is becoming England's template — denying opponents what they feel they deserved. Sweden were the better side in the quarter-final in Zurich last week. Both Colombia and Nigeria could have beaten England at the World Cup two years ago. Even at Euro 2022, Spain led the quarter-final 1-0 before collapsing and losing 2-1, and Sweden started the semi-final the stronger before somehow losing 4-0. So often, Sarina Wiegman's England could have been eliminated before the final. Somehow, they never are. Advertisement Defeat to Italy here in Geneva would have been, in all honesty, a spectacular failure. The pressure always ramps up as you progress through a tournament, of course, but elimination to this Italy side would arguably have been a bigger embarrassment than going out in an extremely tough group, or losing to an impressive Sweden side in the quarter-final. Italy are inexperienced on this stage. They would arguably not get a single player into England's starting XI. To be frank, they didn't play particularly well in this game, scoring against the run of play with a well-taken Barbara Bonansea goal — until then, her first touch had been sorely lacking — and defending their own box well, but otherwise hardly looking like they belonged in a European Championship final. But when you lead the majority of a game, you inevitably feel like you should have won. The question is quite why England made such heavy weather of what should have been a relatively simple task. England repeatedly start matches slowly, in a very literal sense; unable to set the tempo of the game with quick passing. They demonstrated, even at the start of the second half, that they're capable of playing at a higher speed, and their ability to force late spells of pressure is unmatched. But England are tentative and timid in the first half of matches. They got away with it at the World Cup two years ago, before finding that Spain were too good to allow England their second half dominance. The same fate might await them in the final, if Spain defeat Germany in Zurich tonight. 'The first half we didn't play well — we didn't have the energy in the game,' said Wiegman. 'We did have the ball more and we were playing a little more in their half but we didn't create. And the second half we did better, but of course they defended really well too. So when we were in the final third there wasn't much space… they were really aggressive and winning lots of duels. Advertisement The good news, of course, is that England are a different side in the second half of matches. That's partly because, in the era of five substitutes, they literally are a different side — up to 50% different. It's often said that Sarina Wiegman only makes changes around the hour mark, but here she went both earlier and later. Beth Mead was summoned in place of Lauren James at half-time, and offered more width and drive — James had been guilty of taking too many touches, and slowing England down. Chloe Kelly, who changed the game against Sweden, was only summoned after 77 minutes. But the big surprise was that Wiegman waited even longer before introducing both Michelle Agyemang and Aggie Beever-Jones, a brand new strike partnership with five minutes — plus stoppage time — remaining. Agyemang replicated her rescue act from the Sweden game, to send the match into extra time. Decisive substitutes have become Wiegman's trademark. Ella Toone and Alessia Russo provided crucial contributions when England won the last European Championship, with Toone netting an equaliser in the quarter-final against Spain, and then the opener in the final. What is somewhat unclear is how much this is pure Wiegman genius, and how much England simply have back-ups of greater quality than their opponents'. Neither Sweden nor Italy were capable of matching the calibre of England's replacements. Mead, Kelly, Beever-Jones and Agyemang is an extremely strong quartet to have in reserve. Another peculiarity is Wiegman's approach in extra time. Having loaded up on attackers in a desperate attempt to equalise, Wiegman then prefers to keep the same players and system on the pitch, even though the situation in the game has changed dramatically. In the quarter-final, England were second-best, and here against a demoralised Italy they allowed the game to drift, even if they eventually found a winner when Kelly followed up her own penalty. It feels like returning to something approaching a 'standard' system, with some kind of midfield control, would have served England better. Advertisement 'We had to bring on so many attacking players that we didn't have so many options to bring on defenders,' said Wiegman — although it's worth pointing out that she did have two changes left. 'We had to solve that in the team (on the pitch), and taking account of the fact some players will get fatigued,' she said. She also emphasised the important of 'giving the players clarity when we change the shape,' and said that Lauren Hemp, who played as an emergency left-back in extra time, has the tactical discipline to play there on a full-time basis. 'The girls did an incredible job playing positions we're not used to,' said Kelly after the game, still on a high having tapped home the winner. 'You can never write off the English.' That expression used to be said by the English — about the Germans. But the more England pull off great escapes, the more they can claim that label for themselves.
