Luke Humphries fires back at Premier League darts critics as yet another date is added

Daily Record

3 days ago

Champ Cool Hand prefers trophies to cheques and sticks up for PL system
Champion Luke Humphries has hit back at critics of the Premier League set-up.
The world No.1 took the title at the end of a 17-week darts marathon which turned off many observers.
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Humphries and Luke Littler clashed for a ninth time in the campaign in the Final and Raymond van Barneveld is amongst the snipers who think that's way too much and is taking away the spectacle.
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But, as PDC chief Barry Hearn revealed plans to add Antwerp in Belgium to the PL schedule in 2026, Cool Hand responded to enquiries about changing the tournament's current make-up and said: 'Can you give me advice on how you change it? If me and Luke play in every Players and Euro Tour, every major and every Premier League, because that is what the fans, they want all these darts, if we make the final of every tournament, you are going to see us play 40-50 times a year.
'The only reason we play each other so much is because we end up making the finals. I don't know how you stop it. I think as much as everyone wants to change the Premier League, I am happy to be in it.
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'I don't care what it does, what you do, whether it's a league format, a singular night, it doesn't stop the fact that me and Luke might play each 10-15 times a year. That's because of how much darts there are. We can play each other next weekend if we make the final [in Copenhagen].
'The magnitude of darts now, we are playing every week and sometimes you are playing the Players Championship, two or three times a week. Then a Euro Tour. If you are the two best players in the world performing so well and making the final every week, you will keep playing each other every week.
'I would not even suggest it. I honestly don't know. It's up to the PDC. I'm happy playing it. I am not going to be the one that wants to change it. Of course, they do change it, I am happy with that as well.
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'But for me, I won't be sitting here moaning, saying I don't want to play this or I want to play in this. I am happy to be involved. The PDC know what they are doing. If this is the best format for them, then they will do it. It still does good numbers, the fans still come, still gets good numbers on Sky Sports. They know what they are doing. Not for people like me to change things, it's up for people like me to work hard and win titles. Let's not change it.'
Such is the schedule, top stars such as Humphries get little time to savour successes. After his triumph at London's O2, he smiled: 'I want to have a beer and celebrate.'
But asked if he'd allow himself a treat, he said: 'It's hard. I don't know. What do you treat yourself to really? I have bought a brand new house. I have bought a new car. I don't know. I am not one of those people that goes out and just wastes my money on nothing. I will have a nice holiday. That will be something. I don't think about money, I think about winning big titles and the money comes with it.
'When you pick up trophies like this, you don't think about how relentless it is. It makes it all worthwhile.'