The Paddy Power World Darts Championship gets underway this Sunday with last year’s champion Luke Humphries topping the bill on night one.
Ahead of the tournament he gave us the lowdown on what it’s like being the best in the world and how he hopes to hang on to his crowns – and, more importantly, Paddy’s own Ballon d’Art trophy for most 180s…
I can’t believe the World Championship has come around again so soon. It really has been a whirlwind 12 months, but I’m really looking forward to getting back to Ally Pally.
It’s such a spectacular occasion. This year will probably be the biggest world championship we’ve ever seen, just because what happened last year created this buzz in the sport. There’s going to be more people watching it than ever I think.
It’s such an exciting time to be at the top of this sport. I can’t wait to play my first game and hopefully get through it and watch everyone else.
Winning an event like the Players’ Championships gives you good confidence going into to it – I wasn’t at my best in moments but in the final I got back to the Luke Humphries that we all know and won it in the end.
It’s nice to get another major victory. I did the same last year, winning the Players’ before the Worlds, so I’m hoping that I can repeat the feat this year.
Being world number one can last a couple of years, but being world champion lasts forever. I’ll always be remembered for it and it’s just about trying to get as many as I can now to put myself up there with the great legacies in darts.
It gives you that buzz to want to do it again. You don’t ever want to give that title up. And if I can play to my standard, I could be the fourth back-to-back world champion.
Multiple world championships put you on an elite list. I’m still relatively young, I’ve got plenty of time to add to my tally and there’s no better way to do it than to be back-to-back and join that elite group of Adrian Lewis, Gary Anderson and Phil Taylor.
And I want to go back-to-back with in the Ballon d’Art for most 180s at the tournament too. It’s one of the best trophies I’ve ever seen!
I’ve had in in my house for the last year and was the first player ever to lift it and I’d love to keep it on my mantlepiece.
It really is something special and it’s for a great cause as well with Paddy Power donating £1,000 for every 180 thrown to Prostate Cancer UK – and a bonus £60,000 for any nine-darters.
It raised an amazing amount of money last year – a million pounds – and we’ll be hoping to match or beat that this year and the 180s flow!
Read More on the Paddy Power World Darts Championship
- Check out darts betting tips and previews at Paddy Power News
- THE BIGGER 180: PADDY POWER PLEDGES £180,000 BONUS FOR EVERY 9-DARTER AT WORLD DARTS CHAMPIONSHIP
- Darts Tips: Paddy Power World Darts Championship Cheat Sheet
- Paddy Power World Darts Championship odds: Favourites to win Sid Waddell Trophy in 2024/25
- Paddy Power World Darts Championship final date and start time
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