As the 2024 Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals kick off this weekend in Minehead, reigning champion Luke Humphries, currently the world number one, has issued a confident yet cautious message to his rivals.
Speaking exclusively to Ladbrokes, Humphries reflected on his recent Grand Slam exit and how it has positively influenced his mindset heading into this crucial tournament.
Obviously, I'd have loved to have been in the Grand Slam right until the very end, but I'm treating that early exit as a blessing in disguise,
It's probably been the longest time I've spent at home in the last 15 months. I've really enjoyed it, because I've been able to spend some time with my son, who doesn't get to see his dad all that much at the moment. I'm feeling nice and refreshed, and I'm actually looking forward to playing darts again now.
The last 15 months or so have been a bit of a blur for me, playing pretty much day-in, day-out," "But now I'm refreshed and ready to go again.
Humphries, who has been on a relentless schedule over the past year, took a much-needed break from the game, putting down his darts for a full week.
With the Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals underway, Humphries is eager to defend his title.
I'd really love to be able to defend one of those titles I won last year... this would be a great one to win again,
You need to be good for three weeks at the Worlds, whereas you only need to be good for a couple of days here. A strong run in Minehead definitely puts you in good stead and gives you confidence going into the next few weeks.
I know he can be quite hot and cold, but I will only ever base people on what they're like when they're on their A-game,
Ultimately, Gabriel has got a great A-game, so I know that I'm going to have to bring mine to make sure that I don't give him a sniff.
As he prepares to face Gabriel Clemens in the opening round, Humphries remains focused on his performance.
The buzz around the tournament is palpable, with young sensation Luke Littler emerging as the most popular pick among punters, garnering 13.6% of the backing at odds of 3/1.
Humphries follows closely behind as the second most popular choice with 9.7% support to retain his title.
Mike De Decker rounds out the top three with 6%.
Alex Apati of Ladbrokes commented on the excitement surrounding the event:
Punters are once again expecting a Battle of the Lukes, and the draw down in Minehead has worked out perfectly for those wanting another Humphries v Littler final... but it's the latter who'll be heading into the tournament as the punters' favourite.
As the darts fly in Minehead, all eyes will be on Luke Humphries as he aims to reclaim his crown and navigate the challenges ahead.
With a fresh perspective and a renewed sense of purpose, he is poised to make a significant impact at the 2024 Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals.
