- One of the best darts stars says playing so much is not good for him mentally
- He admitted he finds playing a ‘chore’ despite his remarkable rise and success
- It comes as rewards and status for darts players increase – as does the pressure
One of the world’s foremost darts players has revealed he may take a ‘break’ from the sport after admitting playing so much ‘is not good’ for his ‘mental state’.
The recent World Championship winner has a packed schedule and has admitted playing feels like a ‘chore’ and leaves him ’emotionless’.
It comes as leading darts stars are becoming more open about the taxing demands of the sport’s calendar, which sees them turn out in multiple locations per week.
The rewards and celebrity are becoming ever greater – Luke Littler claimed £500,000 for winning the World Championship and in 2026 the top prize will increase to £1million – but so are the pressures.
And it is Luke Humphries, who won last year’s World Championship, who has opened up about how drained the sport has left him in an emotional statement.
‘When I’m up on stage I am just feeling emotionless. It’s and it’s me being honest to all the fans. I feel like my emotions are just all over the place,’ he said.
Luke Humphries has admitted that playing darts constantly is ‘not good’ for his ‘mental state’
He says the demanding nature of the sport has become a ‘chore’ and leaves him ’emotionless’
Luke Littler also previously opened up about the constant demands made of elite darts players
‘It’s not that I don’t want to be here – it just seems a chore for me at the moment. It’s just too much darts. I’m playing too much.
‘I think I need a break. I’m emotionless and it is not good for my mental state.’
Humphries had just beaten Dirk van Duivenbode 6-1 in the second round of the International Darts Open but left the stage subdued.
He added: ‘The emotion was drained from there. Usually I have the fight in me. Dirk, I felt like, was nervous and he gave the game away for me to get the win.
‘He gave me the confidence to push on and get the victory. Hopefully that has given me ammunition to go and pick up another title because I am desperate for one.’
This year, Humphries has performed like the world-class player he is – Cool Hand is second in the Premier League Darts table, in a strong position to make May’s play-offs at the O2 Arena and win the whole thing.
He also picked up the World Masters title in February for the first time in his career, beating Jonny Clayton 6-5 in the final.
But at times he has also struggled. In December, he was knocked out of the last 16 of the World Championship by Peter Wright.
He also had a run of being knocked out in the quarter-finals for three consecutive Premier League nights, though he has since made a final and a semi-final.
Elite darts players find themselves being asked to being multiple locations each week
Alongside up to 17 Premier League nights, there are international tournaments and the pro tour
The rewards and celebrity are increasing, but so are also the stresses on their shoulders
Luke Littler also revealed recently how demanding the schedule can be.
‘Some people like to practice a lot, but I barely practice during the week,’ he told the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet.
‘I was being honest the other week in my interview about not picking up a dart from the previous tournament. We have the Premier League on a Thursday and usually, we’re then flying somewhere on the Friday for an international tournament, so you’re playing Thursday to Sunday.
‘On Monday and Tuesday, we tend to have pro tours and then back to the Premier League on a Thursday. My practice is playing in these tournaments every week.’
