Luke Humphries ensure that the pressure and ‘grab opportunities’ lights up while he defends the title World Matchplay

Defending World Matchplay champion Luke Humphries knows what it takes to win in the iconic Winter Gardens in Blackpool.

World No 1 Humphries came in 2024 Trumps, went all the way and Michael van Gerwen defeated 18-15 in the final to go a step closer to completing the Darting ‘Triple Crown’ of the World Darts Championship, World Matchplay and Premier League.

‘Cool Hand’ then joined that prestigious list with his Premier League 2025 victory over Luke Littler in the final.

If he can go back-to-back in Blackpool, Humphries will become a member of another small but exclusive club alongside Phil Taylor, Rod Harrington and Michael van Gerwen as the only players who have successfully defended their titles on the coast.

Humphries now knows how to defend big titles, back-to-back to the final of the players’ championship, and he thinks that the best way to achieve that goal is to ensure that there is as little pressure as possible, but make sure you “grab” every chance if it comes to you.

“I am incredibly excited. I have good memories of Blackpool and the World Matchplay,” Humphries said.

“The two years before he won it, it was a step in my career and made the semi -final and was just short of Jonny Clayton in the final and then of course that dream of winning it last year.

“For me it was a special, special moment. Of course I had already been world champion, but winning the world aircraft was always a dream of mine and to achieve that against one of the biggest players ever, it was a special moment for me.

“I think one thing you have to do has not started to think of your defending champion.

“I have to do a good achievement to prove myself that I not only easily lost and give up my title.

“You have to relax. I had a few when I tried to defend the Grand Prix, which would have been my first big tournament that I won. I tried to defend that and I almost did it, but maybe I put a little too much pressure on myself in the final.

“Then the Grand Slam did not go so well and I knew that I had two more tournaments to try to defend.

“I have always wanted to defend a big crown and I did that at the final of the players’ championship, so I know how to do it.

“You may just not have to put that much pressure on yourself and just allow yourself to go into the tournament, to perform at best and if there is a chance to win, you will continue.”

Ask for professional darts players and they will say that the World Matchplay is one of the most difficult tournaments to win.

There are a large number of reasons for this, whether it is the strong field, heavy draws or the size.

But for Humphries there is something else that contributes to it – the hot July or it shines through a glass ceiling.

“I stay with that. I think this is one of the most difficult tournaments to win it on the calendar,” Humphries added.

“In Blackpool in the Winter Gardens it can get incredibly hot and it is in the peak of the summer and it is like a glass ceiling, so when it gets hot, it creates an incredibly hot and sticky atmosphere.

“It makes it really difficult to throw your natural game and I think that’s one of the many reasons and then the long format.

“If you are the first to play up to 16 in that heat, it is difficult, it is difficult. That is a reason why I think it is one of the hardest to win, not only from the personal point of view that it is one of the biggest competitions, I think it can be really difficult.

“That is one of the reasons why I would say it is one of the most difficult to win on the calendar.”

View the World Matchplay Live on Sky Sports from 19-27 July or Stream without a contract.