Humphries Battles Nerves to Secure Victory at European Darts Trophy
World number one Luke Humphries expressed his frustration with his recent performance at the dartboard, admitting he needed to improve his game. Humphries halted a run of three consecutive defeats with a hard-fought victory over Boris Krcmar in his opening match at the European Darts Trophy.
Struggles Continue Despite Victory
Following a loss to Gian van Veen in the Players Championship 6 final earlier in the month, Humphries suffered further setbacks with two losses in subsequent Premier League nights. Most recently, the reigning world champion relinquished a three-leg advantage against Michael van Gerwen on Thursday, ultimately succumbing to a 6-4 defeat against the Dutchman.
History nearly repeated itself against world number 119 Krcmar in Germany as Humphries again saw a three-leg lead evaporate. However, unlike his mid-week match, Krcmar failed to capitalize, allowing the Premier League runner-up to regain composure and clinch the crucial final two legs to advance to the last 16.
Humphries Acknowledges Imperfections
Reflecting on the tense win, Humphries told PDC TV of his dissatisfaction, stating, “I thought he [Krcmar] performed exceptionally well. There was a particular leg where missed doubles potentially cost him the match in the end. It’s still too close for comfort; I need to rectify that.”
“It’s disheartening for me,” Humphries continued, “I arrive feeling confident, but it’s just not materializing on stage. I thought he was outstanding there, so it’s positive to return to winning form.”
Focus on Improvement and Future Goals
Regarding his solo practice session on stage prior to the event, Humphries explained, “I am a perfectionist. I feel my performance is adequate, but the results are lacking. I wanted to acclimatize to the stage environment, rediscover my throwing rhythm, and remind myself of my capabilities on the big stage. Undeniably, it wasn’t my finest display, but I managed some timely finishes. I relish competing in the European Tour, and exiting in the first round two weeks ago was disappointing.”
Looking ahead, Humphries declared, “Now I have the opportunity to correct things and have a successful weekend. I have only secured one major title this year thus far, whereas previous years have yielded better results. I am highly motivated for this weekend; I aim to prove my capabilities and potentially secure the title.”
Upcoming Match
Humphries is set to face Michael Smith in the third round of the European Darts Trophy on Sunday. In other Saturday matches, Gary Anderson, Michael van Gerwen, and Gerwyn Price all progressed to the next stage of the competition.