Fresh from lifting the European Grand Prix title in Stuttgart Luke Humphries arrives in Nottingham on May one with momentum at his back. Cool Hand leads the league in three dart average yet still searches for a first nightly trophy after four runner up finishes. The Motorpoint Arena could therefore become the launchpad for a late surge toward the summit.
Humphries begins against Peter Wright replicating a World Championship semi that saw him overturn a two set deficit. Work with sports psychologist Andy McCann has produced breathing routines between visits and early indicators show checkout conversion climbing above fifty percent in the last fortnight.
If successful he may meet Gerwyn Price in a semi final that would rekindle memories of their Dublin shootout earlier in the season. Humphries produced seven maximums that night but faltered on tops in the decider. Revenge would keep title ambitions alive while sending a message to Luke Littler that experience still counts.
Preparations included a quiet afternoon practice on the Nottingham stage to adjust to sight lines and lighting. Humphries believes the slightly lower roof aids dart trajectory and he registered three consecutive one hundred plus averages in local exhibition matches this month.
Fans can expect his signature dance fuelled walk on followed by relentless scoring. Should Nottingham finally provide a gold trophy his pursuit of Littler at the summit would ignite as the road show turns toward Sheffield and then the grand finale in London.
