Champ goes around the bored

He may be Mr Serious on oche but Luke's story is far from dull and now he's on top of world

- MIKE WALTERS

LUKE HUMPHRIES is a dull world champion, right?

He's beaten anxiety issues which once drove him to the brink of quitting darts, lost 4st in weight during lockdown and since conquering his demons he has shunned the trappings of "rock 'n' roll" lifestyle.

This morning he's half a million quid richer after winning his first PDC World Championship at Alexandra Palace and beating the boy wonder whose fairytale had gripped the nation.

Now he wants to show off the Sid Waddell Trophy at Elland Road to his fellow Leeds United fans, win the World Cup of Darts for England and sing the national anthem, Bland Of Hope And Glory.

And for the former roofer, every night is now a night on the tiles.

Yeah, Humphries has a really boring backstory, doesn't he? As Cool Hand Luke woke up with the trophy next to him after his gripping 7-4 win against 16-year-old Luke Littler in the final, he resolved to stay grounded, professional, sensible... all the things you don't usually associate with the showmen of darts.