"Definitely," Luke Humphries says when he considers whether he can retain the darts world title that changed his life after he beat Luke Littler in a memorable final in January. "I honestly believe that my time is right now and I can go back-to-back. Of course it's easy to think it, while to do it is a lot harder. But I believe in myself and the second one is always sweeter than the first because it's harder to do. You're achieving greatness once you start winning multiple world championships."
The usually understated champion and I sit in a discreet corner of a swanky bar on the Strand in London. We're deep into the second part of an interview that had been interrupted after 30 minutes so Humphries, Littler and Michael van Gerwen could disappear to film a segment for a new Netflix documentary. It helps that the crammed bar has finally begun to empty after a long launch of this year's world championship, which begins on Sunday. Humphries has been on a chattering treadmill but it's as if a weight has been lifted when he sits down again, relieved that he won't have to face another camera or act out a scene for one last plug of the event.
"I don't think I've ever spoken as much as today," the 29-year-old says as he accepts the bedlam and hype which engulfs the once-mocked business of darts. Everything is different now and darts, especially at the world championship, is a booming enterprise. Humphries, whose low-key demeanour seems at odds with the roaring hoopla, shakes his head: "I've not stopped talking for three hours straight."
It helps that our interview is a little different to his other media chores and that, with a chance to reflect more deeply, Humphries can also talk about anxiety and fame, working as a roofer before turning pro and his intriguing rivalry with the 17-year-old Littler.
The bookies have installed Littler as favourite but Humphries smiles when I ask him a loaded question.
Bu hikaye The Guardian dergisinin December 11, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Guardian dergisinin December 11, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Trump picks son's fiancee as ambassador to Greece
Donald Trump has named Kimberly Guilfoyle, a former Fox News host who has been engaged to his eldest son, as US ambassador to Greece.
US executives warned about online 'hitlist' after killing of healthcare CEO
The New York police department (NYPD) has warned US healthcare executives of a heightened risk to their lives after identifying an online \"hitlist\" posted in the wake of last week's assassination of the United Healthcare CEO, Brian Thompson.
Girl, 11, is sole survivor of migrant boat sinking that left dozens dead
An 11-year-old girl has been rescued off the Italian island of Lampedusa after spending days alone at sea.
Whale's record 8,000-mile journey no fluke, say researchers
A humpback whale has travelled more than 8,000 miles from South America to east Africa, the longest distance recorded for an individual whale.
Māori tribes ask king to intervene in New Zealand treaty row
Representatives of more than 80 Māori tribes have issued a rare plea to King Charles requesting his intervention in New Zealand politics, amid growing tension over the government's policies for Māori and a souring of the relationship between Indigenous people and authorities.
Claims Hamas present in Gaza's hospitals 'grossly exaggerated' says top ICC lawyer
Claims about the presence of Hamas fighters in hospitals in Gaza under siege by Israel's military have been \"grossly exaggerated\", a top prosecutor at the international criminal court (ICC) has said.
Study shows 96% of children in Gaza feel their death is close
A study of children in Gaza has found that 96% of them feel that their death is imminent and almost half want to die as a result of trauma from the war.
Call for two-year jail term over Amsterdam football violence
Prosecutors have called for a man suspected of punching and kicking Israeli football fans in Amsterdam during a night of violence to serve two years in jail.
South Korean police raid President Yoon's office amid crisis over martial law decree
South Korea's Yonhap news agency said the search yesterday was part of an attempt to establish whether Yoon's actions, supported by other senior figures in his administration, amounted to insurrection – a crime that does not carry presidential immunity and can carry the death penalty.
'Someone has to stay' The power plant workers keeping Ukraine's lights on
In the cavernous turbine hall of a coal-fired thermal power plant, deputy chief engineer Oleksandr runs through the extensive damage, pointing out various consequences of numerous Russian strikes over the past two years.
