December 29th 2024.
Luke Humphries has been keeping a close eye on the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace, and so far, there hasn't been much to worry him. The tournament is now approaching the fourth round, and some players have already secured their spots in the last 16. With plenty of opportunities to impress, it's safe to say that there have been some solid performances, but according to the defending champion, only one player has truly stood out.
In an interview after his third round victory against Nick Kenny, Humphries shared his thoughts on the competition so far. As a fan, he has been closely observing the different players and their games, and he couldn't help but notice that only Callan Rydz has performed at an "absolutely incredible level." In particular, Humphries pointed out Rydz's first round match against Romeo Grbavac, where he averaged an impressive 107.06 and only dropped two legs. While there have been other noteworthy performances, such as Luke Littler's incredible final set against White, Humphries believes that Rydz is the only one who has truly delivered a top-notch display.
However, as the tournament progresses, the pressure seems to be mounting on all the players. Humphries believes that this year, there is a lot at stake for everyone, and this may be causing them to try too hard. Rydz, for one, has continued to impress with another 3-0 win in the second round against Martin Schindler, although his average of 91.05 was not quite as remarkable as his previous game. Nevertheless, Rydz remains confident in his abilities and is ready to take on Dimitri van den Bergh in the fourth round.
Humphries, on the other hand, will be facing Peter Wright in his fourth round match on Sunday evening. Before Christmas, Wright had made some predictions about who he would be facing in this stage, but after both Raymond van Barneveld and Humphries pulled off surprising wins, his predictions were proven wrong. Humphries, however, is not one to be affected by mind games, even if they come from a seasoned player like Wright. In fact, he sees it as a sign of weakness and believes that Wright is simply trying to get into his head. As for Humphries, he remains focused on his game and is determined to continue his impressive run in the tournament.
In the end, Humphries is not one to be intimidated by anyone, even a player like Wright who has achieved so much in the sport. With just one world title, Humphries could match Wright's entire career, and he sees no reason to be afraid of him. He also believes that his fellow player, Luke Littler, shares the same mindset and is not easily swayed by mind games. As the tournament progresses, it will be interesting to see how these players, including Humphries and Rydz, will continue to perform under pressure and whether anyone else will step up to deliver an "absolutely incredible level" of play.
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