“Guy pulled my thumb back and it really hurt”: Bizarre walk-on circumstance had negative effect on Luke Humphries
**Bizarre Fan Incident Impacts Luke Humphries at 2025 US Darts Masters**
The 2025 bet365 US Darts Masters, held on June 27-28, 2025, at The Theater at Madison Square Garden, was marked by high-octane darts action and an unexpected incident that left world No. 1 Luke Humphries reeling. During his walk-on for his first-round match on June 27, a fan grabbed and pulled his thumb backward, causing significant pain that lingered both physically and mentally. Humphries, visibly shaken, later told Online Darts, “On the walk-on, that guy pulled my thumb back and it really hurt. That thing stays in your head. It affected my performance.” Despite the setback, he battled through to a 6-4 victory over North American representative Stowe Buntz, advancing to the quarter-finals of the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) World Series event. The bizarre circumstance highlighted the unpredictable risks of fan interactions and cast a shadow over Humphries’ campaign at this prestigious tournament.
The incident occurred as Humphries made his way through the lively Madison Square Garden crowd, a hallmark of the US Darts Masters’ electric atmosphere. The sudden pain from the thumb pull disrupted his focus, a critical factor in a sport where precision and mental clarity are paramount. Humphries, known for his composure under pressure, admitted the injury “stayed in his head,” contributing to a performance he described as lackluster. His 6-4 win over Buntz, while successful, lacked the dominance expected from the world’s top-ranked player, averaging below his usual standard. The victory set up a quarter-final clash with Danny Lauby, who had stunned defending champion Rob Cross with a 6-0 whitewash earlier that evening.
The US Darts Masters, in its seventh year, featured eight PDC stars, including Humphries, Luke Littler, Michael van Gerwen, and Gerwyn Price, against eight North American players. The £100,000 prize fund—up from £60,000 in 2024—underscored the event’s growing prestige, with the winner earning £30,000. Humphries, a favorite to claim the title, faced added pressure after the incident, which highlighted the physical risks of walk-ons, where players navigate enthusiastic crowds en route to the stage. Posts on X reflected fan concern, with one user noting, “Humphries getting hurt by a fan is wild. PDC needs to tighten up walk-on security.”
Despite the injury, Humphries’ resilience shone through. He avoided further aggravating the thumb and progressed in a tournament that saw other shocks, like Jason Brandon’s 6-4 upset over Stephen Bunting and Littler’s 6-1 rout of Jules van Dongen, who was battling dartitis. Littler’s empathy for Van Dongen, saying, “We all do feel for him,” added a human element to the event, mirroring Humphries’ own perseverance. The quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final on June 28 promised more drama, with Humphries facing Lauby under the weight of his injury.
The incident sparked discussions about player safety during walk-ons, a spectacle designed to hype up fans but occasionally crossing into hazardous territory. Humphries’ ability to compete through pain underscored his mental fortitude, but the episode served as a reminder of darts’ unique blend of accessibility and intensity. As the 2025 US Darts Masters unfolded, Humphries’ grit and the tournament’s thrilling upsets cemented its place as a highlight of the PDC calendar, watched globally via Peacock, ITV4, and PDCTV. (Word count: 500)
