Luke Humphries, the world No. 1 darts player, sustained a thumb injury during his walk-on at the 2025 US Darts Masters at Madison Square Garden on June 27, 2025. As he made his way through the crowd, a fan pulled his thumb back, causing significant pain that visibly affected him during his entrance. Humphries 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 injury, he secured a 6-4 win over Stowe Buntz in the first round, though he admitted his performance was subpar due to the lingering discomfort and mental distraction. Humphries advanced to the quarter-finals to face Danny Lauby, who had just upset defending champion Rob Cross 6-0. The incident highlights the physical risks athletes can face during fan interactions at high-energy events like the US Darts Masters, part of the PDC’s World Series. Humphries’ ability to compete through the pain underscores his resilience, but the injury added an unexpected challenge to his campaign at this prestigious tournament. (Word count: 177)
