Luke Humphries woke up on Wednesday morning convinced his Grand Slam of Darts dream was over.
A suspected back spasm had him pinned to the bed, head glued to the pillow, contemplating the unthinkable: pulling out before his last-16 clash.
But “Cool Hand” is no stranger to ice-cold pressure. With hours of physio wizardry, painkillers, and sheer grit, he not only took the stage—he obliterated Jurjen van der Velde 10-3, firing a tournament-record 108.55 average that left the Aldersley Village crowd roaring.
“I was almost ready to pull out because it was that bad this morning. I couldn’t wish this on anybody. I’m in quite a bit of pain. I couldn’t get my head off the pillow.”
The world No.1’s raw confession, delivered post-match to Sky Sports with a wince and a grin, has darts fans hailing him as the ultimate warrior. It’s the kind of story that turns a routine win into legend.
The morning from hell
Humphries isn’t sure how the injury struck—maybe a bad sleep, maybe the toll of a relentless 2025 schedule (three majors already in the bag). But at 7am in his Wolverhampton hotel, it hit like a freight train.
- Symptom snapshot: Suspected spasm in neck/upper back. Couldn’t lift head for 15 minutes. Darts practice? Throwing into the 9 and 12 segments (the board’s awkward edges).
- Panic mode: “I was thinking, ‘Maybe I’d have to pull out today.’ It was crippling.”
- The save: Enter Mandy, his freelance physio. Two hours of deep-tissue massage, heat packs, and targeted stretches got him vertical. “Without her, I wouldn’t have played at any standard,” Humphries admitted. “She’s a godsend.”
By match time, he was taped up and taped in. On stage? A few subtle winces on the walk-on, but zero mercy for van der Velde.
The performance that defied science
If you blinked, you missed the demolition. Humphries raced to 5-0 (117+ average), including a 10-dart leg where he teased a nine-darter before pinning tops. The Dutch debutant clawed a leg (his first ever on TV—arms-aloft celebration included), but Cool Hand closed with a 13-darter on double 20.
| Stat | Humphries | van der Velde |
|---|---|---|
| Average | 108.55 | 92.34 |
| 180s | 7 | 3 |
| Checkout % | 50% | 30% |
| Highest Checkout | 120 | 164 |
| Legs Won | 10 | 3 |
“It’s crazy how you can perform like that with an injury I’ve had to deal with,” Humphries said, voice cracking. “I’m a fighter. I put everything on the line. From almost pulling out this morning to that? Something special.”
Commentator Wayne Mardle nailed it pre-match: “If he plays, he’s still the favourite. If he doesn’t… well, that’s darts.” Mark Webster added: “This shows why he’s a threat in the big moments. Pain? What pain?”
The bigger fight: PDC physio plea
Humphries didn’t stop at gratitude—he turned the mic on the sport itself. Freelance physios like Mandy are lifelines, but why leave it to luck?
“Maybe the PDC needs to look at full-time physios at events. The PDPA could push for it. Some players might have to get onboard and put her forward full-time.”
It’s a call echoing louder after Michael Smith’s injury-plagued comeback last week. In a pro circuit with £1m+ prize pots, why gamble on Google for treatment?
What’s next: QF showdown with Bully
Humphries gets Thursday off to ice up (literally). Friday’s quarter-final? A blockbuster rematch with Michael Smith, the 2022 champ who survived 11 match darts from Chris Dobey in a 10-9 epic.
- Head-to-head: Humphries leads 12-8, including last year’s Worlds final (7-4).
- Stakes: Winner banks £50k, semis spot, and a shot at Humphries’ second Grand Slam title.
- Bookies’ vibe (Paddy Power, 11am): Humphries 4/6; Smith 6/5; 9-darter 16/1.
Smith, fresh off his own tearful return, texted Humphries post-match: “See you Friday, warrior.” Expect fire.
TL;DR for the group chat
Copy-paste:
“Luke Humphries woke up PARALYSED by back pain—nearly WD from Grand Slam.
Then averaged 108 to smash van der Velde 10-3.
‘I couldn’t lift my head’ → ‘Fighter mode ON’ 🆒
QF vs Smith Friday. History incoming? #GSDarts”
Bottom line
Injuries don’t discriminate, but champions do. Humphries turned a pillow-prison into a quarter-final masterclass, proving why he’s world No.1. Pain today? Fuel for Friday. Wolverhampton’s not done with Cool Hand yet—and neither is darts.
