World No.1 Luke Humphries overcomes burnout and little to win the Premier League and complete the triple crown.

Tears welled in Luke Humphries’ eyes as the O2 Arena roared its approval. Just two months after admitting darts had become a “chore,” the 30-year-old world number one stood victorious on the biggest stage, having secured his maiden Premier League title and completed the triple crown of major darts victories.

Humphries’ emotional 11-8 victory over teen sensation Luke Littler in Thursday night’s final wasn’t just about revenge—it was redemption.

“I had those struggles in March,” Humphries said, reflecting on a low point in his career where fatigue and mental strain left him numb on the oche. “It felt like hard work and everything you dedicate yourself for, it makes it worthwhile when you achieve things like this.”

His rise to the top of darts hasn’t been smooth. In 2018, Humphries suffered an anxiety attack on stage so severe he considered walking away from the sport entirely. But with determination and support—including some timely advice from darts legend Phil Taylor—he turned that battle into fuel.

“Phil told me to trust my game and stay strong when things aren’t going your way,” Humphries said. “That always stuck with me.”

That mental grit was evident on Thursday night. Falling 3-0 behind in the early stages of the final against Littler, it would have been easy to unravel under pressure. But Humphries dug in.

“I could easily have let that slip away,” he admitted. “But I used mental strength to keep myself in the game.”

And it worked. He clawed his way back, found his rhythm, and began to dominate, eventually sealing the win with a flourish that brought the crowd to its feet.

This win crowns a spectacular chapter in Humphries’ career. He now joins an elite group of players who have captured the World Championship, World Grand Prix, and Premier League titles. The feat marks his ascent as one of darts’ true greats—and he’s not done yet.

“I’m still relatively young in the game,” he said. “I’m only a couple of titles away from being the third-most successful player of all time.”

Indeed, the hunger remains. With seven major titles now to his name, Humphries has set his sights on reaching double digits.

“When you hit 10 major titles, you enter unseen territory. That’s what I’m pushing for next,” he said. “Hopefully, I can do that in the next couple of years.”

His triumph also served as sweet revenge. Last year, Littler had stunned him in the Premier League final. This time, it was Humphries who had the final word—composed, ruthless, and roaring back to form.

For now, he’ll savour the moment. But knowing Humphries, the work begins again tomorrow.