Luke Humphries unfazed by life after world title reign: ‘I’ll always be world champion’
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Luke Humphries is not fazed by his world title reign coming to an end, far from it, putting Alexandra Palace defeat behind him quickly and setting out new goals. Cool Hand brilliantly won his first world title in January 2024, with his reigncoming to a surprise end in the last 16 a year later at the hands of Peter Wright.
![[2024/25 Paddy Power World Darts Championship - Day Twelve]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/GettyImages-2191791854.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
With the defending champion out of the tournament Luke Littler went on to lift the Sid Waddell Trophy, beating Michael van Gerwen in the final. It would be pointless to pretend defeat didn’t sting, but the world number one says it was not hard to get over because he sees no other option. There are more darts to throw and titles to win, the time to move on was immediately.
![[PDC World Darts Championship Final 2023/4 Luke Littler v Luke Humphries]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/GettyImages-2030499494.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
‘I had a great New Year. A lot of people were worried that the World Championship would depress me but it didn’t,’ Humphries told Metro. ‘I accepted the defeat, which you have to do. Obviously devastating to lose but the next day I woke up and was fine.
![[2024/25 Paddy Power World Darts Championship - Day Ten]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/GettyImages-2191605285.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
‘It didn’t feel like it hurt any more [than other defeats]. I’m quite a chilled guy, to be honest. If it goes it goes, if it doesn’t it doesn’t. That’s why you see me react pretty well to defeat. ‘There’s nothing you can do to change it. It’s not like I’d missed six or seven darts to win the game. I was just second best player in that game. You just have to accept that you’ve lost.
‘Of course you understand the magnitude and I’m no longer world champion, but I’ll always be world champion, that’s the most important thing in my mind. I’ve achieved that dream that every person in their sport wants to and I’m hoping I can achieve it again in the future.’.
