By James Dow
World number one Luke Humphries has taken the darting world by storm, winning 21 PDC titles in his professional career. But did you know these five facts about Cool Hand Luke?
1. A Family Tradition
Humphries’ love for darts started at home, thanks to both of his parents playing the sport. He threw his first darts at a board set up in the spare bedroom of his childhood home and quickly became hooked. By the age of 10, he was playing competitively, following in his father’s footsteps by representing Berkshire at county level. At just 16, he made his PDC debut on the newly formed Development Tour, where he would go on to claim an impressive 11 titles as a teenager.
2. From Roofer to World Champion
Before becoming a full-time professional, Humphries worked as a roofer alongside his father, Mark, and his brother, Stuart. He hung up his tools in 2018 to pursue a career in darts but nearly quit just a year later due to severe anxiety, which even triggered a panic attack on stage during a tournament. However, Cool Hand overcame these struggles, showing immense determination to rise to world number one and establish himself as one of the best players of his generation.
3. The Origin of ‘Cool Hand Luke’
Humphries’ nickname, Cool Hand Luke, is inspired by the 1967 American prison drama starring Paul Newman, with George Kennedy delivering an Oscar-winning performance. Unlike many players who enter the sport with a pre-existing moniker, Humphries started without one but felt Cool Hand Luke was the perfect fit—reflecting his calm and composed demeanor on the oche.
4. A True Leeds United Fan
Humphries has a deep connection to EFL Championship side Leeds United—so much so that he was actually named after them! His father, Michael, a lifelong Leeds fan, named him Luke as an acronym for Leeds United, Kings of Europe. His walk-on song, I Predict a Riot by Kaiser Chiefs, also has strong Leeds ties, with the band hailing from the city and the song frequently played at Elland Road on matchdays. Before this, Humphries’ walk-on track was Cake by the Ocean by DNCE, a choice made by Sky rather than himself—something he later admitted “wasn’t really me.”
5. International Glory with England
Humphries made his England debut in the 2024 World Cup of Darts, partnering with then-world number three Michael Smith. The duo made history, defeating Austria’s Rowby-John Rodriguez and Mensur Suljović 10-6 in the final to secure England’s first World Cup triumph in eight years—and a record fifth title overall. After the victory, Humphries called it “the biggest buzz since winning the World Championship” and said he and Bully Boy had believed in their chances from the start.