BEFORE he was victorious at the World Darts Championship in 2024, Luke Humphries went through an astonishing body transformation.
Humphries, who is looking to claim back-to-back titles at Ally Pally, defeated Luke Littler in the showpiece last time out.
Astonishingly, that was before the best darts player in the world lost a staggering four stone.
Since then, Humphries has enjoyed a remarkable rise to the top.
This year, he has earned over £1.2million in prize money – scooping eight titles, including the World Matchplay and Players Championship.
He’s just edged his rival Littler out, who has scooped around £1.1million this season.
Humphries’ success comes a few years after he decided to get in shape.
Cool Hand Luke’s weight loss journey began during lockdown in 2021 as part of a bid to improve his stamina and performances.
He has since seen his performances on tour improve considerably alongside his rise up the rankings.
His transformation began with shifting over two stone in less than two months.
Humphries revealed his weight loss in February 2021 by tweeting: “Really working hard towards the new darting season in a few weeks!
“Lost over 2 stone since Christmas.. on reflection big changes were needed to myself to get to that next level in my career!
“I’m practising harder than I ever have.. Hoping the rewards will pay off this year!”
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Just a month later, he reached the final of the UK Open, his first PDC major final.
Although he was ultimately beaten by James Wade, he said after the match: “Losing a bit of weight is a healthy life and a healthy mind.
“I feel really good, I feel full of energy. The hard work that I’ve put in through lockdown is helping me in that aspect and hopefully it carries me through to being a better player in the future.”
Over two years on, the 29-year-old continues to sport a slimmer physique on tour.
Now ranked first in the world, he reached the semi-finals of July’s World Matchplay, his best performance at the tournament.
He also achieved career-best runs at the European Championship and the Masters since his dramatic weight loss.
Humphries and his partner also welcomed a baby boy in October 2022, and got engaged this year.
For the past two years, Luke has scored victories in the World Grand Prix, Grand Slam of Darts and Players Championships Final.
Speaking after his brilliant final win over Littler in January, Humphries said: “I could not put into words how great this feels.
“In the back of my mind throughout today, I was thinking ‘get this one now because he’s going to dominate world darts soon’.
“He’s an incredible player. When I was on the brink of winning there, he was relentless.
“That double eight [to win], my hands were shaking like mad and it just fell in for me.
“I’m world champion and world number one and I can’t ask for more.”
Humphries added: “Luke [Littler] showed incredible grit, incredible determination. We will never, ever see the likes of him again.
“To go up on that stage in a world final and produce those darts. I was putting him under so much pressure.
“I’ve just achieved something that is a dream for darts players, so I’m really, really pleased.
“Obviously the crowd wanted Luke to win and I couldn’t begrudge them that because it would have been a fantastic story had he won the tournament.
“What an incredible story would that have been for our sport.”
