MARTIN LUKEMAN has revealed how close he came to quitting darts – before wife Mel changed his mind.
The 39-year-old fought back from a set down to beat Indian qualifier Nitin Kumar 3-1 at the PDC World Championships on Thursday.
Lukeman revealed after the first-round win he almost put his darts away for good due to his wife’s ill health.
Martin’s partner Mel has battled cancer over the past two years.
She is now cancer-free, but still has to undergo “prevention operations.”
Following his comeback victory over Kumar, Lukeman said: “The wife’s got a massive operation tomorrow.
“So I’m going to have to look after her, cook her dinner. But we’ll get through.
He added: “I was going to quit darts at the beginning of last year, but the wife said no.”
Mel was in the crowd at the Grand Slam of Darts in November as her hubby lost 16-3 to Luke Litter in Wolverhampton.
But an upbeat Lukeman paid tribute to her battling spirit after undergoing six months of chemotherapy.
Lukeman said: “My wife has been through so much over the past two years and she’s still got a lot more to go through.
“She hasn’t got cancer anymore, it’s all prevention operations now.
“She’s a trooper, she isn’t going to leave me. She had six months of chemo until last March.
“There were a couple of operations. I didn’t want to play darts but she kicked my a**e out.
“She also still drove me to play as well even though she was having treatment.
“I said I’d get the train but she insisted on driving me. She told me to get my head on and just play darts.”
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Lukeman’s World Championship adventure continues against Andrew Gilding on Monday.
He added: “I know what to expect, he’s methodical, but a quality player.
“But I’ll beat Gilding and then come back after Christmas.”
