Wayne Mardle believes Luke Humphries is on the right career path after winning the World Grand Prix with the Grand Slam and Worlds to come; The next stop on the Sky Sports Darts calendar will be the Grand Slam of Darts from November 11-19 at Aldersley Leisure Village
Last updated: 09/10/23 6:27 a.m.
Wayne Mardle believes Luke Humphries is capable of clinching the world title at Alexandra Palace following his success at the World Grand Prix on Sunday.
Humphries won his first major title by defeating Gerwyn Price with a stunning performance to win the biggest title of his career.
The 28-year-old has been a star on the European Tour over the past 18 months, winning five titles, but has now transferred that to the PDC Tour.
He proved he belongs on the biggest stage after producing the performance of his life at Leicester, beating 2020 champion Price 5-2.
The win moves him to fourth in the world and earns him a £120,000 payday, with Sky Sports pundit Mardle claiming the Berkshire hurler has what it takes to become the best in the world.
“The career path is just becoming a champion before you become a champion, if you will,” “Hawaii 501” Mardle said.
“Michael Smith was always seen as ‘he would win a world championship’ even if he hadn’t won a major and that was the general consensus with Luke, but now that he’s won a major, will Will he win a world title? like Michael Smith did when he won the Grand Slam and the Worlds?
“We don’t know, but what we do know is that for all the frailties people thought he had, Luke doesn’t have them.
“He crossed the line hard against someone who was playing brilliantly. He didn’t beat someone who was having an off night here. He beat someone who was playing well.”
There have been 13 different winners of the PDC’s main televised events in two years, while Humphries is the seventh new champion in 2022/23.
Rob Cross
Johnny Clayton
Gerwyn Prize
Peter Wright
Joe Cullen
Danny Noppert
Michael van Gerwen
Ross Smith
Michael Smith
Chris Dobey
André Dorure
Nathan Aspinall
Luc Humphries
Price had to endure the usual hostility from the crowd, who were pro-Humphries in their support, and will now be hit in the pocket after swearing during his on-stage interview.
Mardle said of his misdemeanor: “Gezzy said he played the best darts, but he didn’t. He was second in a two-horse race. He said that for the devil. He didn’t “I don’t believe it at all. Luke was better, which is why he won.”
“There was so much to like about that match. I’m in the commentary room watching it and I was taken aback by their brilliance,” Mardle added. “Even listening to Luke, I’m like, ‘this is just brilliant, this is fabulous.’
“I like the sport to be played well and this wasn’t just good, it was pretty perfect. The 138, two 57s and a 24 right in the corner.
“It’s really nice to see a new winner. It’s great for darts and he will be in the Premier League, you can feel it. It will be great to see him week in week out because he shows us all his talent and it “That’s what we want to see.”
Watch the 17th edition of the Grand Slam of Darts from November 11-19 at Aldersley Leisure Village in Wolverhampton.
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