Humphries wil sterk terugkeren na hartbrekend verlies in Ally Pally

Humphries zegt dat hij sterk wil terugkeren nadat Peter Wright zijn periode als regerend wereldkampioen op zondagavond beëindigde.

Humphries onderging een 4-1 verliespartij tegen Wright in het Alexandra Palace. Daarmee werd zijn hoop op het prolongeren van zijn wereldtitel beëindigd.

Wright raakte 14 van zijn 20 pijlen op dubbels, het beste finishpercentage over dit format tot zo ver dit jaar.

HUMPHRIES: "I probably put too much pressure on myself tonight, but I thought I played okay.

I kept hitting the treble first dart but I couldn't follow it. Peter played fantastically and backed up what he said pre-match, so fair play to him.

I wasn't at my best but I wasn't terrible by any means, and I'll bounce back. I will still sleep well tonight and look forward to next year."

Humphries won de World Matchplay, Players Championship Finals en de World Cup of Darts in 2024 en wist in Nieuw-Zeeland zijn eerste titel op de World Series of Darts te winnen. Het was een memorabel jaar als wereldkampioen.

HUMPHRIES: "I'm still the world number one, and this result won’t deter me from going on to win more.

I know that if I'm going to be playing this sport for 20 more years; I'm not going to win it every time, and if someone puts in a performance like that against you, you have to accept that the better player won.

There's a long season ahead of me. We have another 12 months before we come back here and do it all again, but I want to win more in between that.

I'm not looking towards next year's World Championship yet, but when we're back here next year, of course I would love to get my title back.

I don't see my career ending as a one-time World Champion. I do feel like I will win more."