Luke Humphries reveals worrying incident in bed after stunning win - 'Ask my fiancee'

Luke Humphries has revealed that he almost pulled out of the round of 16 of the Grand Slam of Darts due to injury. With a little help from his physio, Mandy, the PDC World Number One managed to pull through and step up to the oche on Wednesday night.

Despite revealing his injury worries, there was no evidence of Humphries struggling as he romped to a stunning 10-3 win over Jurjen van der Velde at the WV Active Aldersley in Wolverhampton, boasting an impressive average of 108.55. Speaking on Sky Sports after the match, Humphries described himself as a 'fighter' after revealing he could barely life his head up when he woke up in bed this morning.

When asked how he put in such a great performance, the 30-year-old said: "No idea, honestly, you ask my fiancée. When I woke up this morning, for 15 minutes I couldn't pick my head up off the pillow.

"I think I've got a back spasm and I was kind of thinking that maybe I'd have to pull out today. It was really that bad, my back was so bad and my shoulder or whatever it is.

"I've just got to thank Mandy, my physio, who's been on it for three hours looking after me, massaging it and trying to get it in the best state it physically could be. I think the adrenaline just got me over the line..."

Cool Hand Luke added: "I guess I'm just a fighter and I surprise myself sometimes. From almost having to pull out this morning to playing like that is something special. I woke up this morning and I couldn't get my head off the pillow.

"I've had a bad neck for a few days but it's been fine, copeable but today I sat up and the crippling pain that came across this part here (points to shoulder) was awful. I didn't want to say anything before because I didn't want Jurjen to know. Obviously, you did, but I've been struggling all day.

"It's just crazy how you can go and perform like that when you've got an injury like I have. But like I say, I just have to thank Mandy, my physio, she's worked so hard to the point where it's in the physical state to play, and I can't believe I've done that."

Fortunately for Humphries, he'll be able to recharge his batteries on Thursday when the remaining last-16 matches are played: Lukas Wenig vs Niko Springer, Josh Rock vs Connor Scutt, Luke Littler vs Wessel Nijman, and Michael van Gerwen vs Danny Noppert.

The quarter-finals will then take place on Friday and Saturday night, before the semi-finals on Sunday afternoon, followed by the final in the evening. Humphries will surrender his place at the top of the world rankings to Luke Littler unless he wins the tournament and The Nuke crashes out in the last 16 or quarter-finals.