Luke Humphries can’t help but swear on live TV moments after blowing £120k payday

Luke Humphries faced off against Gian van Veen in the European Championship final with the world No.1 taking his opponent all the way before suffering a painful defeat

World No.1 Luke Humphries said he was hoping Gian van Veen would “s*** himself” during their European Championship final in Dortmund. Humphries battled back from the brink against his Dutch opponent, but Van Veen clinched a 11-10 victory and his first senior TV title.

The 23-year-old had darts for victory at 10-9, only for Humphries to keep his nerve for a crucial 85 checkout. ‘Cool Hand’ couldn’t finish the job, though, leaving Van Veen to claim the title and the £120,000 top prize.

“Honestly, I’m a very good loser but obviously this is a tough one to take. I felt like… I was kind of hoping he was going to s*** himself at the end there and he didn’t,” Humphries told ITV during the live TV broadcast. He’s an amazing player and I kind of expected him to win a major, but everyone seems to win their first ones against me.

“It’s frustrating but the way he played in the second and third sessions was just amazing and I’m just thinking, ‘If you just go off a little bit I might stand a chance’, but he didn’t.

“I knew this was coming. He’s an unbelievable player, he’s Premier League material, this is some stuff.

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“But of course, for myself, I’m devastated but on the other hand I’m proud of Gian because I’ve known him for many years,” Humphries added. “I’m gutted but I’m accepting of defeat and it just wasn’t my night.”

Van Veen’s win was made all the more special by the fact that he was visibly struggling with injury in his semi-final. He struggled to step the bleeding after cutting his thumb, but still managed to overcome Michael van Gerwen before rallying to beat Humphries.

“I said it to my girlfriend when I walked off stage, whenever I win my first stage title… I wouldn’t cry, but here we are, I’m crying,” the Dutchman said.

“It’s such a phenomenal feeling. When I missed the 100 to win it at 10-9 and Luke hit the 85 on the bull, I was like ‘This is over’. But to hit the 100 checkout, the same checkout, to win it, it’s amazing.

“I’ll never forget this moment and neither [will I forget] this crowd,” Van Veen added. “It’s phenomenal to win my first ever major here in Germany, and what a night.

“I said to Luke as well after the game, how he hit the 85 finish on the bull to go 10-all with me on the double for the match, that shows why he’s the world number one. Only the really good players can do that under that pressure and that’s what he did.

“Even how he congratulated me after the game, he’s devastated to lose this final but how he showed his sportsmanship to me, that’s why he’s world number one and that’s how amazing a person Luke is.”