“The ascension is complete. Luke Humphries is the greatest darting force on the planet right now.”
They were the words of Sky Sports commentator Dan Dawson just seconds after Luke Humphries pinned double eight to celebrate his maiden Paddy Power World Darts Championship victory in January.
Fittingly, that description still rings true today, as Humphries returns to Alexandra Palace with further history firmly in his sights.
The world number one will headline this year’s 96-player field in the capital, as he bids to join Phil Taylor, Adrian Lewis and Gary Anderson in retaining the coveted Sid Waddell Trophy.
Furthermore, Humphries will become the first player in PDC history to reach £2m on the two-year Order of Merit system if he clinches back-to-back World Championship titles on January 3.
“It would be another record that I would love to have on my résumé,” claimed Humphries, who has lifted six TV ranking titles since October 2023.
“It is quite incredible that three or four years ago I never believed I would win a major title, let alone a World Championship, so I’m incredibly pleased with what I’ve overcome and achieved.
“Phil [Taylor] and Michael [van Gerwen] have done it, but apart from that, there’s not been many players that have won six major ranking titles in such a short space of time.
“It is something I will remember for a long time, but I would love to go and replicate it again one day.”
As has become World Championship tradition, reigning champion Humphries will headline the tournament’s opening night, which will take place on Sunday December 15.
French number one Thibault Tricole and Australian qualifier Joe Comito will go head-to-head for the right to play Humphries, on what promises to be an evening to remember in north London.
“It’s very special when you’re driving up that hill, and when you play your first game it’s always a great feeling,” declared the 29-year-old.
“I think it will be a lot more special this time because I’m going up that hill as the reigning World Champion.
“For me, it’s been the most amazing year, but it’s a year you want to go and do again next year.
“The want for me to be World Champion every year now is going to be greater, and I’m going to be dangerous at the World Championship this year, I can feel it.”
Humphries’ World Championship triumph capped off an astonishing run of 19 straight wins in televised ranking matches - a record matched only by Taylor and Michael van Gerwen in the PDC era.
The Newbury-born star has added to his extensive title haul in 2024, steering England to World Cup glory alongside Michael Smith in June, before winning his maiden World Matchplay title a month later.
The World Champion also retained his Players Championship Finals crown in Minehead last month, marking the perfect preparation ahead of his Alexandra Palace return.
“I’m quite proud of the way I’ve handled myself as the World Champion,” insisted Humphries, also a UK Open, Premier League and World Grand Prix runner-up in 2024.
“I’ve been in six major finals, I’ve won the World Cup, World Matchplay and retained the Players Championship Finals, so I can’t say it’s not been a success.
“My goal after winning the World Grand Prix last year was to win one more major title in the next 12 months, so I think I’ve done myself justice!”
Despite Humphries' success, the sport has never been more competitive, illustrated by Mike De Decker and Ritchie Edhouse claiming maiden TV titles at the World Grand Prix and European Championship in October.
Both players were ranked outside the world’s top 32 prior to their breakthrough wins, which makes Humphries’ exploits all the more impressive given the current strength in depth at the top level.
Humphries’ success can be attributed to his insatiable drive, and it’s that relentless pursuit of success that looks set to ensure he will establish himself as one of the game’s all-time greats.
“I think your life all comes down to being a World Champion,” added the world number one, who is priced at 11/4 with title sponsor Paddy Power to retain the coveted title in January.
“You could win 20 major titles, but if you leave the sport without a World Championship, you will always think: ‘what if?’
“I know what it feels like to be a World Champion now, and that makes me dangerous, because there’s nothing left for me to prove.
“I feel like I’ve got another 20 years left at the top level hopefully, and now I’m setting my goals on trying to win as many World Championship titles as I can.”
You can read the full, exclusive interview with Luke in the official Paddy Power World Darts Championship programme, which is available to pre-order now.