Luke Humphries admits he feels like he ‘belongs’ in the BetMGM Premier League, after celebrating his first nightly victory in Brighton on Thursday.
Humphries stole the show by the seaside, producing a trio of ton-plus averages to dispatch Gerwyn Price, Rob Cross and Michael Smith on Night Six at The Brighton Centre.
The World Champion was in merciless mood throughout the evening, conceding just eight legs in three matches to catapult himself up to second in the Premier League table.
Humphries registered his highest televised average in a remarkable semi-final success against Cross, averaging 113.71 and landing a hat-trick of 11-darters on his way to a 6-3 victory.
The 29-year-old also averaged 105 in his quarter-final demolition of Price, before wrapping up the nightly title with a resounding 6-3 win over Smith, averaging 101 in the process.
“This was the best I’ve played and the best I’ve felt since the World Championship,” admitted Humphries, who averaged 106.7 across the course of the night.
“I think after the World Championship and the way I played, some people expected me to win everything, and that’s not going to happen.
“There is so much great talent out there, so many great players, and winning nights like these are fantastic, because they’re really hard to win.
“I played really well and it was my night. Next week it might not be that way, but I’m really proud of the way I played here.”
Despite occupying sixth place ahead of Thursday's action, Humphries arrived in Brighton with the highest tournament average, having recorded seven ton-plus averages in his opening nine matches.
However, buoyed by his run to last weekend’s UK Open final, the world number one translated those performances into results to move to within three points of league leader Michael van Gerwen.
“You have to accept that you’re going to lose more nights than you win,” added Humphries, who will renew his rivalry with Smith in the Night Seven quarter-finals in Nottingham.
“Sometimes it takes a bit of time to get used to the new scenarios and what you’re going through, and the UK Open was a massive boost for me.
“I know I didn’t win it, but my game was in a good place and I came here and upped my game even more, and that’s important for me.
“I’ve achieved everything that I’ve ever dreamed of doing in this sport, and the fans are starting to take to me a little bit more.
“I am enjoying it up here, and I love the game to bits. To be involved in the Premier League, whether I win it or I finish bottom – it’s a privilege to be here.”
Humphries made two Premier League appearances as a challenger in 2019 and 2020, but this year marks his first fully-fledged campaign in the sport’s biggest roadshow.
The Newbury-born ace is bidding to become the third player in the space of five years to triumph on his Premier League debut, and he insists he’s relishing the experience.
“I don’t feel like a debutant. I feel like I’ve been doing this for about five years," continued Humphries.
“I feel like I belong here, and hopefully I’m here for a long time in the future.
“My target this season is just to be in the top four, whether that’s first or fourth.
“There are eight fantastic players in this tournament, but I really want to make Finals Night; that would be a massive achievement for me.
“If it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen. It’s my first year in the Premier League and it’s all about experience and learning, but I’m going to keep working hard."