Luke Humphries has fired a deep-cutting response to Peter Wright’s confidence about “smashing” the reigning world champion ahead of their fourth-round clash at Alexandra Palace. Cool Hand is relishing the opportunity to equal Wright’s two World Darts Championship titles while he is 25 years his junior, insisting on his immunity to mind games.
Humphries continued the defence of his maiden crown with a comfortable 4-0 victory against Wales’ Nick Kenny on Friday night.
Earlier in the evening, Wright overcame a chest infection to defeat in-form Dutchman Jermaine Wattimena, setting up a mouth-watering meeting in the last 16.
Immediately after his triumph in the main event, Humphries aimed a subtle dig at Snakebite for his previous public comments about how he’d beat the 29-year-old and Luke Littler on the oche.
In his post-match press conference, the world No. 1 doubled down on his bemusement by Wright’s antics, accusing the Scotsman of attempting mind games.
“I wanted to say something back, but I’m one of those people who are like, ‘Nah, let’s leave it’,” Humphries explained.
“I didn’t read the whole interview, but I’ve seen what he’s said, and I’m thinking, how many times have people said, ‘This is going to happen, and this is going to happen,’ and it never happens?
“Michael van Gerwen is a good example. He’s said so many things over the years, ‘I’m going to smash this, smash that’, and then he loses.
“So, yeah, Pete said something like Barney’s [Raymond van Barneveld] going to smash me, and Peter’s going to smash Jermaine Wattimena.
“Well, he’s got his end of the bargain, but, yeah, I just think Peter loves to play the mind games, but they don’t work with me.
“I’m one world title away from almost matching his career, and I’m about 25 years younger, so I think one world title would match everything he’s ever achieved in the game.
“So I don’t look into it too much. I think he’s trying to play the mind games, but unfortunately for him, it doesn’t work on me, and it probably won’t work on Luke Littler.
“He said he doesn’t fear us, but if I don’t fear someone, I don’t keep mentioning them all the time.”
Humphries added further spice to their showdown next week by accusing Wright of feeling less ill than he claimed as he blitzed past Wattimena on Friday.
The tungsten top dog added: “He is a dangerous player. I felt like he was okay in the practice room. Maybe he was a lot more ill than he showed, but I didn’t really see any sign that he was as ill as he said he was.
“But I was here two years ago when I played Stephen Bunting and Vincent van der Voort, and I was really ill. I struggled, I couldn’t perform anywhere near the top level.
“He actually played one of the better games he’s played for a long, long time. But he’s had a lot to say over the last couple of weeks where he says he doesn’t fear me and Luke Littler.
“He said he’s going to smash us, so, yeah, all the pressure’s on him now because if he doesn’t, the egg’s on his face, not mine.
“I’m really, really relaxed, and if he doesn’t beat us, then it’s going to look silly on him, not me.”
