Sky Sports Darts Pundit Demands Rule Change After Luke Humphries' Nine-Darter
As the Premier League Darts tour arrives in Cardiff this week, defending champion Luke Humphries is seeking to improve upon a subpar start to his title defence. The event marks a significant moment, as it was roughly twelve months ago that Humphries' performance prompted a call for a radical rule change from Sky Sports Darts pundit John Part.
Humphries' Struggle and Historic Night in Brighton
Luke Humphries, who dethroned Luke Littler at the O2 Arena on the final night of last year's Premier League, has yet to win a night in this year's competition. Both players have struggled to gain momentum, with Night Five in Cardiff presenting a crucial opportunity. Last year, Night Five in Brighton became unforgettable when Humphries and fellow English thrower Rob Cross both achieved nine-dart perfection, yet both lost their respective matches.
In Brighton, Humphries faced Rob Cross in the quarter-finals, producing a nine-darter in only the second leg, which electrified the crowd. Despite this brilliance, Cross's seven 180s secured a 6-4 victory. Cross then hit his own nine-darter in the semi-final against Nathan Aspinall, but lost 6-5 before Aspinall fell to Littler in the final. Humphries reflected, "I've hit about five or six nine-darters in my career. But it's always a special feeling to do it on the big stage and the crowd went wild which was amazing. Of course, I would have rather won the game, but it's a really nice memento."
John Part's Controversial Suggestion
The sight of Humphries losing after hitting a nine-darter did not sit well with John Part, a three-time world champion and Sky Sports Darts favourite. This scenario repeated recently in Belfast, where home favourite Josh Rock pinned a historic perfect leg only to lose to Gian van Veen. Part, on commentary duty, suggested a rule change: if a player hits a nine-darter, they should automatically win the match, but only in shorter-format games.
Part's proposal was met with laughter from fellow commentator Wayne Mardle, highlighting the divisive nature of the idea. Humphries, meanwhile, has admitted his current issue is finishing games, not starting them. He said, "My game at the moment, I am starting off like a train in every game I play, playing the best darts out of anybody. Then, all of a sudden, I am playing the worst darts. It's just a strange scenario for me. I don't really know why. I am trying my best."
Rewards and Ongoing Debate
To ease the pain of defeat, Humphries and Cross were awarded golden darts worth £30,000 by tournament sponsors BetMGM. However, Part's call for a rule change underscores a broader debate in darts about whether perfection should guarantee victory. As the Premier League continues in Cardiff, all eyes will be on Humphries to see if he can turn his strong starts into wins, potentially making such rule discussions moot.
The event in Cardiff not only highlights the competitive nature of the Premier League but also raises questions about the sport's regulations and the balance between skill and luck. With players like Humphries striving for consistency, the outcome could influence future rule considerations in professional darts.
