World number one darts player Luke Humphries has revealed he may take a break from the sport due to mental health concerns.
Despite cruising to a 6-1 victory against Dirk van Duijvenbode in the second round of the International Darts Open on Saturday, Humphries left the stage in a sombre mood.
The 30-year-old admitted feeling "emotionless" during matches and struggling with the demanding schedule of the professional circuit.
In a candid post-match interview, Humphries opened up about his struggles.
Luke Humphries has admitted feeling "emotionless" during matches
Reuters
"When I'm up on stage I am just feeling emotionless. It's weird and it's me being honest to all the fans. I feel like my emotions are just all over the place," he said.
"It's not that I don't want to be here - it just seems a chore for me at the moment."
"It's just too much darts. I'm playing too much. I think I need a break. I'm emotionless and it is not good for my mental state."
Humphries has been facing a particularly gruelling schedule, playing in different tournaments every few days.
His calendar has included the European tour, Players Championship and the World Series of Darts, alongside Premier League commitments.
The demanding schedule saw him play 19 matches during March alone.
After competing in Berlin on Thursday, Humphries barely had a break before taking part in the International Darts Open.
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"The emotion was drained from there. Usually I have the fight in me," he admitted.
Humphries' form has fluctuated in recent months despite his impressive win at the weekend.
After winning the World Masters in February, his results have become inconsistent.
He started strongly in the Premier League with two wins in the first four nights but has since suffered three quarter-final exits.
In week nine, he was soundly beaten 6-2 by Stephen Bunting in their semi-final.
Luke Humphries is not the only one who reckons the darts schedule is too congested as Luke Littler agrees
Getty"Hopefully that has given me ammunition to go and pick up another title because I am desperate for one," he said.
Humphries isn't the only top player feeling the strain of the packed schedule.
Teenage sensation Luke Littler, who currently holds a commanding six-point lead in the Premier League, has also spoken about the taxing nature of the calendar.
"Some people like to practice a lot, but I barely practice during the week," Littler told the Stick To Football podcast.
"My practice is playing in these tournaments every week," he added, highlighting the Thursday to Sunday tournament cycle many players face.
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Luke Humphries is the current No. 1 in the worldPAFormer world champion Rob Cross has previously spoken about the challenges players face with the demanding schedule.
"There's a lot on their calendar, I can't dispute that, but at the same time, you've got to learn how to man-manage yourself," Cross told the Daily Record.
He warned of the dangers of burnout, particularly for newcomers to the sport.
"You might not get it right for a year or two, but you will get it right if you keep trying," Cross added.
