Luke Humphries is striving the become the fourth player in PDC history to retain his Paddy Power World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace.
The in-form world number one from Newbury starts his bid on Sunday's opening night in round two against France’s 2022 Lakeside WDF world finalist Thibault Tricole or Australian first time qualifier Joe Comito.
And if Humphries, 29, who won his maiden Betfred World Matchplay title and retained his Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals crown last month, repeats his feat from last year on January 3, he will join the legendary Phil Taylor, Adrian Lewis and Gary Anderson who have all retained dart’s prestigious prize following their maiden wins.
Humphries will also become the first player in PDC history to reach £2million on the two-year Order of Merit system.
“It would be another record I'd love to have on my résumé,” Humphries told PDC official website.
“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’s something I will remember for a long time but I would love to go back and replicate it again one day.”
And Humphries is looking forward to returning to the Alexandra Palace stage as defending world champion.
“It’s very special when you’re driving up that hill and when you play your first game it’s always a great feeling,” he added. “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.”
Also vying for the title will be 2023 champion Michael Smith, who plays the winner of an-all Netherlands first round encounter between Kevin Doets and Noa-Lynn van Leuven, three-time winner Michael van Gerwen who meets either James Hurrell or Jim Long, 2018 champion Rob Cross who awaits the winner of Scott Williams and Niko Springer and young darting sensation Luke Littler.
The 21-year-old from Warrington, who won the Mr Vegas Grand Slam, BetMGM UK Premier League and Jack’s World Series Finals titles, is hoping to land his first world crown after losing 7-4 to Humphries 12 months ago.
Waiting to face Littler in round two is Ryan Meikle or Fallon Sherrock.
The 2025 Paddy Power World Darts Championships runs from December 15 until January 3. For tickets go to: pdc.tv otherwise catch all the action on Sky Sports Main Event.
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