Premier League Darts: What is the reality of being a professional player?

“Sometimes the people at home just see you throwing darts and that’s it. There’s a lot more that goes into it.”

The glamour, fame and financial rewards – there’s never been a better time to be involved with darts as the sport continues to grow at a rapid rate.

But there’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes for players to make it to the top of the game.

World number one Luke Humphries knows first hand the sacrifices that are made.

Speaking before the opening night of the 2025 Premier League Darts in Belfast, Humphries said: “Being in this tournament is in a lot of people’s dreams, but it is really tough.

“You leave on a Wednesday and come home on a Friday. There’s four hours that people are watching you on a Thursday night, but a lot more that goes into it.

“There is a lot of travelling and a lot of sacrifice, but we’re all really lucky to do what we do. We’re getting paid incredibly well, so it’s a blessing for us all. We can’t complain.”

Heading into his second year on the Premier League schedule, 2024 world champion Humphries says he learned a lot about how to pace himself from his first year with the additional matches.

“If you’re a newbie you won’t know what to expect or how to handle things. I think last year will help me,” he said.

“Managing your calendar the best you can, it’s so stacked. You physically can’t play in everything, it’s almost impossible.

“I’ll keep myself very busy throughout the year and I’ll be careful in how I pick and choose what tournaments I miss to make sure I don’t burn myself out.”