When Darts Gets Dangerous: What Happened to Luke Humphries in NYC Should Scare Everyone

By Lewis Barnett 4 July, 2025 5 mins read 46 Views

Listen. I've been following darts for years, and what happened to Luke Humphries at Madison Square Garden last month made my stomach drop.

The world No1 was doing his usual walk-on routine - you know, the whole crowd interaction thing that makes darts so electric - when some overzealous fan grabbed his thumb and yanked it backward. Hard enough to send him to the hospital afterward for X-rays. Hard enough to make holding darts painful during his match against Nathan Aspinall.

Hear the Summary

The Moment Everything Changed

Picture this: you're Luke Humphries, riding high as world champion, walking through a sea of screaming New Yorkers who've probably had a few too many beers. The energy is insane. Then suddenly - snap. Some fan decides your thumb is their personal souvenir and nearly breaks it.

Humphries still managed to beat Aspinall 8-6, which honestly shows the mental toughness these guys have. But afterward? Straight to A&E for emergency X-rays because his thumb was swollen like a balloon.

Thank god nothing was broken. But what if it had been?

Vincent van der Voort Saw the Aftermath

Former pro Vincent van der Voort was there the next day and saw Humphries' thumb firsthand. "It was really swollen," he said on the Darts Draait Door podcast. The host, Damian Vlottes, didn't mince words: "It really didn't look safe for the players."

No kidding.

Van der Voort suggested something that actually makes perfect sense - players should start fist-bumping fans instead of shaking hands. He pointed to Raymond van Barneveld, who's been doing this for years: "He says, 'I don't want those beer-soaked hands anywhere near my darting hand.' More players should take a leaf out of his book."

The Magic vs. The Madness

Here's teh thing - and this is what's killing me about this whole situation. The walk-ons are what make darts special. These aren't untouchable athletes hiding behind security barriers. They're regular people who happen to be incredible at throwing tiny arrows, and they genuinely love interacting with fans.

But there's a line between enthusiasm and assault. And what happened to Humphries crossed it.

I remember watching that NYC crowd on TV thinking, "This looks absolutely mental." The energy was off the charts, but it also felt... dangerous? Like watching a controlled explosion that might not stay controlled much longer.

What Happens Next?

The PDC has to figure this out fast. You can't have your world No1 getting injured by fans during walk-ons. But you also can't kill the atmosphere that makes darts so addictive to watch.

Maybe van der Voort's fist-bump idea is the answer. Maybe they need better crowd control. Maybe they need to educate fans about boundaries before events.

What they can't do is nothing.

Because next time, it might not be just a swollen thumb. Next time, someone's career could be over before they even reach the oche. And that would be a tragedy for everyone who loves this sport.

The fans in New York weren't malicious - they were just too excited for their own good. But intent doesn't matter when you're dealing with injuries that could end careers.

Something's got to change. Fast.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far should I stand from the dartboard?

The official throwing distance is 7 feet 9¼ inches (2.37 meters) measured from the face of the board to the oche (throwing line). In American darts, this distance is sometimes 8 feet, so check local rules if you're playing in the States.

What's the standard height for hanging a dartboard?

The standard height for a dartboard is 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm) from the floor to the bullseye. This measurement is official across professional darts organizations worldwide, including the PDC and BDO. It's designed to create a fair playing field for players of different heights.

What weight darts should beginners use?

For beginners, I generally recommend starting with medium-weight darts between 21-24 grams. This range offers enough heft to fly straight without requiring too much force, but isn't so heavy that it becomes tiring during longer practice sessions.

My darts keep bouncing out of the board. What am I doing wrong?

Bounce-outs are incredibly frustrating, but they're usually caused by one of a few common issues. First, check your dartboard—if it's old and dried out, even the best throws will struggle to stick. Quality sisal boards should last years, but cheaper paper-wound boards harden quickly. If you can press your thumbnail into the board and it doesn't leave a small indent, it's too hard.

Can you recommend some fun dart games for parties?

Absolutely! Darts doesn't have to be all about 501 and cricket. For parties, you want games that keep everyone involved, accommodate different skill levels, and create some friendly competition.

Wait, so how exactly do you score in darts? I always get confused.

Dart scoring is straightforward once you get the hang of it! The standard game (501 or 301) starts with that number, and you subtract whatever you hit with each throw. The goal is to reach exactly zero, with your final dart landing in a double.

Statistics

The first televised nine-dart finish was thrown by John Lowe in 1984, earning him £102,000.
The standard height from the floor to the bullseye on a dartboard is 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 meters).
Research shows that top professional dart players achieve accuracy rates of over 80% when aiming at treble 20.
In 2016, Michael van Gerwen set a world record for the highest three-dart average in a major tournament at 123.40.
The distance from the throwing line (oche) to the dartboard is precisely 7 feet 9.25 inches (2.37 meters).
Statistical analysis reveals that professional players throw darts at an average speed of 40-60 miles per hour.
A perfect leg of 501 can be completed in nine darts, known in the sport as a "nine-darter."
The World Darts Championship prize fund exceeded £2.5 million in 2023, with the champion receiving £500,000.

External Links

How To

Common Problems & How I Fixed Them

Inconsistent grouping was my biggest issue for years. The solution? I recorded my throw in slow motion and noticed I was dropping my elbow at different heights. Once I fixed that, my grouping tightened up immediately.

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