Humphries: I almost quit

LUKE HUMPHRIES admits he almost QUIT as be battled the “demons” in his head. 

The world champion and world No.1 has opened up about his mental health issues ahead of the Premier League in Liverpool tonight (Thursday).

Humphries, 29, leads the table but revealed that he was ready to walk away from the sport just a few years ago.

He said: “I’m proud of the way I battled the demons in my head. Speak to the people who are closest to you the most, they’re the people who are there in the toughest moments.
“My journey has not been straightforward. It’s been really tough. I went through anxiety and mental health through my career. 

“It’s stopped me back a little bit. I went out and spoke to the right people and got it sorted. I even contemplated giving up the sport. In that moment I felt really alone. 

“But I spoke to the right people and I stand here as a world champion and world No.1. For me that makes me me proud than anything, the way I battled back through the things that were going on in my head.

“It just proves if you put your mind to anything, you can overcome a lot.”

Humphries, who takes on Nathan Aspinall, is supporting Liverpool-based charity ‘Chasing the Stigma ahead of his clash at the M&S Bank Arena.

He’s chasing a fourth night win to confirm his place in the finals at the O2 in London next month.

‘Cool Hand’ added: “I was really open and honest about it. It was affecting me on the big stage. People knew there was something wrong with me. 

“I wasn’t acting my normal self up there. So it was important for me to just be honest and let it out into the open. 

“I didn’t feel ashamed by it. I think I got a lot if support from it from players and other people in general. 

“I get a lot of messages on social media from people saying they admire how I was openly honest about it in my sport. 

“In certain sports they don’t do it enough. I love being an advocate to raise awareness that it’s normal. A lot of people go through it. If you do, you’re still a normal person. 

“My message is to speak to people close to you the most. Your family are the people who will be there in the tough moments more than anybody. 

“If you don’t think you can do that, then your friends or professional help, maybe a doctor or someone who can guide you in the right way. I did that and it really helped me. I’m in a really good headspace now. 

“I’m world No.1 in my sport. Three or four years ago I never thought or believed that was possible. So what I did was the right thing.”

M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool, Sky Sports, 7pm.
Quarter-Finals; Luke Littler v Gerwyn Price, Luke Humphries v Nathan Aspinall, Peter Wright v Michael van Gerwen, Michael Smith v Rob Cross.

Words by Phil Lanning.

Images by Taylor Lanning.