Luke Humphries tells critics to get off his back and aims fire at 'worst world champion' digs

Weary World Champion Luke Humphries has told critics to get off his back and says their snap-judgement slagging is just tiresome.

The 29-year-old lifted the greatest prize in his sport at the Ally Pally to cap an incredible run of major tournament wins. However, just six weeks after reaching the darting summit, Humphries has been mocked for some under-par displays. The World No.1 was slaughtered this week after being whitewashed by No.64 Ian White at the Players Championship in Wigan.

Humpries was tagged the game’s worst-ever World Champion by social-media savages and the grief has sparked a feisty response from Cool Hand. Following a run to the Final of Premier League Night Three in Glasgow, he hit back: “I understand the pressures of being the World Champion.

“Every game you lose, everybody gets on your back and it can become tiresome. It was important to play well. Everyone on Tuesday was saying I was written off and the worst World Champion. I have probably over-achieved the back end of last year. No-one expected it, I didn’t expect it myself to win three major titles and be World champ.

“It’s something I never imagined I’d ever do in my whole career let alone in the space of three months, so I’m coming to terms with all the pressures of that. But it would be nice if people just stayed off my back a little bit and just allowed me to go on and play.

“I’ll keep trying to play like I did in Glasgow and, hopefully, that will change a few minds. I don’t feel it [target] on my back, personally. Sometimes fans just put it on your back and every time you lose a game everyone is against you and everyone thinks you are going to fall by the wayside.

“I’m still learning that with my status comes a lot of pressure. Not just me,