Luke Humphries says he’s relishing the chance to face Paul Lim on the World Darts Championship as soon as once more 5 years on from his loss to the 71-year-old.
Humphries put in some spectacular spells in a 3-1 win over Ted Evetts in his opening spherical encounter whereas Lim turned the oldest winner ever on the PDC World Darts Championship together with his 3-1 victory over Jeffrey de Graaf.
Lim was again at Alexandra Palace 45 years on from his debut and in his twenty seventh look, delighting the raucous crowd that have been firmly on his aspect as he pulled off one of the vital memorable wins on the Palace stage.
It means the ‘Singapore Slinger’ faces the world No 2 who he pulled off a comeback in opposition to again in 2021 to win 3-2 within the first spherical.
Whereas Humphries would like to even up the statistics and get a win in opposition to Lim on this stage, he credit that loss with sparking the change in his profession that has seen him grow to be the participant he’s at present.
Certainly, since that loss he has gone on to select up eight main titles, together with his world championship title in 2024.
“I am not going to look for revenge on any player, you play each other so many times,” Humphries mentioned.
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Paul Lim beats Jeffrey de Graaf within the first spherical of the World Darts Championship.
“There is no revenge in darts. I can’t get revenge for a certain game that happened five years ago.
“If something, I virtually thank Paul for that defeat 5 years in the past – it modified me as a participant, it modified me as an individual.
“Three months later I lost about four stone and was in a major final myself so if anything it helped my career.
“I’m a very huge fan of him and he’s a very huge fan of me. We hit it off.
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Paul Lim makes his entrance to the stage on the age of 71 within the World Darts Championship.
“But of course it is business in the next game and if I am scoring the way I did tonight it is a tough one for him but if I am not, he has got a chance.
“The gang are going to be on his aspect however I’ve skilled that many instances earlier than with the group in opposition to you.
“The world final 2024, the whole crowd was against me and I managed to put in one of my best performances ever so it is a game I relish and look forward to. It is a big game playing against a legend.”
For Lim, the prospect to fulfill ‘Cool Hand’ once more is a chance to play a “gentleman” however one he believes he can nonetheless beat.
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Paul Lim offers his response after beating Jeffrey de Graaf within the first spherical of the World Darts Championship.
“Luke Humphries, I’ve been watching the last few years and he puts so much effort and time into what he’s doing,” Lim instructed Sky Sports activities.
“He’s a good guy, a gentleman and a great player. I just hope on a given day it can happen again. He’s good but can be beaten.”
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