Luke Humphries Reveals Devastating Food Poisoning Battle Cost Him a Stone

Luke Humphries has opened up about a frightening spell of illness that left him struggling physically, forced him out of a major darts tournament and cost him around a stone in body weight.

For a player who has spent years transforming his fitness to reach the very top of professional darts, the experience was particularly difficult. Humphries had worked hard to build a healthier lifestyle and establish himself among the sport’s elite, only to find himself facing an unexpected battle away from the oche.

The former world champion has now revealed just how badly gastroenteritis affected him, explaining how the illness disrupted his preparations and threatened to derail his return to competitive action.

And while the story initially sounds like another unfortunate setback for a professional athlete, there is an encouraging twist: Humphries managed to produce a remarkable response when he finally returned to competition.

A Stone Lost in Just Over a Week

The scale of the problem became clear when Humphries weighed himself after eight or nine days of illness.

The 31-year-old revealed: “I’ve lost a stone. When I went on the scales, it was after eight or nine days, I weighed myself and I’d lost like 15 pounds.

“And I was like: ‘Jesus, what the hell?’ Probably put a few pounds on with eating normal, But for a while, I couldn’t eat.”

Losing 15 pounds in such a short period is a significant amount of weight, particularly for someone who needs to maintain concentration, consistency and physical energy during long darts tournaments.

Gastroenteritis can cause vomiting and diarrhoea, making it difficult for someone to eat and maintain normal hydration. In Humphries’ case, the consequences were serious enough to keep him away from competition.

He explained that he had been very ill for around two weeks and had spent much of the recovery period resting at home rather than practising or maintaining his usual routine.

For professional darts players, preparation is about much more than simply picking up a set of darts on match day. Rhythm, confidence, concentration and repetition all play important roles.

That makes an extended period away from the practice board particularly frustrating for someone competing at the highest level.

Missing the European Championship Was a Major Blow

Perhaps the biggest disappointment for Humphries was having to withdraw from the European Darts Championship in Dortmund.

The former world champion was forced to miss the four-day tournament after being diagnosed with gastroenteritis.

It was not simply another competition on the calendar. Humphries had been enjoying a good run and believed he was building momentum heading into the event.

Reflecting on the withdrawal, he admitted: “I think that’s the first major I’d ever missed. I was devastated because I had been on a good run.”

That statement tells you plenty about his disappointment.

Humphries is a player who takes competing seriously, and missing a major tournament because of illness is hardly the way anyone wants to interrupt a promising spell.

There is also an important distinction between choosing to skip an event and being physically unable to compete. Humphries had little choice in the matter.

Even the best players cannot control everything that happens outside the arena, and this was a reminder that sporting careers can be disrupted by circumstances that have absolutely nothing to do with performance.

His Weight-Loss Journey Makes the Experience Even More Interesting

There is another reason why the weight-loss revelation is particularly interesting.

Humphries has previously spoken about transforming his fitness and lifestyle, a decision that played an important role in his development as a professional darts player.

His weight-loss journey began in 2021, when he decided to make significant changes to his eating habits and physical activity.

He eventually lost around four stone, helping him improve his stamina and cope better with the demanding schedule of professional darts.

In previous interviews, Humphries explained that fatigue had been affecting his ability to maintain his performance throughout long tournament days.

He recognised that improving his fitness could make a difference, even in a sport that does not involve the same physical demands as football, athletics or boxing.

That transformation coincided with his rise into the very highest level of the game. He went on to become world number one and won the 2024 PDC World Championship, defeating Luke Littler 7-4 in the final at Alexandra Palace.

It is therefore understandable why another sudden change in his physical condition would have been concerning.

However, there is no suggestion that Humphries’ recent weight loss was intentional. This was the consequence of being seriously unwell, rather than another planned fitness transformation.

And unlike his previous lifestyle changes, this time he needed to focus on recovering his strength before thinking about getting back to the top of his game.

An Incredible Comeback in Leicester

Just when it looked like the illness might leave him struggling to regain his competitive rhythm, Humphries produced a response that deserves plenty of credit.

He returned to action at a Players Championship event in Leicester, initially intending to use the tournament to assess his fitness and see how much energy he had recovered.

He was not expecting to produce a tournament-winning performance.

In fact, he admitted that he had barely practised in the two weeks before the event and had only managed a few throws during the four days leading up to his return.

Yet what followed was quite remarkable.

Humphries defeated 16-year-old Archie Self, Gerwyn Price and Gary Anderson before overcoming Niels Zonneveld 8-4 in the final.

The victory earned him £15,000 and, perhaps more importantly, provided a huge confidence boost after several difficult weeks.

Speaking about his decision to compete, he explained: “For myself, it’s obviously really nice to come back.

“It was more about coming back and seeing what my energy levels are like.”

He also admitted that winning was unexpected given everything he had experienced.

“To come here and win, it takes you back a little bit.”

That is an understandable reaction. Going from spending weeks recovering on the sofa to defeating some of the biggest names in professional darts is not something anyone should take for granted.

What Does This Mean for Humphries Going Forward?

The biggest positive from this experience is that Humphries appears to have rediscovered some confidence in his ability.

He explained that the victory made him feel as though he had picked up where he left off before becoming ill.

He also admitted that missing a tournament had represented a backward step, particularly because he had lost valuable practice time.

However, his performance in Leicester offered a timely reminder of the quality he still possesses.

Humphries said: “It makes you think, okay, you kind of just carried on where you left off a little bit, which is good for me. Because I didn’t want to come here and disappoint.”

For darts fans, that is encouraging news.

The sport is currently packed with exceptional players, with Luke Littler, Gerwyn Price, Gary Anderson and several other established stars capable of producing outstanding performances.

Humphries knows he cannot afford to lose momentum for too long if he wants to remain among the leading contenders for the biggest titles.

At the same time, rushing back from illness would have been a mistake. His energy levels and overall recovery are more important than trying to force his way through every tournament.

There is also a psychological benefit to winning immediately after such a difficult spell. It gives him evidence that his game has not disappeared simply because he has spent several weeks away from regular competition.

And that confidence could prove valuable as the season approaches its most important stages.

Humphries Has Given Himself Something to Build On

Ultimately, this has been a frustrating period for one of the biggest names in darts.

Losing a stone through food poisoning, missing the European Championship and spending weeks away from the practice board were hardly part of Humphries’ plans.

But his response in Leicester suggests that he is beginning to put the experience behind him.

Winning a Pro Tour title against a strong field after such a difficult recovery is an impressive achievement, even if he still needs time to get completely back to his best.

For now, the priority should be maintaining his recovery, rebuilding his energy and getting enough practice to approach the remaining tournaments with confidence.

Humphries has already shown that he can overcome difficult periods in his career, and this latest setback is another test of his resilience.

What do you think? Can Luke Humphries return to his best form and challenge Luke Littler for more major titles after this difficult spell?