Luke Humphries admits he may take break from darts in emotional statement after match

Luke Humphries has hinted that he may step away from competitive for a while, admitting he feels "emotionless" during matches. Despite a dominant 6-1 win over Dirk van Duivenbode in the second round of the International Darts Open, 'Cool Hand' left the stage in a subdued mood, expressing concern over his mental health.

believes he's simply playing too often. With his involvement in the , his calendar has become especially relentless, with tournaments coming thick and fast.

Humphries, 30, has seen his performance levels waver recently, and he's opened up about feeling disconnected when he plays. Taking some time off, he says, might help him rediscover his best form.

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Reflecting after his victory over Van Duivenbode, Humphries said: "When I'm up on stage I am just feeling emotionless. It's and it's me being honest to all the fans. I feel like my emotions are just all over the place.

"It's not that I don't want to be here - it just seems a chore for me at the moment. It's just too much darts. I'm playing too much.

"I think I need a break. I'm emotionless and it is not good for my mental state.

"The emotion was drained from there. Usually I have the fight in me. Dirk, I felt like, was nervous and he gave the game away for me to get the win.

"He gave me the confidence to push on and get the victory. Hopefully that has given me ammunition to go and pick up another title because I am desperate for one."

Humphries picked up the World Masters title in February, but since then his results have been inconsistent. Though he topped the Premier League standings early on - claiming two wins in the first four weeks - his momentum has faded.

He has since been eliminated in three straight quarter-finals and was convincingly beaten 6-2 by in a semi-final during week nine. Meanwhile, his fellow Premier League competitor - who now holds a commanding six-point lead - has echoed concerns over the taxing nature of the schedule.

The teenage sensation recently revealed he doesn't even train in between events while on the . "Some people like to practice a lot, but I barely practice during the week," he said.

"I was being honest the other week in my interview about not picking up a dart from the previous tournament. We have the Premier League on a Thursday and usually, we're then flying somewhere on the Friday for an international tournament, so you're playing Thursday to Sunday.

"On Monday and Tuesday, we tend to have pro tours and then back to the Premier League on a Thursday. My practice is playing in these tournaments every week."