Martin Lukeman and Ritchie Edhouse: Meet the muckas shaking up darts as Alexandra Palace awaits
Martin Lukeman and Ritchie Edhouse have both recently picked up big wins and head to Alexandra Palace in good form and ready to cause an upset;watch every session of the World Darts Championship from December 15-January 3 live on Sky Sports
Saturday 7 December 2024 08:17, UK
The winds have been changing recently in darts, the long-standing top players being knocked off their perch, and the rise of good friends Martin Lukeman and Ritchie Edhouse are just two examples.
Lukeman made his mark in November when he went on a fantastic run all the way to the Grand Slam final, ultimately being beaten by Luke Littler in Wolverhampton, the 17-year-old reeling off 15 legs in a row.
Despite not being able to pick up the big prize, Lukeman made his mark and shows he has what it takes to push players all the way.
- World Darts Championship: Full 2025 schedule
- Get Sky Sports or stream with NOW
- Who missed out at the Tour Card Holder Qualifier?
Meanwhile, Edhouse picked up the 2024 European Championship, beating Gian van Veen, Michael Smith, Gary Anderson, Luke Woodhouse, then Jermaine Wattimena to clinch the title.
The two pals have been proving that hard work pays dividends and Lukeman is motivated to keep putting the hours in wherever he can ahead of the Worlds.
"I don't know if you know, but I've built a new dart room lately, I've been in there every day, just grafting it out, and I'm starting to see the results now, " Lukeman said.
"I want to have a good run at the Worlds, this is my third attempt, so I want to do well there, at least go on a good run.
"I want to get past that Christmas point, that Christmas break point, because I've never done that yet, so I want to try and do that, then I'll work on it game after game.
"I play Super League three nights a week, still play County, when I can that is, when I'm not busy, and I'm doing three or four hours a day, at least. My practice partner is Connor Scutt, so he's at home practising, I'm playing him while he's at home and I'm at home, so it's just brilliant.
"I'll go to local competitions still, and go to my Super Leagues. I play Super League Monday, Wednesday and Friday, when I can turn up. I'll go to County, I'm going to Somerset to play County.
"It's just all my pals. They see me go from a pub player to where I am now.
"If I'm free one weekend and they need me and I'm available, I'll go down there for them. They've looked after me."
Lukeman briefly made it into the top 32 back earlier in the year but wants a run at Alexandra Palce to cement himself as one of the world's top players.
"I want to get back in that top 32. I was in it this year for about four days. I got in there and at the same time I went to my manager and asked for my invoice submission for my bonus," he added.
"Before they even got it to me, I was already back out of the top 32, but I got the bonus. I was in it officially.
"I just think I'm worthy of a top 32 player.
"If I just get my consistency right, which is coming now, I'm starting to hit them 95 pluses on a regular to 105. I'm not going to be hitting 120 averages, I'm not that sort of player, but I can be consistent 105 to 95. That's good enough to win competitions."
Edhouse: Confidence breeds confidence
Lukeman isn't the only one riding high with confidence, with his good friend Edhouse firmly believing that he is in the form to "beat anyone at the Worlds".
"It's been going well. Obviously it's the first time ever being a champion. Everyone's been really nice and it's just good feelings," Edhouse said.
"It's massive. I mean, I feel like I should be here. I'm not just taking part. Every tournament I go to, I could win it.
"Obviously it's the biggest tournament of the year in the world, so it's nice to be in form at the end of the year as well.
"I always said confidence breeds confidence, and going into it, I feel I could beat anyone if I play my game.
"Anyone there, if they play their game, can win it. And yeah, so we just go up there and see what happens when we play.
"For me, at the moment, just get past Christmas. I would say I've always lost first or second round.
"So yeah, it'd be nice to come back after Christmas for a change and see how it goes."
When will the World Darts Championship take place?
The tournament gets under way at Alexandra Palace on Sunday December 15, with three first-round matches and one second-round match on the opening evening.
There will be live darts over each of the following eight days, including seven afternoon sessions, with the usual three-day break from Christmas Eve to Boxing Day before returning with the third round and a double session on December 27.
The third and fourth rounds will be completed by December 30 before a night off on New Year's Eve, with the quarter-finals held across two sessions on New Year's Day ahead of the semi-finals on January 2 and the final on Friday January 3.
The full day-by-day schedule for this year's tournament can be found here.
Who will win the Paddy Power World Darts Championship? Watch every match exclusively live from December 15-January 3 on Sky Sports' dedicated darts channel. Stream darts and more top sport with NOW.
