Darts star Ryan Joyce stuns Nathan Aspinall then reveals he’d be a world beater if it wasn’t for crippling fear
RYAN JOYCE admitted he’d be a more dangerous player if he didn’t have a fear of flying.
The Geordie ace KO’d Nathan Aspinall 3-2 in a big shock at the World Grand Prix in Leicester last night.
But Joyce then revealed his chances of becoming a bigger darts star have been thwarted because he won’t travel abroad.
He said: “I’m a really dangerous player. I know I can beat any of the top players. I can win this competition.
“Anybody that’s watching or listening that doesn’t like flying can understand
“Having to get two flights to get to a European tour most of the time living in Newcastle, it’s difficult and sometimes just seems easier just not to go.
“At the moment, the furthest I’ve had to travel is only the Czech Republic or Hungary.
“It’s only maybe two hours on a plane, so that’s not too bad.”
Meanwhile, Luke Humphries booked his place in the quarters with a 3-1 victory over Ricardo Pietreczko.
Rob Cross is also into the last eight after beating Martin Schindler 3-1.
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But defending champ Humphries doesn’t believe he’s in the shadow of “superstar” Luke Littler, who was knocked out in the first round by Cross.
The ace faces Jonny Clayton in the World Grand Prix quarter-finals in Leicester tonight.
But ‘Cool Hand’, 29, responded to claims by Gary Anderson that he has been overlooked by the media, who instead focus on teen sensation Littler.
Scot Anderson blasted: “It’s not just being world champion. What has Luke (Humphries) won in the last two years? This is the thing. He has won just about everything.
“He’s won so much more, and the boy gets looked over every time, which I think is a load of b****cks to be honest.”
However, Humphries denied that is the case, saying: “I do feel like I’ve got a lot of credit.
“I don’t feel like the media hasn’t given me credit. I don’t feel that way. I don’t think that any of you guys have not given me credit.
“I just think when you’ve got a superstar (Littler), it’s hard not to go with that. Luke has grown the sport at absolutely incredible levels, he’s making the sport bigger for all of us, let’s be honest.
“If I was 17, 18 and all the attention was on him and not me, then I’d be gutted.”
‘Not as bad as it seems’
He added: “I’m an older guy now. I’m 29. I just want to win titles. That’s all I care about.
“Luke’s fantastic and I really get on well with him and he’s just a different talent.
“He’s 17-years-old and one of the best players in the world. That’s an incredible feat. It’s something that doesn’t happen not just in darts, but any sport.
“I can see the media attention is on him. Maybe I deserve a bit more, maybe I deserve a bit more alongside him. But the media attention he gets, he deserves.
“I do think I get a little bit of credit. I think it’s not as bad as it seems.”