Martin Luckmann believes his continued run at a grand slam of darts is “the beginning of his legend” after a shock win over Rob Cross to reach the semi-finals.
Luckman had to go through the qualifiers to even enter the tournament, but was in sensational form throughout, beating Peter Wright, Leonard Gates and Cross in the group stages, before defeating Ross Smith in the last 16 and then Cross again in the quarters.
He fought back bravely in last-eight clashes to go 5-1 down against the world No.4, showing his ability to perform on the biggest stages.
Confidence is high for Lukeman and he has begun to dream that he can indeed become a major winner and is at the beginning of his “legend” like Luke Humphreys in 2023.
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Martin Lukeman defeated Rob Cross 16-11 in the Grand Slam of Darts and advanced to the semi-finals.
“It’s been great, but there’s still two to go,” Luckman said.
“I dreamed when I got out of the group stage, at the end of the day it’s a game of darts.
“I saw Rob start hitting one and five so I thought ‘be steady’ and I started to get my bull end and big end out and I thought ‘come on, that’s you.’
“I knew the first one was 16, so I won’t panic.
“Anyway, I’m not afraid of anyone. I beat Michael van Gerwen on the European stages, I think 6-1.
“Luke Humphreys hit me but that was the start of his legend and this weekend is the start of mine.
“I’d rather be the underdog. I’ve been the underdog all through the competition and I said at the beginning I’d go under the radar and ruffle some feathers and do my thing.”
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Martin Luckmann cashes in on a big 144 to extend his lead over Rob Cross in the Grand Slam of Darts.
Throughout the tournament, Lukeman kept insisting that more than anything he wanted a picture of the winner with his wife on stage, and that’s a sentiment he echoed again.
“People don’t realize what our wives and girlfriends go through behind the scenes,” he added.
“We lose a heap when we lose and they deserve as much credit as we do and they don’t get as much credit as they do.
“I’m going to show my wife how much I love her and she deserves everything she gets.”
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Martin Luckman says his performance against Rob Cross was uncertain but is “for war” against Mickey Mansell in the semi-final.
Mardle: Every player says “why not me?”
Wayne Mardle analyzes what has been a tournament of underdogs…
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Wayne Mardle believes darts is opening up, where lesser-known players now think they can challenge and beat the big names again.
“I think what we’ve got to start realizing is these guys are putting in the time and they know the dedication is there, they know their game is there,” Mardle said.
“And because they play them, call it world-class players that we know week in and week out in Premier Leagues and World Cup finals and Matchplay finals because they play them so often that it’s possible now because they win are their regularly basis.
“The fear factor, and Ryan Joyce said this a few days ago, the fear factor is gone. So what was considered a huge task is now, ‘Yeah, why not?'” And I think that’s a testament of all players about hard work, but also about the opportunities they get.
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Mickey Mansell jumped for joy after reaching the semi-finals of the Grand Slam of Darts against Cameron Menzies.
“The more events, the more they use these big stages and big games, and nothing is impossible.
“We know it’s a recent bias, when Mike De Decker wins, and it’s like, ‘Why not me? Why doesn’t Mickey Mansell make the final?’ and maybe it wins, but those guys did it.
“If you do something and it works to some extent, is it happening right? Am I happy with what I’m achieving or is this so good?” , as much as I feel, as good as I can be, and you Keep doing it, knowing that you’re erasing everything, or do you think I can be better than this, obviously felt that he could be better to be than himself because he has changed something, given himself together with Connor.Scutt.
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Cameron Menzies narrowly loses to Mickey Mansell in Grand Slam quarter-finals, see his best reactions
“But I just think it’s the fact that now the fear factor is gone and them being these players outside the top 16, outside the top 32, they know how good they can be on a regular basis and they are good enough, no doubt about it.
“At 51, Mickey Mansell is in his first major semi-final, so there’s time for everyone.”
What’s next?
The quarter-finals continue on Saturday, November 16, with Luke Littler taking on Jermaine Wattimena and Gian van Veen playing Gary Anderson. You can join us live on Sky Sports from 7pm.
Live Grand Slam of Darts
Saturday, November 16 at 7:00 p.m
