Luke Humphries was all class after winning the Players Championship Finals (Image: ITV)
retained his Players Championship title in Minehead by beating on Sunday night then showed his class by admitting: “He’s the best in the world and he makes me a better player.”
The latest edition of the pair’s friendly, but intense, rivalry saw the for his third successive triumph over ‘The Nuke’ who he also defeated in last year’s World Championship final.
Littler had been looking to make it back-to-back TV ranking titles after triumphing at the Grand Slam of Darts last weekend.
But despite seeing off Ross Smith and Mike De Decker on finals day, it was Humphries who won the final to bank the £120,000 prize money. It sets the scene for the Worlds at Ally Pally next month in which it is expected these two will go head-to-head again.
And ‘Cool Hand’ was total class after his victory here as he hailed Littler for the influence the teenager has had on him and his game.
Humphries said to ITV Sport: “This trophy was in my living room a couple of months ago and now I’ve got it back! I’m really, really proud of that one to be honest. I didn’t feel myself this week, playing-wise, I felt like I was a dart behind in a lot of the scenarios.
“There’s something that Luke does to you, he really drives me. He makes me want to be a better player. I enjoy playing him. He let me in really early in that first session to go 4-1 up but I never looked back.
“I’m proud the way I didn’t take my foot off the gas like I have this whole weekend. A lot of the games, I’ve taken my foot off the gas and allowed people to come back at me. I was very fortunate against Dirk [van Duijvenbode], I rode my luck, but I got into the final and was in my comfort zone.
“These big games are what I live for and what I dream of, being a major champion, this is what I do it all for. I travel the world for these moments. Really, really pleased.
“A special moment to Luke, a fantastic game again, them finishes were unbelievable. He’s just a special talent. He’s right, I said to him ‘I’ve got to get these early before it’s na-nights and I don’t win any.’ So I’m really, really pleased to beat him there.”
Humphries is the world champion and world No.1 with this his fourth PDC title of 2024 but he says Littler, who doesn’t even turn 18 until January 21, is the best in the game right now.
The Newbury-born thrower added: “It is satisfying. I’d love to be up here hitting 105 averages like Luke is all the time but he’s a different calibre. He’s probably the best player in the world right now. If you go by stats, he’s easily the best player in the world. But there’s something about me that never gives up.
Luke Humphries and Luke Littler shared a friendly hug after the match (Image: ITV)
“As much as he is the best, I know I can beat him, he knows he can beat me. So this is a great way to go the Worlds now. A lot of people probably thought Luke was going to win this one and the Worlds.
“We like unpredictability in darts and that’s what we’ve got in the last few months. Now, we’ve got that in the Worlds, who’s going to win – me or Luke? Or is it going to be someone else? We’ll have to find out!
“I said to Luke, there’s a lot of pressure on our shoulders. Everyone expected a 110-average game there. But it’s hard to do it after a long day. When you’re playing the best in the world, and he’s playing one of the best in the world, it’s hard to perform and be at that 110 average.
“I thought it was a decent game after the first five or six games. We’re two players now that have to go on. He’s made me a bit hungrier to try a bit harder to practice more and work out.
“If no one sticks with him, he’s going to win everything. Maybe I’m that guy that can stick with him and have a good run over the next 5-10 years.
“There’s something that Luke does to you, he makes you wanna be a better player!” ??????️”I believe we’re the two best players in the world!” ?????? ?????? |
— ITV Sport (@ITVSport)
“I do believe we’re the two best players in the world and I’m going to have to keep working hard to keep up with him.”
Runner-up Littler said: “It was tough, I missed a few doubles. Luke could’ve been 5-0 up, I could’ve been. If you don’t take your chances early on, it’s a lot to come back. I hit the 170 and the 164 but I just didn’t have enough in the end.
“It’s just like Luke said, he needs to take advantage before I start winning them. I don’t blame him! Sound. It’s been a good past two weeks.
“I can’t wait to go home, chill out and obviously practice at home for the Worlds. That’s it now, leading up to the big one.
“We always produce our best against each other. But like I said that first session, I didn’t have enough to get it back and Luke took full advantage. So fair enough to him.”