Luke Humphries pays Luke Littler the ultimate compliment as he shows his class after Players Championship Finals win
LUKE HUMPHRIES showed his class with the ultimate compliment to Luke Littler.
The pair faced off in the Players Championship Finals final in Minehead on Sunday evening.
That was a repeat of January’s World Championship final.
And the result was the same as at Alexandra Palace as Humphries ran out 11-7 winner to deny Littler back-to-back TV ranking titles following his Grand Slam of Darts glory a week earlier.
But despite getting the better of Littler at Butlin’s and being the world No1, Humphries reckons his 17-year-old rival is the best darts player on the planet right now.
Humphries, 29, told ITV Sport: “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.
“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, those 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.
“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.
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“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.
“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!”
Humphries got himself into an early 4-1 lead and held on to claim the £120,000 prize pot.
The defeat ended Littler’s 12-game winning streak – but Cool Hand knows there will be plenty more victories to come for the youngster.
Humphries added: “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 practise 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 five to ten years.
“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.”
The two Lukes will go into the World Championships as the two favourites – well clear of the chasing pack including Gary Anderson, Michael van Gerwen and Mike De Decker.
The Ally Pally tournament gets underway on December 15 with the final on January 3.
Littler remained in good spirits despite the loss after collecting another £60,000.
He joked: “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.”