Darting Duo: Luke Humphries and Luke Littler Team Up for World Cup
The world of darts is abuzz with excitement as the PDC World Cup approaches, and England’s hopes rest on the shoulders of two of the sport’s brightest stars: Luke Humphries and Luke Littler. The 30-year-old former roofer and the 16-year-old sensation from Warrington have been arch-rivals for over a year, but they will be teaming up to represent England in the tournament.
According to The Times, the two Lukes have developed a strong bond despite their on-stage rivalry, and they are confident that their partnership will bring success to England. "We get along really well," Humphries said. "I was only kind of achieving what I’m doing now about three months before Luke came around, so you know we’ve both kind of, dare I say, dominated the sport together. We have a mutual respect for each other." The Times reports that the pair have been practising together and have developed a strong understanding of each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
The pair have been two of the most dominant forces in darts over the past 18 months, with Littler leading their head-to-head 13-10. Despite their rivalry, they share a cramped sofa in Germany like old chums, giggling at the odd inside joke and showering each other with compliments. "You spend so much time together, you get to know one another and get on well," Humphries said. "There’s no nonsense. We don’t hold animosity towards anybody. We just let our darts do the talking." This sentiment is echoed in The Times report, which highlights the unique relationship between the two players.
Humphries, who pipped Littler in the final of the PDC Premier League last month, praised his team-mate’s skills, saying, "Luke’s the high performer, but hasn’t stopped me from winning major titles. I can still do it, but he’s definitely the best." Littler, who has been playing darts since he was 18 months old, said that he and Humphries have more in common than one might think. "For me and my family it was different, being followed by paparazzi," he said. "I didn’t like it, but it’s just natural now. You’ve just got to get on with it."
As The Times notes, the pair have both been recognised in the King’s birthday honours, a testament to their impact on the sport. Humphries even admitted in April that he was considering taking a break from darts altogether because the schedule had left him run down and "emotionless", but he is also perhaps able to savour the success more acutely. "I know what it is like to get up at 6am and home at 5pm and get £400 a week, so now the money in darts is crazy," he said. "It does make you appreciate what you didn’t have."
The PDC World Cup features 40 countries, but England are one of the top seeds, along with Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The Times reports that the tournament will see a significant increase in prize money, with the season-long total set to rise by £7 million next year. Littler and Humphries are expected to be among the favourites to win the tournament, and they will be looking to make a strong impression as team-mates.
In an interview with The Times, Littler and Humphries discussed their goals for the future. "I don’t think it’ll be me [stopping him]," Humphries said, referring to Littler’s potential to break Phil Taylor’s record of 16 world titles. "There are going to be so many kids hungry seeing Luke’s success. They want a piece of it. Everyone’s like, ‘These two could dominate for the next 20 years,’ but there’s going to be a new breed coming in the next five years." Littler interjected, "Me and Luke, by the time we retire, we will obviously want a couple." Humphries responded, "I’d like to be a multiple world champion, two or three. You’ll be looking at least five, six, seven."
As The Times concludes, the partnership between Littler and Humphries is a promising one, and they will be looking to bring success to England in the PDC World Cup. With their combined talent and mutual respect for each other, they are sure to be a force to be reckoned with in the world of darts. "I couldn’t think of anyone better to be sharing it with," Humphries said. "We’ve both brought the game on incredibly well. It’s a really nice moment that we get to share together."
