In the electrifying world of professional darts, a new era is dawning, led by two exceptional talents: Luke Humphries and Luke Littler. Humphries, the reigning world No. 1, has boldly predicted that he and the teenage prodigy Littler are destined to dominate the sport for years to come, describing their rivalry as a generational clash that could rival the legendary battles of Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen. Speaking after a thrilling encounter at the 2025 Premier League Darts opener in Belfast, Humphries didn’t hold back his admiration for the 18-year-old sensation, declaring, “Luke’s performing the best, and he’s just been a bit unlucky—he has a target on his back being the world champion.” This statement underscores the intense spotlight on Littler, who has taken the darts world by storm since his meteoric rise in 2024.
The Belfast event saw Humphries storm to victory on the opening night, defeating Nathan Aspinall, Michael van Gerwen, and Chris Dobey to claim the first points of the 2025 Premier League season. His commanding 6-1 win over Dobey in the final showcased his relentless precision, with two early 100+ checkouts setting the tone. Yet, the night’s most captivating moment came in Littler’s clash with van Gerwen, a match Humphries called “one of the best games in the Premier League I’ve ever seen.” Littler, despite falling to van Gerwen, posted a staggering 113.91 average—the second-highest losing average in Premier League history—highlighting his extraordinary talent. Humphries, reflecting on the match, said, “I’m looking forward to playing him in many, many games this year, and I’m going to have to be at my utmost best.”
Littler’s journey has been nothing short of remarkable. At just 17, he clinched the 2025 World Darts Championship, becoming the youngest world champion in history with a 7-3 victory over van Gerwen. This triumph came a year after a heartbreaking 7-4 loss to Humphries in the 2024 final, a defeat Littler used as fuel for his success. “I watched all of the game back against Luke, and I had the visions,” Littler revealed, explaining how revisiting his 2024 loss helped him learn from past mistakes. His ability to channel setbacks into motivation has seen him complete darts’ prestigious Triple Crown—winning the World Championship, Premier League, and World Matchplay—joining an elite group that includes Humphries, Taylor, van Gerwen, and Gary Anderson.
Humphries, now 30, has solidified his place at the pinnacle of the sport, holding the No. 1 ranking with £1,782,750 in prize money as of September 2025. His own Triple Crown, achieved with the 2024 World Championship, World Matchplay, and Premier League titles, reflects his resilience after overcoming mental health struggles and a near-retirement in 2018. “I’m still relatively young in the game, and I’m only a couple of titles away from being possibly the third-most successful darts player,” Humphries said, eyeing a legacy among the sport’s greats. Yet, he acknowledges Littler’s edge, noting, “He’s made me a bit hungrier, to practice more, to try a bit harder because if no-one sticks with him, he’s going to win everything.”
The Humphries-Littler rivalry, already spanning 23 matches since their 2024 World Championship final, is defined by mutual respect. “I love him. I think he’s a good kid,” Humphries said of Littler, whom he considers a close friend in darts. With Littler closing the gap on Humphries’ No. 1 ranking—now just £249,750 behind after his World Matchplay win in July 2025—the stage is set for a thrilling battle. As the 2025 season unfolds, with major tournaments like the World Grand Prix and Grand Slam of Darts on the horizon, the darts world watches eagerly to see if Humphries and Littler will indeed become the new kings of the oche.
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