As the electric atmosphere builds at London’s Alexandra Palace, the darts world is once again fixated on the unbreakable rivalry between two of its brightest stars: world number one and defending champion Luke Littler, the teenage prodigy known as “The Nuke,” and Luke Humphries, the cool-headed former champion gunning for redemption. With the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship kicking off on December 11, 2025, the stage is set for what could be another epic clash between these two titans, who have dominated the sport like no other duo in recent memory.
Humphries, seeded second after reclaiming his spot near the top following a rollercoaster year, opens his campaign against Ted Evetts, while Littler, the odds-on favorite at 10/11, faces Darius Labanauskas in a first-round defense of his crown. Seeded on opposite sides of the draw, a potential final rematch looms large—a scenario that has fans salivating, given their head-to-head record of 26 intense battles, with Littler holding a narrow 16-10 edge. Their story began years ago, when Humphries first spotted Littler’s raw talent at age 12 or 13. “I’ve known him since he was 12 or 13, and I always knew he could be a fantastic player,” Humphries reflected recently. That early recognition has blossomed into a bond that transcends competition, with Humphries viewing the 20-year-old as almost a younger sibling in the high-stakes arena of professional darts.
What speaks volumes about Humphries’ true feelings isn’t bitterness over losing his world number one ranking to Littler after the latter’s triumphant Grand Slam of Darts victory—where Littler edged him 16-11 to secure the top spot—but an unwavering respect and camaraderie. “There’s only a high respect for each other, no animosity, no need for any of that,” Humphries said, emphasizing their shared journey through darts’ explosive growth. “Darts has grown bigger than ever this year, but I feel like we’ve come through it together. It’s not like he’s knocking me off my perch or I’m knocking him off his perch. Do I feel almost like an older brother to Luke? Yeah, in a way I do.”
This season alone, the pair have locked horns in three major finals: the Premier League, World Grand Prix, and Grand Slam, turning every tournament into a must-watch spectacle. Humphries acknowledges their unparalleled dominance, declaring, “Yeah, I do [feel we are in a league of our own]. I don’t feel arrogant saying that. What can us two do? We’re on opposite sides of the draw and people can’t stop us. I am trying to stop him and I can’t. It is up to everyone else to stop us. At the moment us two are playing a level of this sport that is better than everyone else.” Littler echoes this sentiment, noting, “If no one stops us, we’ll keep meeting in these finals,” highlighting the mutual drive that fuels their rivalry.
Yet beneath the brotherly affection lies a fierce competitive fire. Humphries, who stunned Littler 7-4 in the 2024 World Championship final to claim his maiden title, is “declaring war” this time around. “I want to play another world final against him. I’m ready for the Worlds now. I’m going to win the Worlds,” he boldly proclaimed after their latest showdown. Fueling his confidence is a form resurgence; Humphries insists he’s playing the best darts of his career, backed by record-breaking stats from recent events like the World Grand Prix and European Championship. “I feel like I’m playing better darts than I ever have,” he told the PDC, shrugging off the £1 million winner’s prize as secondary to the glory of a second crown: “Honestly, I don’t think the extra million pounds will do anything different to me… being two-time world champion means more to me than a million.”
Littler, meanwhile, tops the form charts with a staggering 103.76 average over his last 200 legs, winning 68% in 15 darts or fewer and nailing nearly 47% of his doubles. Despite a minor hiccup—losing to Stephen Bunting in a recent Portsmouth exhibition—he remains unflappable. “I’m very happy with it… If there is nerves, I know how to cope with them,” the champion said ahead of his opener. Experts like Wayne Mardle hail their duels as the spark of a “golden era,” with Humphries’ influence pushing Littler to new heights and vice versa. “He’s almost inspiring me to be a better player because I want us to keep enjoying it and keep having these battles on stage,” Humphries admitted.
As Ally Pally prepares to erupt, this isn’t just a rivalry—it’s a celebration of darts at its peak. Humphries’ candid admiration for Littler reveals a sportsman who thrives on healthy competition, free from envy, ready to dethrone his protégé in what promises to be the clash of the championship. Whether it’s another final heartbreak or Humphries’ triumphant return to the throne, one thing is clear: these two Lukes are rewriting darts history, one electric 180 at a time.
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