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The Irish Sun
29-06-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘He didn't enjoy it' – Luke Humphries doesn't know if Luke Littler will return to Germany after World Cup of Darts abuse
LUKE LITTLER may not return to play in the World Cup Darts, according to Luke Humphries. The Nuke and Cool Hand suffered a disastrous last 16 exit from the tournament earlier this month, despite the pair - ranked as the top two in the world - being heavy favourites. Advertisement 3 Luke Humphries has suggested Luke Littler may not return to play in the Darts World Cup Credit: Getty 3 Humphries said he could tell his team-mate did not enjoy the tournament Credit: X formerly Twitter / @SkySportsDarts 3 But the World No1 added playing again was a decision only Littler could make Credit: Getty The English duo were defeated by the German team of Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko in their first match at the World Cup hosted by Germany. That led to them being Meanwhile, Welsh rival And speaking to Advertisement READ MORE IN DARTS The 30-year-old said: "I knew when we lost it was going to be big news, but people forget — we never once said we were going to win it with ease. That was everyone else. "It was gutting to see so many English fans happy to see us lose. The Germans would never do that to their players. It was incredibly tough, especially for Luke. "I could tell by his face he didn't enjoy it. I kind of relished it, but he's still young to that. It seems to have carried on more than I expected. "There was a lot of talk about us not being a team. But from the horse's mouth — we were a team. Advertisement Most read in Darts BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK "We didn't arrive at the same time because I told Luke, 'Do your own thing.' I get there four hours before, he gets there two. I need more practice, he doesn't. "We sat right next to each other at the table — me, my manager, my girlfriend. He sat right beside me. Gerwyn Price runs rule over Luke Littler and Luke Humphries' England's World Cup of Darts flop "So that stuff about not being a team was not true. We get along really well. It just didn't happen for us." Advertisement Humphries was then asked whether he would be teaming up with He continued: "You'd have to ask him. I think it's so prestigious that he will. Whether he goes back for Euro Tours? That's not for me to answer. "I'm sure he'll answer that for you, but that wasn't a nice environment for him. I don't think he enjoyed it. "He deserves some slack — he's done nothing wrong. He's a great pioneer for the sport. We should celebrate him, not whistle at him." Advertisement But after a break away from the oche, both returned for the US Darts Masters in Madison Square Garden, New York. On his break, Humphries added: "Yeah, I feel good. It was a good time in Benidorm — great fun. I didn't even think about darts once, to be honest. "It was great to just get away, enjoy myself, and not have to worry about the constant stress of darts." Humphries got back to winning ways across the pond with emphatic wins over Stowe Buntz, Danny Lauby, Price and a tough match against Advertisement
The Irish Sun
22-06-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Luke Littler and Luke Humphries dubbed ‘rabbits in headlights' by darts legend
LEGENDARY referee Russ Bray admits the pressure left Luke Littler and Luke Humphries looking like 'rabbits in headlights' at the World Cup. Top seeds England were dumped out of the last 16 after Advertisement 4 Russ Bray has said that Luke Littler and Luke Humphries looked like 'rabbits in headlights' at the World Cup of darts Credit: Getty 4 Littler and Humphries were favourites to win but went out in the last 16 Credit: X formerly Twitter / @SkySportsDarts World No.1 Humphries and world champion Littler Legendary referee Bray believes the weight of expectation left the pair frozen. He said: 'With the two Lukes they looked like rabbits in headlights. They just couldn't get their game going at all. ' Advertisement READ MORE IN DARTS 'People were saying they were going to win and nobody will touch them. I just thought that caught up with them a little bit.' 'The Voice of Darts' questioned how well the duo gelled as a team. He added: 'And they are both very much individual players. I know dart players are. 'It's very much different being an individual and going out on your own than it is playing as a team. You've got a different mindset.' Advertisement Most read in Darts CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Bray also reckons the lethal Lukes rhythm was disrupted by the stop-start nature of doubles play. He explained: 'The two Lukes are also very much rhythm players. They're out of rhythm because they are not following the next player. Being made an MBE shows I've helped 'change face of darts' says Luke Humphries 'They throw their three darts, and they have to wait for another six before they get back on again. There are lots of things involved.' Advertisement Northern Ireland won the tournament for the first time with an epic victory over Wales in a final-leg decider. While others tipped the Three Lions for the title, Bray saw it differently He revealed: 'If I'm being honest, I didn't expect the Irish boys to win it [Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney] — but I also didn't expect England to either. 'I thought Advertisement Gerwyn Price was quick to claim that England's failure was He said: 'I think you need a connection. I think you need to have that camaraderie off the stage. 'When all the teams first turned up on the first day, the only two players who didn't turn up together, didn't sit together, didn't play as a team. 'I'm not saying who they are. But they didn't win their first game. But you need to turn up together. You need to be as a team. Advertisement "You practice together, you sit together, it's a team ethic. It didn't show with England and it showed on the board. 'They are great players individually. But you need to be a team. 'I wanted them to do well but they didn't. I'm not just saying that, but they were rubbish!' Meanwhile two-time world champion Advertisement 4 Gerwyn Price claimed Littler and Humprhies didn't act as a team during the tournament Credit: Getty 4 Dennis Preistley slammed the pair and claimed they 'let their country down' Credit: Getty
Scottish Sun
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Luke Littler fires brutal four-word dig at World Cup of Darts winner who taunted him as The Nuke continues to hit back
Littler and Humphries have both also hit back at fierce critic Dennis Priestley WORLD OF TROUBLE Luke Littler fires brutal four-word dig at World Cup of Darts winner who taunted him as The Nuke continues to hit back LUKE LITTLER has continued to hit back at those who criticise his World Cup of Darts flop. The reigning world darts champion and world No.1 Luke Humphries bombed out of the team tournament this month – they lost to Germany in round two – despite the England pair being title favourites. Advertisement 3 Luke Littler and Luke Humphries were in England action last week Credit: X / @SkySportsDarts Dennis Priestley, a two-time world champion, claimed the pair 'let their country down' and said they did not deserve their MBE status as they were too young. Northern Ireland thrower Neil Duff, the WDF world champion in 2022, followed up that criticism by writing online in a sarcastic tone: 'How's England doing?' His home country, led by Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney, ended up winning the trophy in Frankfurt. These latest comments riled Littler, 18, who responded on his Instagram Story with the caption 'How's Neil Duff doing?' followed with a smiley face emoji. Advertisement The post, which was available to up to TWO MILLION accounts, used an image of Duff losing 4-1 to Martin Thomas in the MODUS Super Series darts event on Saturday night. Littler also posted a social media message that screamed: Thomas sends Duff packing! The Nuke, the world No.2, is flying to New York this week as he takes part in the two-day US Darts Masters, which starts on Friday at The Theater at Madison Square Garden. Humphries also took to social media to criticise Priestley's take. Advertisement BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK 3 Neil Duff was critical of Littler's World Cup performance Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Cool Hand Luke wrote: "Disappointing to hear a top former pro who I admired say such a damaging thing to me and Luke. 'I didn't let my country down last year though, did I? Advertisement Luke Littler and Luke Humphries BOOED by German crowd on day they got their MBEs but fans love their 's---house' walk-on 'One bad game for us and we will back next year to go again. Let's move on now.' Humphries is also set to be in action at The Theater in New York next week.
The Irish Sun
22-06-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Luke Littler fires brutal four-word dig at World Cup of Darts winner who taunted him as The Nuke continues to hit back
LUKE LITTLER has continued to hit back at those who criticise his World Cup of Darts flop. The reigning world darts champion and world No.1 Advertisement 3 Luke Littler and Luke Humphries were in England action last week Credit: X / @SkySportsDarts Dennis Priestley, a two-time world champion, claimed the Northern Ireland thrower Neil Duff, the WDF world champion in 2022, followed up that criticism by writing online in a sarcastic tone: 'How's England doing?' His home country, led by Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney, ended up winning the trophy in Frankfurt. These latest comments riled Advertisement READ MORE IN DARTS The post, which was available to up to TWO MILLION accounts, used an image of Duff losing 4-1 to Martin Thomas in the MODUS Super Series darts event on Saturday night. Littler also posted a social media message that screamed: Thomas sends Duff packing! The Nuke, the world No.2, is flying to New York this week as he takes part in the two-day US Darts Masters, which starts on Friday at The Theater at Madison Square Garden. Humphries also took to social media to Advertisement Most read in Darts Breaking BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK 3 Neil Duff was critical of Littler's World Cup performance Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Cool Hand Luke wrote: "Disappointing to hear a top former pro who I admired say such a damaging thing to me and Luke. 'I didn't let my country down last year though, did I? Advertisement Luke Littler and Luke Humphries BOOED by German crowd on day they got their MBEs but fans love their 's---house' walk-on 'One bad game for us and we will back next year to go again. Let's move on now.' Humphries is also set to be in action at The Theater in New York next week. 3 Dennis Priestley claimed that the Lukes 'let their country down' Credit: Getty
Scottish Sun
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Luke Humphries follows Luke Littler in hitting back at former World Darts champion after ‘let country down' jibe
GOT THE HUMP Luke Humphries follows Luke Littler in hitting back at former World Darts champion after 'let country down' jibe Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LUKE HUMPHRIES has followed the lead of Luke Littler and hit back at Dennis Priestley's explosive claims that the pair 'let their country down' following an early World Cup exit. Two-time world champion Priestley, 74, slammed world No.1 Humphries and reigning world champion Littler for losing in the second round to hosts Germany last weekend. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Luke Littler and Luke Humphries crashed out the World Cup in their first match Credit: X @SkySportsDarts 2 Dennis Priestley said the pair 'let their country down' Credit: PA:Empics Sport It was their first appearance together in the team format but disappointingly the pair were beaten 8-4 by Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko amid a cacophony of boos from the Frankfurt crowd. The English duo were red-hot favourites to claim the title heading into the event. But Wales star Gerwyn Price said that the two Lukes did not arrive together nor spend enough time in each other's company – and essentially failed to gel behind the scenes. That shock defeat came the day after it was announced the two Englishman – the top two on the world rankings – were going to receive recognition in the King's Birthday Honours List. READ MORE IN DARTS GOTTA HAVE FAITH Luke Littler, 18, takes next step with new girlfriend Faith Straight-talking Yorkshireman Priestley also said in his chat with bookmakers OLBG that neither player had 'done enough to earn their MBEs just yet'. Cool Hand Luke, 30, lifted the World Cup crown with Michael Smith in 2024 and has vowed to return next year with The Nuke by his side. The former world champion said on his social media account: 'Disappointing to hear a top former pro who I admired say such a damaging thing to me and Luke. 'I didn't let my country down last year though, did I? JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS 'One bad game for us and we will back next year to go again. Let's move on now.' On Thursday, Littler screenshotted an article that contained the quotes and captioned it up as saying: 'Don't deserve an MBE but done more in 12 months than he ever did… Being made an MBE shows I've helped 'change face of darts' says Luke Humphries 'That's what I would say anyway.' That message was later deleted off his Instagram Stories. Littler is the most recognisable figure in the sport and his Instagram account mushroomed to 1.9 million followers shortly after he burst on to the scene in December 2023. His next appearance on the oche will be at the bet365 US Darts Masters, which will be held on June 27-28 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York.
