Luke Humphries Reflects on Disappointing Loss to Luke Littler at World Grand Prix
World No. 1 Luke Humphries recently faced a tough defeat against Luke Littler, losing 6-1 in the World Grand Prix final. This highly anticipated match was expected to showcase a fierce contest between the top two players in darts. However, Littler proved to be in a league of his own, swiftly taking a commanding 4-0 lead.
Throughout the match, Littler, known as ‘The Nuke,’ nearly made history by coming within a dart of achieving a nine-darter, a rare feat in the World Grand Prix. Despite this close call, he maintained his composure and clinched a decisive 6-1 victory, earning a remarkable £120,000 prize. Meanwhile, Humphries, dubbed ‘Cool Hand,’ took home £60,000 but expressed his disappointment with the outcome.
In a candid post-match interview with Sky Sports, Humphries demonstrated remarkable sportsmanship. He acknowledged that he was playing for the crowd rather than himself during the latter stages of the match. "It was one of those games," Humphries said. "He was so clinical in the first four sets. Double 16 has been my friend for the last three years, but it wasn’t tonight—very unfortunate."
Humphries continued, "When I found myself 4-0 down, I wanted to give the crowd something to cheer about. I wasn’t playing for myself; I was playing for them because the game had slipped away from me." He expressed his desire to improve, stating, "It’s hard to take. I felt I could have given him a better game. I need to work harder than ever to match his level."
While Humphries is focused on self-improvement, Littler is not slowing down. After his victory, he confirmed plans to participate in the World Youth Championships the following day in Wigan. "I’m looking forward to the world youths tomorrow," Littler said. "It’s just 20 minutes up the road. I’ll have some fun and see everyone, even if I don’t expect anyone to be my friend out there. I’ll give it my best shot."
As both players move forward, the darts community eagerly anticipates their next encounters, with Humphries determined to bounce back and Littler ready to maintain his momentum.
