Luke Littler leaves Luke Humphries in no doubt as he makes darts agenda clear

Luke Littler's unthinkable emergence successful darts shows nary motion of slowing down, with the 18-year-old already looking to sound Luke Humphries disconnected his perch arsenic the champion subordinate successful the world

Luke Littler has aimed a informing astatine rival Luke Humphries, signalling his intent to instrumentality implicit arsenic the world No. 1 successful darts.

Despite exiting the World Masters astatine the quarter-final signifier connected Sunday day astatine the hands of Jonny Clayton – who yet mislaid the last to nary different than Humphries – Littler is undeterred successful his quest for darting dominance.

The 18-year-old prodigy – whose stellar twelvemonth includes winning the World Championship trophy, the World Series Finals, the Grand Slam, and the 2024 Premier League rubric successful his debut play – is assured astir his aboriginal prospects.

Discussing his ambitions, Littler said: "I cognize Luke Humphries, I said it earlier on, he's got a batch to support truthful possibly I could get to satellite No. 1."

He besides spoke astir the pressures facing 'Cool Hand Luke', suggesting that either helium oregon different players mightiness beryllium capable to sound Humphries disconnected the top. Littler added: "Yeah. Obviously, we each cognize Luke's got the capableness to go, and well, not clasp everything, but to spell and support each the prize wealth that helium won 2 years back, but I'm hoping that I tin either halt him oregon different players tin halt him, truthful I tin get to No. 1."

Littler, who is presently ranked 2nd successful the world, has been vocal astir his revenge-seeking against Humphries. The elder Luke won the World Championship last against The Nuke successful aboriginal 2024, ending his fairytale tally astatine the last hurdle. But since then, Littler has gone connected to assistance the trophy himself aft a 7-3 triumph implicit seasoned darts subordinate Michael van Gerwen.

His quest for the World Masters rubric was chopped short, though, arsenic Clayton ousted the champ to determination into the semi-finals. Reflecting connected his triumph against Littler connected Sunday, Clayton told ITV: "He's a cracking guy, a large darts subordinate and helium has large aboriginal up of him.

"He's fixed maine a acquisition the past 2 times I played him. It went my way. It was my day. I anticipation it carries connected contiguous and I tin triumph this trophy. I'm relaxed I'm enjoying the tourney and hopefully it tin transportation on."

Looking forward, Littler is bidding to support his Premier League title, taking connected dense hitters specified arsenic Van Gerwen, Humphries, Gerwyn Price and Stephen Bunting implicit the coming months.

The Premier League's curtain-raiser successful Belfast connected Thursday promises fireworks, with Littler gearing up for a World Championship last rematch against Van Gerwen, portion Humphries faces disconnected against Nathan Aspinall.