Luke Littler's message to Luke Humphries ahead of Worlds after losing Players Championship final

Luke Littler chose to amusement the utmost respect to Luke Humphries connected Sunday aft losing the Players' Championships Finals 11-7 to the 29-year-old. He present turns his attraction to adjacent month's World Championships

Luke Littler has sent Luke Humphries a candid connection up of next month's World Championships.

The 17-year-old star, known arsenic 'The Nuke', has been making superior waves successful the athletics since turning pro astatine past year's UK Open. He's already clinched the Premier League, World Series, Grand Slam of Darts titles, and a drawstring of different PDC lawsuit wins. Littler was a favourite to instrumentality location the Players' Championship Finals trophy connected Sunday but was yet outplayed by 'Cool Hand' Humphries.

En way to the finals astatine Minehead Butlins, Littler dispatched Rob Cross, Ritchie Edhouse, Danny Noppert, Mike De Decker, and Ross Smith with comparative ease. However, Humphries, an aged rival, proved excessively beardown successful the last showdown, winning 11-7 - the 29-year-old boasting an awesome mean of 103.69 to unafraid the championship.

Reflecting connected his triumph, Humphries shared: "I'm truly arrogant of that 1 due to the fact that I didn't consciousness myself this week playing-wise." He added: "There's thing Luke does to you, helium truly drives maine and makes maine privation to beryllium a amended player. I bask playing him."

Despite a pugnacious defeat, darting whiz Littler hasn't mislaid his chill and is already mounting his sights connected adjacent month's World Championships astatine Alexandra Palace. The young prima took to Instagram post-match to stock his thoughts alongside snaps with hostile Humphries: "May not person won this 1 but arrogant to beryllium successful different final.

"Always cognize a lucifer against @lukehumphries180 volition beryllium pugnacious and congrats to him for defending the title. Next up worlds." In the vigor of the game, Humphries surged up with a 5-1 lead, but Littler clawed back, closing the spread to conscionable 1 leg. It wasn't capable though, with Humphries soon aft moving distant with the lead, and the title.

Reflecting connected the match, Littler confessed: "It was tough, I missed a fewer doubles. If you don't instrumentality chances aboriginal on, it takes a batch to travel back. I didn't person capable successful the end." While Humphries pocketed a hefty £120,000 from his victory, Littler wasn't near empty-handed, securing a respectable £60,000.

Humphries continues to predominate arsenic the world no. 1 successful the PDC bid of merit, boasting net of £1,804,250 implicit 2 years. Littler, however, is blistery connected his heels successful 4th place, with a full earning of £618,500 implicit the aforesaid play - trailing down Michael Smith and Michael van Gerwen. The darts assemblage is present eagerly awaiting the World Championships, scheduled from December 15, 2024, to January 3, 2025.