Luke Humphries Praises Luke Littler After 2025 Premier League Triumph
Luke Humphries, world No. 1, revealed his class and camaraderie by showering Luke Littler with praise after defeating him 11-8 in the 2025 Premier League Darts final on May 29 at The O2 Arena, per Mirror.co.uk. Humphries’ heartfelt message underscores their friendship and rivalry, echoing the resilience of athletes like Jannik Sinner and Jasmine Paolini.
**Humphries’ Message**
After clinching his first Premier League title and the £275,000 prize, completing darts’ Triple Crown (World Championship, World Matchplay, Premier League), Humphries said, “I love Luke to bits, he is one of my best mates on tour, and we’ll be teaming up at the World Cup of Darts next month,” per Mirror.co.uk, IrishMirror.ie. He acknowledged Littler’s talent, stating, “He’s so good, but wasn’t at his best tonight. Nor was I, but I managed to get in front of him,” and predicted, “He’ll probably win much more than I’ll ever win… I’m sure he’ll get me back plenty of times,” per DailyStar.co.uk, BBC.com. Humphries’ words reflect respect, as he joined an elite club with Phil Taylor, Gary Anderson, and Michael van Gerwen, crediting Taylor’s advice for his mental edge, per SkySports.com.
The Final and Context
Humphries overcame a 3-0 deficit against Littler, who topped the league phase with a record 45 points and six nightly wins, per TheGuardian.com. Despite a draft affecting play, Humphries sealed the win on Littler’s favorite double 10, averaging 97.86 to Littler’s 100.29, per SkySports.com. Littler, the 2024 champion, earned £125,000 as runner-up and £60,000 in bonuses, but a PDC rule ensured the prize money didn’t close his £573,000 Order of Merit gap with Humphries, per Express.co.uk. Littler remained gracious, saying, “Nobody likes losing, but I’m fine… I’ll be back next year,” per Telegraph.co.uk.
Their Rivalry and Friendship
The “Luke and Luke saga” has seen 23 clashes in 18 months, with Littler leading 13-10, including the 2024 Premier League final (11-7 with a nine-darter), per BBC.com. Humphries, who beat Littler in the 2024 World Championship final, called them “the two greatest players in the world right now,” per Mirror.co.uk. Their bond shines off-stage, with Humphries arranging a VIP meeting for Littler and an autistic fan in March 2025, per ManchesterEveningNews.co.uk. Nathan Aspinall’s praise of Littler as darts’ “Tiger Woods” and Sinner’s evolving friendship with Draper reflect similar dynamics, per Mirror.co.uk, Express.co.uk.
**Conclusion**
Luke Humphries showed his true colors, lauding Luke Littler as a “best mate” and future star after his 11-8 2025 Premier League win, per Mirror.co.uk, DailyStar.co.uk. Their rivalry, with Humphries’ Triple Crown and Littler’s 45-point season, captivates darts, per SkySports.com. Like Sinner’s professionalism, Paolini’s poise, and Aspinall’s foresight, Humphries’ sportsmanship shines. They team up for the World Cup of Darts, June 12-15, live on Sky Sports.
