World No. 1 Luke Humphries responded to fan criticism over disruptive crowd behavior during his 6-4 victory over Luke Littler in the professional final of the inaugural PDC Presents The Hyde Park Darts Championship on July 8, 2025, at BST Hyde Park’s Great Oak Stage. The outdoor event, part of the BST Hyde Park Open House festival, saw both players visibly frustrated by excessive crowd noise, including fans singing and shouting, exacerbated by Robbie Williams’ music blaring mid-match, per *SPORTbible* and *Express.co.uk*. Humphries, speaking to *Sky Sports* post-match, acknowledged the unique challenge, saying, “It was a fantastic show, but the noise was tough to manage. We’re used to focused crowds, but this was a festival vibe. Still, what an unbelievable night playing darts in Hyde Park,” per *SPORTbible*.
Fans on X, like @Oche180, criticized the “ridiculous” atmosphere, arguing it disrupted Littler’s focus, with some, including @DartsCentral, noting his “nonchalance” seemed off, potentially due to the environment, per. Humphries, however, praised the event’s energy, stating, “The crowd brought something special, even if it threw us off at times. Thanks to everyone who came,” per *The Irish Sun*. He also highlighted the presence of celebrity guests like Olly Murs, Roman Kemp, and Dion Dublin, who competed in the pro-am doubles alongside Littler, Fallon Sherrock, and Nathan Aspinall, per *pdc.tv*.
The event’s outdoor setting, with wind and shadows on the board, added to the difficulty, per *Express.co.uk*. Despite the criticism, Humphries, who pocketed the pro trophy, remained upbeat, adding, “My kids are going to love this trophy,” per *Express.co.uk*. Littler, who hit a 170 checkout earlier, faced scrutiny for his casual demeanor, but Humphries defended their competitive spirit, saying, “We both gave it everything, noise or not,” per *Sky Sports*. The duo now looks to the World Matchplay, with Humphries aiming to defend his title, per *pdc.tv*.
