Luke Littler has stirred the darts world by seemingly snubbing Luke Humphries, making his feelings about his rival abundantly clear following his dramatic World Matchplay comeback. After edging out Jermaine Wattimena 13-11 in a tie-break on July 23, 2025, to reach the quarter-finals, the 18-year-old world champion downplayed Humphries’ mentality, instead praising Nathan Aspinall for his resilience in comebacks. Littler told Sky Sports, “I’m a world champion for a reason, I find these gears when I need it,” highlighting his own ability to recover from a 7-2 deficit, and added that neither he nor Humphries possesses the best mentality in darts, opting to laud Aspinall’s consistent fightbacks.
This comes after Humphries, the world No. 1, was knocked out in the first round by Andrew Gilding, ending his title defense early. Littler’s comments suggest a subtle jab, especially given their rivalry, which includes Humphries’ World Championship final win over Littler in January 2024 and Littler’s subsequent victories, including a recent Premier League clash. The snub reflects Littler’s growing confidence, reinforced by his 10-tournament haul in 2025, and contrasts with Humphries’ recent struggles, including his admission of finding the schedule overwhelming. As Littler prepares for his quarter-final against Gilding on July 25, his clear stance underscores a competitive edge, shifting focus from their once-friendly rivalry to a more assertive challenge at 01:32 PM WAT on July 24, 2025.
