World number two fears frequent Premier League clashes are dulling the spark of their blockbuster battles
Luke Humphries has revealed his concern that his rivalry with Luke Littler is being “watered down” by the frequency of their encounters—particularly through the Premier League’s repetitive format.
The world number two made the admission ahead of night three in Glasgow, arguing that playing each other so regularly has diminished the significance of what should be the sport’s most compelling head-to-head battles.
28 Meetings in Two Years
The lethal Lukes have gone head-to-head 28 times in the last two years, regularly meeting at the business end of tournaments.
“I think it has been watered down a little bit. I think we have played each other 27 times in two years, which is a lot. It is a lot,” Humphries told Sky Sports.
“Most of the time it is due to the fact that we have been meeting in the later rounds because we are the best players”, the 31-year-old explained, acknowledging that their dominance naturally leads to frequent encounters.
Premier League Format Under Fire
Humphries singled out the Premier League’s structure—where eight players face each other in a knockout format each week for 16 weeks—as particularly problematic for maintaining the rivalry’s intensity.
“The Premier League dilutes it a little bit more. When we play in the Premier League, people don’t really care as much,” Humphries stated bluntly.
Humphries explained that the Premier League format particularly diminishes the impact of their battles, with the repetitive nature of the competition meaning fans see the same matchups multiple times throughout the season.
The current format sees players meet once during weeks 1-7, then the same pairings repeat during weeks 9-15, meaning Humphries and Littler are guaranteed to face each other at least twice during the regular season—and potentially more if they both reach semi-finals or finals on the same nights.
A Broader Phenomenon
Humphries pointed to tennis as evidence that this phenomenon extends beyond darts, citing the frequent meetings between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz as a comparable example.
“It is going to happen to everybody. It is just the way it is with the format. Maybe it will change in the future,” Humphries said, suggesting acceptance of the situation while hinting that PDC may need to reconsider their approach.
The comparison to tennis is apt—Sinner and Alcaraz have faced each other 11 times in just over two years, with their rivalry dominating the sport. Yet even that frequency pales in comparison to the 28 meetings between Humphries and Littler.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
World No.2 Humphries and Littler have faced off in SEVEN major finals since 2024, with Humphries winning three and Littler claiming four.
The finals include:
- 2024 Premier League (Littler won)
- 2024 Grand Slam of Darts (Littler won)
- 2024 Players Championship Finals (Humphries won)
- 2025 Premier League (Humphries won)
- 2025 Grand Slam of Darts (Littler won)
- 2026 World Masters (Littler won)
- Plus numerous other semi-final and quarter-final encounters
Littler has won the last five consecutive meetings, including the heartbreaking 6-5 Antwerp quarter-final where Humphries led 4-1 and missed three match darts.
The Antwerp Flashpoint
Humphries faced Littler in Antwerp last week and slipped to a narrow 6-5 defeat after missing three match darts.
The loss proved particularly painful, with Humphries displaying a rare flash of anger by stamping his foot on the oche after realizing his opportunity had slipped away—a shocking outburst from a player nicknamed “Cool Hand” for his composure under pressure.
The defeat marked another chapter in a frustrating run for Humphries. Since winning the 2025 Premier League final against Littler in May, he has lost four consecutive finals—three to Littler and one to Gian van Veen.
Humphries’ Paradox
The Cheshire thrower sits sixth in the Premier League table despite boasting the highest running average of 101.31 in the competition.
The statistic encapsulates Humphries’ current predicament—he’s playing excellent darts but can’t convert performances into victories, particularly against Littler.
The world No 2 has opened up ahead of night three of the Premier League in Glasgow, suggesting the frequency of their meetings has created psychological challenges beyond just the physical toll.
PDC’s Format Dilemma
Humphries’ comments echo broader criticism of the Premier League format from players including Michael van Gerwen, who has called for a return to the old round-robin system with more varied matchups.
PDC Chief Executive Matt Porter has acknowledged that format changes are inevitable but maintains the current structure works based on attendance figures and television viewership.
However, Humphries’ specific concern—that the rivalry with Littler is being “watered down”—presents a different challenge. The PDC risks diminishing the appeal of their two biggest stars by overexposing their head-to-head battles.
The Tennis Model
In tennis, Sinner and Alcaraz meetings remain must-watch events despite their frequency because the structure of Grand Slams, Masters 1000s, and ATP Finals ensures varied settings and formats.
Darts lacks this variety. The Premier League’s repetitive knockout format, combined with the frequency of Pro Tour events and major tournaments, means Humphries and Littler face each other in similar circumstances week after week.
What Comes Next?
With 14 Premier League nights still remaining, plus the European Tour, World Series events, and other majors throughout 2026, Humphries and Littler are guaranteed to add many more chapters to their rivalry.
The question is whether those chapters will maintain the intensity and drama that made their early encounters so compelling, or whether—as Humphries fears—the sheer volume of meetings will continue to dilute the significance of each clash.
The Verdict
Luke Humphries’ admission that his rivalry with Luke Littler has been “watered down” represents a significant moment in modern darts. It highlights the challenge facing the PDC as the sport grows: how to balance regular content and fan access with maintaining the prestige of marquee matchups.
For Humphries personally, the revelation suggests growing frustration—not just with losing to Littler, but with the feeling that their encounters no longer carry the weight they once did. When playing your greatest rival becomes routine rather than special, something fundamental has changed.
The PDC may need to reconsider whether seeing Humphries vs Littler every few weeks truly serves the sport’s best interests, or whether preserving the rivalry’s mystique requires more careful curation of their meetings.
For now, though, the Luke vs Luke show continues—even if, as Humphries suggests, “people don’t really care as much” anymore.
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