Luke Humphries previously expressed his sheer astonishment at Luke Littler’s remarkable composure under pressure, openly admitting that his rival “never folds” no matter the situation. The world No.1 may still be only 19 years old, but he carries himself with a calmness and authority that goes far beyond his age, something that continues to impress even the very best in the sport.
With an incredible 26 PDC titles already to his name, including 12 major honours, the reigning world champion has found himself in countless high-stakes, tension-filled encounters. Time after time, Littler has proven that pressure does not faze him. Instead, he embraces those moments, delivering his best darts when it matters most. His ability to handle such intense circumstances has left Humphries in genuine admiration, as the teenager’s ice-cold mentality continues to set him apart from the rest of the field.
A significant number of those pressure-packed moments have come directly against Humphries himself. Since Littler made his explosive debut on the PDC Tour in 2024, the two have gone head-to-head on 29 occasions. The rivalry has quickly become one of the most talked-about in darts, with Littler holding the upper hand, boasting 18 victories compared to 11 for the 31-year-old. With both players in top form, the possibility of a 30th meeting looms large, potentially taking place this Thursday during Night 9 of the Premier League Darts.
Nicknamed “Cool Hand,” Humphries made his feelings about Littler crystal clear after being defeated by him in the final of the Winmau World Masters in February. In the aftermath of that loss, Humphries didn’t hold back in his praise, going as far as to label Littler the greatest darts player to have ever lived—a statement that underlines just how highly he rates the young star.
“I think he’s the greatest dart player that has ever lived,” Humphries said. “I said to him at the end: I don’t even think you have a heart! He never folds under pressure. You try your absolute hardest to put him under it, and somehow, he just refuses to give in. He stays calm, he stays focused, and he always finds a way to come out on top.”
When those comments were relayed back to Littler, the teenager showed a different side to his personality—one rooted in humility and respect for the history of the sport. Rather than embracing the label, he was quick to downplay the praise and instead pointed toward Phil Taylor as the true benchmark of greatness in darts.
“I didn’t actually hear him say that at the time,” Littler explained. “I heard the crowd reacting a few times while he was speaking, but I couldn’t make out what he was saying. But for me, no one will ever beat Phil Taylor. I won’t be the greatest ever, even if I go on to win more titles than he did. What he achieved in the game is on a completely different level.”
Despite his modesty when it comes to all-time greatness, Littler has shown no hesitation in backing himself when it comes to current form and rankings. The young star has made it clear that, in his view, the world No.1 ranking speaks for itself when determining who is the best player in the world at any given moment.
“I’ve said it all year—whoever is number one is the best player in the world,” he said earlier this season. “Luke Humphries had that spot, so he was the best. Now I’m number one, that means I’m the best right now. It’s as simple as that.”
Littler now turns his attention to another big test as he prepares to face Gian van Veen in the quarter-finals on Thursday night at the Manchester Arena. The match will serve as a rematch of the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship final, adding even more intrigue to an already highly anticipated clash. Meanwhile, reigning Premier League champion Gerwyn Price is set to take on Humphries in what promises to be another thrilling encounter on a night packed with top-quality darts.
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