‘Everyone wants to see you lose’ – Tough at the top as Luke Humphries sees potential reasoning behind Luke Littler getting booed
Luke Humphries, the world No. 1 darts player, offered insight into why his rival, 18-year-old Luke Littler, has faced hostile crowd reactions, including boos, during the 2025 Premier League Darts season, particularly at Night 14 in Leeds on May 8. Humphries suggested that Littler’s meteoric rise and dominant form have shifted his status from underdog to top dog, making him a target for fans eager to see him falter. “I think the reason why it’s been happening is because he’s not the underdog anymore. When you’re at the top, everyone wants to see you lose,” Humphries told Sky Sports ahead of the Leeds event. “Luke just has to take it on the chin and accept that this is what happens when you get to the top.”
Littler, the reigning Premier League champion and 2025 PDC world champion, has endured boos in multiple venues, including Liverpool, Germany, and Leeds, often amplified by his Manchester United allegiance in rival territories. In Leeds, where Humphries, a Leeds United fan, enjoyed home support, Littler faced jeers during his 6-5 quarter-final win over Nathan Aspinall, responding with a “crybaby” gesture after a double 10 checkout. Despite the hostility, Littler reached the final, losing 6-5 to Humphries in a last-leg decider. Humphries acknowledged the pattern, noting, “It’s happened to me and it’s happened to Gezzy [Gerwyn Price] when he was at the top. It’s happened to Michael [van Gerwen] when he was world No. 1. It’s just what happens, unfortunately.”
Humphries’ comments reflect Littler’s extraordinary 2025 season, where he secured a nine-point lead atop the Premier League table with a record-breaking fifth nightly win in Birmingham. His dominance, including a nine-darter against van Gerwen in Cardiff, has made him a marked man. Littler, however, has embraced the challenge, telling The Mirror, “It depends on how the fans react,” and indicating readiness to “give it back” to hostile crowds. Posts on X, like @Oche180, echoed Humphries’ sentiment, framing the boos as a byproduct of Littler’s success. As Littler aims to defend his Premier League title, Humphries’ perspective underscores the price of being darts’ brightest star.
