Luke Humphries’ Surprising Claim About Luke Littler Before 2025 World Cup of Darts
Luke Humphries, the world No. 1, made a striking claim about his rival Luke Littler, predicting the 18-year-old could “win much more” than him in his career due to his youth and exceptional talent, as they prepare to team up for England at the 2025 World Cup of Darts in Frankfurt from June 12-15, per Mirror.co.uk. This statement, made after Humphries’ 11-8 Premier League final win over Littler on May 29, 2025, underscores their rivalry and partnership, mirroring the resilience of athletes like Aryna Sabalenka and Casper Ruud.
**Humphries’ Claim and Team Outlook**
Following their ninth clash in 105 days, Humphries praised Littler, saying, “He will probably win more than I will ever win in my career because he’s so young and he’s a great talent,” per Mirror.co.uk. He expressed excitement about their World Cup pairing, noting, “I love Luke, he’s a good kid and a close friend,” and highlighted the pressure of representing England, per DailyRecord.co.uk. Humphries, who won the 2024 World Cup with Michael Smith, believes their top-seeded duo, ranked No. 1 and No. 2, faces high expectations but can thrive, per Yardbarker.com. Littler echoed the enthusiasm, posting “Dream team confirmed” on Instagram, per Mirror.co.uk.
**Their Rivalry and World Cup Context**
Humphries and Littler dominated the 2025 Premier League, winning 10 of 16 nights, with Littler’s 40 points and Humphries’ 34 securing playoff spots, per PDC.tv. Their 23rd meeting in the final, where Humphries’ 97.86 average edged Littler’s 100.29, highlighted their competitive edge, per BBC.co.uk. At the World Cup, they aim to defend England’s title against strong teams like Wales (Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton) and Scotland (Gary Anderson and Peter Wright), despite Vincent van der Voort’s warning that the Netherlands’ Danny Noppert and Gian van Veen could challenge them, per DailyRecord.co.uk. Phil Taylor predicted an England victory, saying, “Luke and Luke – there’s the winners,” per Mirror.co.uk.
**Pressure and Preparation**
Humphries acknowledged the “lot more pressure” of playing for England, telling Littler, “It’s not as easy as playing by yourself,” per DailyRecord.co.uk. Littler, making his World Cup debut after missing 2024 due to rankings, clarified his commitment despite earlier German crowd issues, saying, “No, I was always [going to play],” per SkySports.com. Their doubles experience—Littler’s pre-PDC background and Humphries’ 2024 success—bolsters their chances, per DailyRecord.co.uk. Humphries’ recent Nordic Darts Masters win over Littler (6-2) on June 7 adds momentum, per PDC.tv.
**Parallels to Resilience**
Humphries’ magnanimous claim about Littler mirrors Sabalenka’s defense of players against toxic coaches, both showing leadership, per ESPN.com. Ruud and de Minaur’s ATP bonus pool critiques, backed by Sam Querrey’s reform prediction, reflect efforts to improve systems, like Littler’s Belgium venue push, per TheTennisGazette.com, Express.co.uk. Naomi Osaka’s anxiety struggles, Carlos Alcaraz’s response to Wilander, and Holger Rune’s fan clash highlight overcoming pressure, per TMZ.com, Tennis365.com, Express.co.uk.
**Conclusion**
Luke Humphries claimed Luke Littler could surpass his career achievements, praising his talent ahead of their 2025 World Cup of Darts partnership, per Mirror.co.uk. Their Premier League dominance and England’s title defense face high expectations, per PDC.tv, despite rival threats, per DailyRecord.co.uk. Like Sabalenka’s advocacy, Ruud’s reforms, and Osaka’s grit, Humphries’ humility shines. They compete in Frankfurt, June 12-15, live on Sky Sports.[](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/other-sports/darts/luke-humphries-littler-claim-darts-35313036)
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