Luke Humphries sends special message to Phil Taylor after beating Luke Littler to emulate Potteries legend
**Luke Humphries Honors Phil Taylor After Premier League Darts Triumph Over Littler**
Luke Humphries paid heartfelt tribute to darts legend Phil Taylor after defeating Luke Littler 11-8 in the 2025 Premier League Darts final at London’s O2 Arena on May 29, 2025, securing his first Premier League title and £275,000 prize. The victory completed Humphries’ darts “Triple Crown”—World Championship, World Matchplay, and Premier League—emulating Taylor, Michael van Gerwen, and Gary Anderson as only the fourth player to achieve this feat. Humphries credited Taylor’s recent mentorship for his success, a gesture that underscored the 16-time world champion’s enduring influence.
**Humphries’ Special Message to Taylor**
Post-match, an emotional Humphries spoke to Sky Sports, saying, “Phil Taylor has given me a lot of support over the last couple of weeks, so, Phil, if you are watching, thank you. He gave me a lot of advice and that extra support.” This mentorship proved pivotal, as Humphries overcame a 3-0 deficit against Littler, leveraging Taylor’s guidance to stay composed. He added, “When you get the greatest darts player in the world showing a bit of support and belief in you, it makes you feel good,” per BBC Sport. On stage, Humphries reiterated, “I must say to Phil Taylor a big ‘thank you’ because he’s been giving me a lot of support the past few weeks. It’s really helped me,” as reported by ESPN. The Daily Record noted Humphries “saluted” Taylor’s role, emphasizing how the Potteries icon’s advice helped him “breeze” to the title.[]
**The Final and Littler’s Out-of-Character Moment**
The final saw Littler, the defending champion, start strongly, racing to a 3-0 lead with a 120 checkout. However, an uncharacteristic moment at 5-5, when Littler discussed a draft affecting throws with Humphries, broke his focus, as observed by fans like @FiiiveCantonas on X: “The minute Littler spoke to Humphries about that draft he surrendered the aura.” Humphries capitalized, breaking with a 130 checkout (T20, T20, D5), prompting Sky Sports’ “That will settle him!” call. His 103.50 average and 11-darter on D10 clinched the win, despite Littler’s late push to 8-8 with a D16. Littler, emotional post-match, told Sky Sports, “I’m gutted, but I’m glad the Premier League’s over.” [](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/darts/2025/05/29/premier-league-darts-final-live-score-luke-littler/)[](https://www.skysports.com/darts/news/12288/13376518/premier-league-darts-finals-night-luke-humphries-crowned-2025-champion-with-11-8-win-over-luke-littler)
**Completing the Triple Crown**
Humphries’ victory, after beating Nathan Aspinall 10-7 in the semi-final, marked his eighth TV major and placed him in elite company. “I’ve joined an elite club with Gary Anderson, Phil Taylor, and Michael van Gerwen,” he said, per Sky Sports. The Guardian highlighted Humphries as the fourth to win the Triple Crown, noting Taylor’s mentorship in recent weeks. Humphries’ 2024 World Championship and World Matchplay titles, combined with this win, fulfilled his dream, as he stated, “This one means the world to me, that was the one I was missing.”[]
**Taylor’s Legacy and Humphries’ Respect**
Taylor, the Stoke-on-Trent native dubbed the “Potteries legend,” dominated darts with 16 world titles, setting a benchmark Humphries aspires to approach. Humphries, with 10 major titles, told BBC Sport, “I’m only a couple of titles away from being possibly the third-most successful darts player.” His tribute to Taylor, who inspired Littler’s own ambition to break his 16-title record, per ESPN, reflects a passing of the torch. Humphries also praised Littler, calling him “one of my best mates on tour” and predicting their rivalry, now 13-10 in Littler’s favor, will define darts.
**Parallels in Sports**
Humphries’ gratitude to Taylor mirrors Katie Boulter’s support for Alex de Minaur after his French Open loss, where he called the ATP schedule “not normal.” Like Novak Djokovic’s concern for his physio’s emergency surgery, Fallon Sherrock’s health-driven break, and Gerwyn Price’s crowd defiance, Humphries’ reliance on mentorship reflects athletes leaning on support systems. Littler’s emotional response, akin to his tears after objects were thrown pre-semi-final, and Alexander Zverev’s watch wager, highlight resilience under pressure.
**Conclusion**
Luke Humphries sent a special message to Phil Taylor, thanking him for crucial advice after beating Luke Littler 11-8 in the 2025 Premier League Darts final on May 29, 2025, completing the Triple Crown alongside Taylor, van Gerwen, and Anderson. Littler’s uncharacteristic draft discussion at 5-5, noted by O2 eyewitnesses, shifted momentum, allowing Humphries’ 130 checkout to shine. Like Boulter, Djokovic, Sherrock, Price, and Zverev, Humphries’ triumph, fueled by Taylor’s support, defines his legacy. Watch highlights on Sky Sports.
