Phil Taylor Warns Littler and Humphries of Peter Wright’s Comeback
Luke Littler and Luke Humphries may have dominated darts in recent months, but Phil Taylor believes they are in for a tougher year as Peter Wright looks to reignite his game.
Taylor, a 16-time world champion, says Wright thrives when faced with strong competition, using it as motivation to sharpen his skills on the practice board.
Wright’s Motivation to Challenge the Top Two
Littler and Humphries currently hold the top two spots in the PDC Order of Merit, with Humphries clinching the 2024 world title and Littler claiming his first world championship at Alexandra Palace. However, Taylor predicts that 2025 will be far from straightforward for the pair.
“I don’t think [Wright] wanted me to retire because he always wanted someone to aim at,” Taylor told MODUS Super Series.
“Peter loves it when someone is playing better, like Luke Littler or Luke Humphries. That will inspire Peter and also Michael van Gerwen. I predict he’s going to be a nightmare for these players next year. When he gets frustrated and gets on that practice board, he’s brilliant. So I think the two Lukes are in for a tough year.”
Wright’s Statement Win Over Humphries
Wright has already demonstrated his ability to upset the new guard, having knocked Humphries out of the World Championship in December. The 54-year-old ended Humphries’ title defence with a commanding 4-1 victory on December 29, preventing him from making back-to-back finals.
Littler, however, went on to defeat Michael van Gerwen in the final, cementing his status as one of the sport’s most exciting talents.
Taylor’s Renewed Interest in Darts
Taylor also admitted that watching Littler and Humphries has reignited his passion for darts. After retiring, he had become less interested in the sport, feeling that he was watching the same players he had competed against for a decade.
However, the rise of a new generation of talent from across the world has changed that.
“It’s made me watch darts again. I’d gone off it a little bit because I was watching the same players I’d played with for ten years. But the Lukes have made it exciting again. There are also new faces from different countries playing really, really well.”
With Wright and Van Gerwen looking to close the gap, 2025 could be the most competitive year yet for Littler and Humphries.
