“When he’s on it, he’s untouchable”: Luke Humphries lauds great rival Luke Littler after incredible Auckland win
Luke Humphries, the world No. 1 darts player, hailed his 18-year-old rival Luke Littler as “untouchable” following Littler’s sensational 8-4 victory over him in the 2025 New Zealand Darts Masters final in Auckland on August 16, 2025. Littler’s performance, marked by a staggering 115 average, a nine-dart finish in the quarterfinals, and a 170 checkout, secured his second consecutive World Series title after winning the Australian Darts Masters. Humphries, gracious in defeat, told pdc.tv, “When he’s on it, he’s untouchable. I played well, hit seven 180s, averaged 102, but Luke was just phenomenal tonight” (pdc.tv, August 16, 2025).
Littler’s path to the title was electrifying. He overcame a first-round scare against Mark Cleaver (6-4), ending his 222-match 180 streak, then unleashed a nine-darter against Mike De Decker in the quarterfinals, which he said made him feel “no one could beat me” (sportbible.com, August 16, 2025). He dispatched Gerwyn Price 7-2 in the semifinals before dominating Humphries at SkyCity. Humphries, who reached the final with wins over Damon Heta (6-2) and Chris Dobey (7-4), acknowledged Littler’s superiority, stating, “The better player won for sure. He’s a special talent” (nzherald.co.nz, August 16, 2025).
The praise resonated on X, with fans amplifying Humphries’ sentiment. One post read, “Humphries calling Littler ‘untouchable’ is spot on. That 115 average and nine-darter? Unreal” (@DartsFanatic, August 16, 2025). Littler’s girlfriend, Faith Millar, was present, earning her “good luck charm” status as Littler credited her support amid his manager’s illness (mirror.co.uk, August 16, 2025). The win added £20,000 to Littler’s £1.1 million career earnings, reinforcing his world No. 2 ranking as he eyes the US Open Darts Masters (pdc.tv).
Humphries’ admiration mirrors the respect seen in other sports rivalries, like Alex de Minaur and Alexei Popyrin’s camaraderie in the Davis Cup or Emma Raducanu’s support for Paula Badosa. Littler’s Auckland masterclass, fueled by his nine-darter and relentless scoring, underscores his dominance, with Humphries’ one-word tribute encapsulating the teenager’s meteoric rise in darts.
