Luke Humphries & Luke Littler: A rivalry for the ages

Jaquob Crooke Updated: 01 Jan 25 14:35

As Luke Humphries mercilessly brushed aside opposition in the World Grand Prix, Grand Slam of Darts and Players Championship Finals, there was a degree of inevitability that 'Cool Hand' would progress to the 2024 World Darts Championship showpiece, if not win it all.

However, nobody anticipated the opponent Humphries would need to conquer in order to achieve darting supremacy.

The usual suspects from the other half of the draw were banded about prior to the tournament: Michael Smith, Rob Cross and Jonny Clayton, amongst many others. Nobody suspected a 16-year-old from Warrington - who had only made his PDC major debut nine months prior at the UK Open - to swat away everyone who stood before him and reach the final.

In arguably the greatest sporting story of 2023, Luke Littler's progression from unheralded teenager to darting phenomenon had captured the imagination of an audience who had never previously shared an interest in darts.

Record figures tuned in to watch Littler in action as he dispatched five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld, Brendan Dolan and 2018 world champion Cross to setup a mouthwatering finale with Humphries.

Fittingly it's the Alexandra Palace where this rivalry was forged and the famed London venue will no doubt see plenty more encounters between these two darting titans in the decade to come.

2024 World Darts Championship final: Humphries 7-4 Littler

In arguably the most eagerly awaited match in darts history, spectators descended on Ally Pally in Humphries v Littler half-and-half scarves and television crews from around the world assembled for a slice of the action.

A craving to see the underdog succeed meant the nation's heart favoured Littler. Despite being greeted to a splattering of boos, it was Humphries who settled the quickest of the pair.

Cool Hand claimed the opening set with a break of throw and Littler, bemused by his somewhat underwhelming start, opted to remain on stage at the break. It was a decision that proved beneficial, with the Nuke reeling off finishes of 142 and then 120 to draw level with consecutive 12-dart legs.

A slugfest ensued and the quality on display by both was simply irresistible. Humphries, calculated and methodical in his approach, soon found himself trailing to the superior finishing of Littler.

Littler seized the initiative in the contest and opened up a 4-2 lead. What followed was an absolute barnstormer of a seventh set which included a 170 finish from Humphries and delivered the most critical moment in the match.

Levelling the set at 2-2 with a sensational 122 finish, Littler hit two treble 18s but hesitated with his third dart, unsure of what he had remaining. With four left, the Nuke took aim at D2 to give himself an unassailable 5-2 lead, but his dart landed fractionally outside the wire and Humphries stepped up to take out D14 and instead reduce the deficit.

Littler did not win another set from that moment.

With momentum on his side, Humphries was relentless. As Littler grew increasingly erratic, Cool Hand thrived with a combination of heavy scoring and lethal finishing. His back against the wall on the biggest occasion, Humphries had delivered the best darts of his career.

Whenever Littler applied the pressure, Humphries negotiated his escape with a timely maximum and stole legs with a catalogue of outrageous finishes. Ultimately, Littler was helpless in derailing the Berkshire man as he averaged 113, 114 and 109 in the final three sets.

Nailing D8 at the second attempt in a dramatic last leg, Humphries fell to his knees and disintegrated into tears: a lifelong dream had been fulfilled.

Littler humbly applauded in the background prior to a warm embrace between the pair and before Humphries held the Sid Waddell Trophy aloft, he paid tribute to his beaten opponent, adding: “All day, in the back of my mind, I’ve been thinking: ‘Get this won now, because he’s (Littler) going to dominate world darts soon’."

This, as Humphries would later reference, is "only the beginning".

2024 Premier League final: Littler 11-7 Humphries

Victory over Humphries in the Dutch Masters at the end of January was of little consolation to Littler, though it did mark the start of a remarkable six-match winning streak against the world champion.

Of those six victories, five were by a 6-5 scoreline and four were in the Premier League as Littler consistently toyed with his fellow Luke.

Humphries did manage to stop the rot against Littler with a thrilling 6-5 victory at the European Darts Grand Prix, but it was their next contest that would capture everybody's attention in the Premier League final.

Many questioned whether the teenager would be able to cope with the Premier League's demands of playing 17 successive Thursday nights whilst continuing to compete in other tournaments, but Littler swatted away those doubts emphatically.

Topping the league table in his debut campaign, the Warrington dartist overcame his kyrptonite Michael Smith in the semi-finals before exacting revenge on Humphries in the final, with both players once again averaging in excess of 100.

The cherry on the cake was a nine-dart finish from Littler, who achieved darting perfection with the match tied at 5-5, to which Humphries could only grin and applaud.

Littler was imperious from thereon in as he broke Humphries' throw twice to win his first career major.

2024 Players Championship final: Humphries 11-7 Littler

In the aftermath of the Premier League final, Humphries slowly chipped away at the head-to-head record between himself and Littler.

Victories on the European Tour and World Series saw Littler's advantage reduced and it wasn't too long before the pair were contesting another major showpiece, this time in the Players Championship.

Littler was vying for an 11th title in an extraordinary breakthrough year and looking to follow up from his Grand Slam success from a week prior, while Humphries was the defending champion having triumphed in Minehead in 2023.

Naturally, this was yet another high-octane affair.

Humphries raced into a 5-1 lead but Littler kept the pressure with exceptional checkouts of 170, 164 and 136.

Cool Hand's composure ultimately saw him through, despite Littler taking his tally of ton-plus checkouts to four as Humphries reeled off three consecutive legs to claim a seventh major crown.

PDC World Championship

View Latest Odds

Luke Humphries v Luke Littler head-to-head record (H2H)

Luke Humphries wins	6
Luke Littler wins	8

Luke Humphries v Luke Littler head-to-head stats

	Luke Humphries	Luke Littler
Average (3 darts)	99.49	100.63
180 thrown	61	58
Checkout %	40.44%	41.35%
100+ checkouts	11	14
Total legs won	91	89