Luke Littler Deflects 'Greatest Ever' Praise After Clinching World Masters Crown
Teenage darts prodigy Luke Littler has responded with characteristic humility after his latest major victory, firmly rejecting rival Luke Humphries' bold claim that he is already the greatest player to ever grace the oche. The 19-year-old phenom secured his fourth consecutive major title on Sunday, triumphing in a nail-biting World Masters final against Humphries in Milton Keynes.
A Thrilling Final and a Startling Declaration
The showdown between the two Lukes lived up to its billing, with Littler eventually edging out the former world champion in a dramatic 6-5 set victory. Following the match, a clearly exasperated Humphries, who has now suffered four successive major final defeats to Littler, made the stunning assertion that his conqueror is "the greatest darts player to ever live".
However, the double world champion Littler was quick to play down such lofty praise. "I didn't hear him say that," Littler remarked. "But no, no one will ever be... I won't be the greatest unless I win more than what Phil won." Here, Littler directly referenced the legendary Phil Taylor's record haul of 16 world titles, setting a clear and ambitious benchmark for his own career.
Continuing an Astonishing Ascent
This World Masters victory holds special significance for Littler, marking the first time he has lifted this particular trophy. In an astonishing two-year period on the professional tour, he has now won nine of the eleven major televised tournaments. His last defeat on a major stage dates back to October, when he exited in the second round of the European Championship.
"It means a lot, it means everything," Littler said of his latest triumph. "And obviously it's one another one ticked off now. You always want to win everything. You always want to go to a tournament and win it. But when it starts anyone can win on their day. I look forward to (winning) more majors this year."
A Fierce and Respectful Rivalry
The final in Milton Keynes represented the seventh major final meeting between Littler and Humphries, with the former establishing a clear upper hand in their burgeoning rivalry. Despite this, Littler spoke highly of their competitive dynamic.
"Luke and I absolutely thrive off it," Littler explained. "We always play well against each other. The pace and the rhythm of the game, it suits us both, and that's why you see the best out of us. I wouldn't say it's tough (for him), because Luke should go off stage happy with his own performance. I just got the better of him in that last set there. Luke will bounce back."
Looking ahead, Littler highlighted the upcoming Premier League season as the next battleground. "The Premier League is coming up and you're going to see performances week in and week out from all of us," he added, signalling his intent to maintain his dominant form.
While Luke Humphries may be left pondering how to overcome his rival consistently, Luke Littler remains grounded, his sights set not on premature 'greatest ever' tags, but on the tangible legacy of championship titles.
