Teenage darts prodigy Luke Littler has offered a characteristically humble response to rival Luke Humphries' bold declaration that he is already "the greatest darts player to ever live". The comment came after Littler secured his fourth consecutive major title, clinching the World Masters for the first time in a nail-biting final in Milton Keynes.
A Thrilling Victory and a Grand Claim
On Sunday, the 19-year-old continued his astonishing ascent in the sport by edging out former world champion Luke Humphries in a thrilling 6-5 final showdown. The victory marked another milestone in Littler's already glittering two-year professional career, leaving Humphries exasperated by a fourth successive major defeat at the hands of the young star.
In the aftermath, a defeated but admiring Humphries paid the ultimate compliment, branding his conqueror as the sport's all-time greatest. However, the double world champion himself was quick to deflect such lofty praise.
Littler's Modest Refusal of the Crown
"I didn't hear him say that," Littler stated, before firmly dismissing the notion. "But no, no one will ever be... I won't be the greatest unless I win more than what Phil won."
His reference is to the legendary Phil 'The Power' Taylor, whose record of 16 world championship titles remains the towering benchmark for greatness in darts. For Littler, that historic achievement is the true measure, not the plaudits of a contemporary rival, no matter how well-intentioned.
Ticking Off the Majors
The World Masters triumph was a special moment for Littler, as it was one of the few major televised trophies eluding his collection. With this win, he has now claimed 9 out of the 11 major televised tournaments in an incredible spell of dominance since joining the professional tour.
"It means a lot, it means everything," he added, reflecting on the victory. "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 more majors this year."
His last defeat on a major stage dates back to October, underscoring a remarkable period of consistency at the highest level.
A Fierce and Fruitful Rivalry
The final in Milton Keynes was the seventh major-final meeting between Littler and Humphries, cementing one of the sport's most compelling modern rivalries. Despite his recent setbacks, Humphries remains one of the few players capable of consistently challenging the young champion.
Littler acknowledged the unique dynamic of their contests. "Luke and I absolutely thrive off it," he 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."
He was also quick to offer consolation to his rival, suggesting Humphries should be proud of his performance. "I just got the better of him in that last set there. Luke will bounce back," Littler said, looking ahead to future competitions like the upcoming Premier League. "You're going to see performances week in and week out from all of us."
While the darts world marvels at his talent and ponders his ultimate potential, Luke Littler's feet remain firmly on the oche. His focus is not on titles like 'greatest ever', but on the tangible, historic records still to be broken—starting with the monumental legacy of Phil Taylor.
