In a significant shift at the pinnacle of professional darts, Luke Humphries has been dethroned as world number one by his teenage rival, Luke Littler. The change in the official rankings, confirmed in November 2025, marks a new era in the sport, with Littler becoming the youngest player ever to claim the top spot.
A Gracious But Frustrated Response
Speaking candidly to talkSPORT, Humphries, known as 'Cool Hand Luke', extended his congratulations to Littler. However, he did not hide his frustration with the narrative that surrounded the ranking battle. The 30-year-old sensation revealed that it felt as though "the world was waiting for Luke to overtake me."
Humphries expressed a sense of being overlooked by the media, noting a lack of analysis on what he needed to do to retain his position. "There were no graphs out there from the media saying 'this is what Luke needs to do to stay at world No1'," he stated. Despite this, he praised his own resilience, highlighting that he made three finals and defended his points as robustly as possible against a formidable opponent.
Littler's Meteoric Rise to the Top
Luke 'The Nuke' Littler's ascent to world number one has been nothing short of spectacular. His climb was cemented by a series of major tournament victories over the past year. Most notably, his win at the World Championship was followed by triumphs at the UK Open, the World Matchplay, and the Grand Slam of Darts.
This incredible run of form not only propelled him to the summit of the sport but also shattered records, establishing him as a once-in-a-generation talent. Humphries himself conceded the fairness of the change, admitting, "If we are going on fairness over the last two years, I think he has definitely been the No. 1 player."
Looking Ahead: The World Darts Championship
With the ranking change settled, the focus for both players now shifts to the upcoming PDC World Darts Championship. Humphries is channeling his frustration into motivation, setting his sights on a first-round clash with Ted Evetts. He is determined to reclaim the title from Littler and mount a challenge for the number one ranking.
"I feel like my game is in such a good place," Humphries asserted. "I feel more confident and I feel like I am going to start winning things... I just want to try and smash it and win as much as I can to try and put Luke under pressure for that world No. 1 spot." He also mentioned working on a new throwing technique that is yielding positive results, signalling his intent to dominate the oche once again.
This development sets the stage for an intense and captivating rivalry, ensuring that the world of darts will be watching closely as the battle for supremacy unfolds at Alexandra Palace.
