Latest news with #LukeLittler
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Luke Humphries weighs in on Luke Littler's feud with darts icon after England duo were accused of 'letting their country down' at World Cup
Luke Humphries has weighed in on Luke Litter's feud with a darts icon after the world No 1 and 2 were accused of 'letting their country down' at the World Cup. The duo, who are widely regarded as the best two players in the world given both their rankings, recent World Championship success and their major wins, teamed up to represent England at the World Cup of Darts last week. They were heavy favourites to take home the crown - which would have meant Humphries would have defended the title he won a year earlier with Michael Smith - but they crashed out in the first round. After skipping the group stage due to being seeded, England were drawn against home favourites Germany in the first knockout stage, and were targeted by the crowd from the off as they fell to defeat by Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko. After, Dennis Priestley, a double world champion, opened fire at Littler and Humphries as he accused the team of 'letting their country down' and claimed they didn't deserve their MBEs. Littler hit back, and Humphries has now too weighed in - though with a slightly more toned down response. Littler claimed he did more for darts in 12 months than icon Dennis Priestley 'ever did' 'Disappointing to hear a top former pro who I admired ay such a damaging thing to me and Luke,' Humphries wrote on X. 'I didn't let my country down last year tho did I. 'One bad game for us and we will be back next year to go again. Let's move on now.' He accompanied the post with a hiding emoji and laughing emoji. Littler, meanwhile, took a more aggressive stance. In a hastily deleted Instagram story, he wrote: 'Don't deserve an MBE but done more in 12 months than he ever did... that's what I would say anyway.' Priestley had told OLBG in full: 'Luke Littler and Luke Humphries let their country down at the World Cup of Darts. From what we've heard they weren't sitting together or practising together. 'When I was playing in pairs with Phil Taylor we practised together and sat together, we played all over the world and I only remember us getting beaten once. 'To be brutally honest, I don't think either Luke Littler or Luke Humphries have done enough to earn their MBEs just yet.' Priestley holds the distinction of being the first player to win both the PDC and the BDO World Championships, though the latter was dissolved in 2020. A former coal merchant from Yorkshire, Priestley, nicknamed 'the Menace,' only entered the professional darts circuit in his late 30s. Gerwyn Price claimed Littler and Humphries played 'rubbish' and questioned their teamwork He added: 'I think in time they could've done enough to warrant it (the MBE) but it feels very early, they have both won one World Championship each and are still young in their careers. 'Littler has been recognised for raising the popularity of darts which is great, but he can still do so much more. 'If he is getting an MBE this soon then you'd have to think he is on the right path to a knighthood, nothing would surprise me now.' Rival and Welshman Gerwyn Price stuck his boot in on the two Lukes too, saying during the tournament: 'When we turned up on the first day, and I'm not just saying this because they lost, but the only two players that didn't turn up together, didn't sit together, didn't play as a team - I'm not saying who they are - but they didn't win their first game. 'You need to turn up together, you need to be as a team, you practice together, you sit together, it's a team ethic. It didn't show with England, and it showed on the board. 'They are great players individually, but you need to be a team. 'You need that team ethic. You need to be as a team all the way through but it didn't happen.
The Independent
5 hours ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Luke Littler and Luke Humphries hit back at MBE jibe from former world champion
Darts sensation Luke Littler has reacted to former world champion Dennis Priestley, after he rubbished the awarding of an MBE to the 18-year-old. Littler won the 2025 World Darts Championship at the age of 17, becoming the tournament's youngest winner just a year after making the final as a 16 year old. His success has raised the profile of darts around the country, aided by his burgeoning rivalry with 30-year-old Luke Humphries who beat Littler in that 2024 final. Priestley, however, was not impressed with the pair being awarded MBEs in the King's Birthday Honours. Speaking to the Daily Express, the two-time world champion said: 'To be brutally honest, I don't think either Luke Littler or Luke Humphries have done enough to earn their MBEs just yet.' Priestley, nicknamed 'The Menace' during his career won the BDO world title in 1991 before claiming the WDC (which is now the PDC) prize three years later. Littler took to Instagram to reply to the 74-year-old Yorkshireman, and wrote: "Doesn't deserve an MBE but done more in 12 months than he ever did... that's what I would say anyway." His Instagram story has since been deleted. Priestley had said: "I think in time they could've done enough to warrant it but it feels very early, they have both won one World Championship each and are still young in their careers. 'Littler has been recognised for raising the popularity of darts which is great, but he can still do so much more. 'If he is getting an MBE this soon then you'd have to think he is on the right path to a knighthood, nothing would surprise me now.' Favourites for the tournament, Littler and Humphries were dumped out of the recent World Cup of Darts in their first match, losing to the German team in Frankfurt. The Northern Ireland pair of Daryl Gurney and Josh Rock went on to win the title, beating Wales' Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton in the final 10-9. Humphries joined in with challenging Priestley's words, taking to X to say it was 'disappointing to hear from a former pro' when the 'Menace' commented that the English pair had 'let their country down' in defeat at the World Cup. The Leeds United-supporting world champion has called for the incident to be moved on from after the war of words.
Scottish Sun
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Luke Humphries follows Luke Littler in hitting back at former World Darts champion after ‘let country down' jibe
GOT THE HUMP Luke Humphries follows Luke Littler in hitting back at former World Darts champion after 'let country down' jibe Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LUKE HUMPHRIES has followed the lead of Luke Littler and hit back at Dennis Priestley's explosive claims that the pair 'let their country down' following an early World Cup exit. Two-time world champion Priestley, 74, slammed world No.1 Humphries and reigning world champion Littler for losing in the second round to hosts Germany last weekend. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Luke Littler and Luke Humphries crashed out the World Cup in their first match Credit: X @SkySportsDarts 2 Dennis Priestley said the pair 'let their country down' Credit: PA:Empics Sport It was their first appearance together in the team format but disappointingly the pair were beaten 8-4 by Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko amid a cacophony of boos from the Frankfurt crowd. The English duo were red-hot favourites to claim the title heading into the event. But Wales star Gerwyn Price said that the two Lukes did not arrive together nor spend enough time in each other's company – and essentially failed to gel behind the scenes. That shock defeat came the day after it was announced the two Englishman – the top two on the world rankings – were going to receive recognition in the King's Birthday Honours List. READ MORE IN DARTS GOTTA HAVE FAITH Luke Littler, 18, takes next step with new girlfriend Faith Straight-talking Yorkshireman Priestley also said in his chat with bookmakers OLBG that neither player had 'done enough to earn their MBEs just yet'. Cool Hand Luke, 30, lifted the World Cup crown with Michael Smith in 2024 and has vowed to return next year with The Nuke by his side. The former world champion said on his social media account: 'Disappointing to hear a top former pro who I admired say such a damaging thing to me and Luke. 'I didn't let my country down last year though, did I? JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS 'One bad game for us and we will back next year to go again. Let's move on now.' On Thursday, Littler screenshotted an article that contained the quotes and captioned it up as saying: 'Don't deserve an MBE but done more in 12 months than he ever did… Being made an MBE shows I've helped 'change face of darts' says Luke Humphries 'That's what I would say anyway.' That message was later deleted off his Instagram Stories. Littler is the most recognisable figure in the sport and his Instagram account mushroomed to 1.9 million followers shortly after he burst on to the scene in December 2023. His next appearance on the oche will be at the bet365 US Darts Masters, which will be held on June 27-28 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York.
The Sun
6 hours ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Luke Humphries follows Luke Littler in hitting back at former World Darts champion after ‘let country down' jibe
LUKE HUMPHRIES has followed the lead of Luke Littler and hit back at Dennis Priestley's explosive claims that the pair 'let their country down' following an early World Cup exit. Two-time world champion Priestley, 74, slammed world No.1 Humphries and reigning world champion Littler for losing in the second round to hosts Germany last weekend. 2 2 It was their first appearance together in the team format but disappointingly the pair were beaten 8-4 by Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko amid a cacophony of boos from the Frankfurt crowd. The English duo were red-hot favourites to claim the title heading into the event. But Wales star Gerwyn Price said that the two Lukes did not arrive together nor spend enough time in each other's company – and essentially failed to gel behind the scenes. That shock defeat came the day after it was announced the two Englishman – the top two on the world rankings – were going to receive recognition in the King's Birthday Honours List. Straight-talking Yorkshireman Priestley also said in his chat with bookmakers OLBG that neither player had 'done enough to earn their MBEs just yet'. Cool Hand Luke, 30, lifted the World Cup crown with Michael Smith in 2024 and has vowed to return next year with The Nuke by his side. The former world champion said on his social media account: 'Disappointing to hear a top former pro who I admired say such a damaging thing to me and Luke. 'I didn't let my country down last year though, did I? JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS 'One bad game for us and we will back next year to go again. Let's move on now.' On Thursday, Littler screenshotted an article that contained the quotes and captioned it up as saying: 'Don't deserve an MBE but done more in 12 months than he ever did … Being made an MBE shows I've helped 'change face of darts' says Luke Humphries 'That's what I would say anyway.' That message was later deleted off his Instagram Stories. Littler is the most recognisable figure in the sport and his Instagram account mushroomed to 1.9 million followers shortly after he burst on to the scene in December 2023. His next appearance on the oche will be at the bet365 US Darts Masters, which will be held on June 27-28 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York.
The Irish Sun
6 hours ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Luke Humphries follows Luke Littler in hitting back at former World Darts champion after ‘let country down' jibe
LUKE HUMPHRIES has followed the lead of Luke Littler and hit back at Dennis Priestley's explosive claims that the pair 'let their country down' following an early World Cup exit. Two-time world champion Priestley, 74, slammed world No.1 Advertisement 2 Luke Littler and Luke Humphries crashed out the World Cup in their first match Credit: X @SkySportsDarts 2 Dennis Priestley said the pair 'let their country down' Credit: PA:Empics Sport It was their first appearance together in the team format but disappointingly the pair were The English duo were red-hot favourites to claim the title heading into the event. But Wales star Gerwyn Price said that the two Lukes did not arrive together nor spend enough time in each other's company – and essentially That shock defeat came the day after it was announced the two Englishman – the top two on the world rankings – were going to receive recognition in the King's Birthday Honours List. Advertisement READ MORE IN DARTS Straight-talking Yorkshireman Priestley also said in his chat with bookmakers OLBG that neither player had 'done enough to earn their MBEs just yet'. Cool Hand Luke, 30, lifted the The former world champion said on his social media account: 'Disappointing to hear a top former pro who I admired say such a damaging thing to me and Luke. 'I didn't let my country down last year though, did I? Advertisement Most read in Darts Breaking JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS 'One bad game for us and we will back next year to go again. Let's move on now.' On Thursday, Littler screenshotted an article that contained the quotes and captioned it up as saying: 'Don't deserve an MBE but Being made an MBE shows I've helped 'change face of darts' says Luke Humphries 'That's what I would say anyway.' Advertisement That message was later deleted off his Instagram Stories. Littler is the most recognisable figure in the sport and his Instagram account mushroomed to 1.9 million followers shortly after he burst on to the scene in December 2023. His next appearance on the oche will be at the bet365 US Darts Masters, which will be held on June 27-28 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York.
