Latest news with #PDCWorldCupofDarts
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
‘Done more in 12 months…' – Luke Littler furiously hits back at former World Darts champion's MBE dig in deleted post
CROSSED WIRE 'Done more in 12 months…' – Luke Littler furiously hits back at former World Darts champion's MBE dig in deleted post Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FUMING Luke Littler has slammed darts legend Dennis Priestley for suggesting he does not deserve his MBE due to his age. Two-time world champion Priestley, 74, claimed Littler and world No.1 Luke Humphries 'let their country down' following their dismal exit from the PDC World Cup of Darts in Frankfurt Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Dennis Priestley suggested Luke Littler did not deserve his MBE Credit: Getty 3 The darts star hit back at the former player on social media Credit: Getty 3 Littler shared his furious response before later deleting it Credit: Instagram @lukethenukelittler The English pair were red-hot favourites to claim the title on their maiden appearance together but they surprisingly lost to Germany in the quarter-finals. That result came the day after it was announced the two Lukes – the top two in the world – were going to receive recognition in the King's Birthday Honours List. Straight-talking Yorkshireman Priestley said in a chat with a bookmaker that neither player had 'done enough to earn their MBEs just yet'. He added: "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. READ MORE ON DARTS PRICED OUT Bankrupt former World Darts semi-finalist stuns Gerwyn Price in timely boost 'In time they could've done enough to warrant it but it feels very early. '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." This jibe angered 18-year-old Littler – the reigning PDC world champion – who posted a short but pointed response on Instagram. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS The Nuke screenshotted an article that contained the quotes and captioned it with his response. He said: '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.' He has since deleted the post. 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. Littler, meanwhile, has teamed up with fast food giant McDonald's to launch a brand new burger. The 'Big Arch' is one of five new additions to the McDonald's summer menu launched on Wednesday. Priestley has also offered some advice to Littler which relates to the deals he has been handed away from the oche. He said: 'Luke Littler's team needs to shield him from all distractions and make sure he gets all the best advice because he is still so young. "I hope he reads this because my advice would be it's not about how much money you earn now, it's about how much you've kept when your career comes to an end. "He has his head screwed on but the important thing is that the darts remains the priority rather than all the sponsorship deals he keeps being offered."
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Is Luke Littler and Luke Humphries' friendship all a facade? Inside England stars' World Cup of Darts disaster
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) NOT SINCE the pairing of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard at the 2006 World Cup had two Englishmen fail to click and proven so uncoordinated on German soil. Luke Humphries and Luke Littler arrived in Frankfurt as the top two players in the world and red-hot favourites for the PDC World Cup of Darts. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 8 Luke Littler and Luke Humphries early exit at the Darts World Cup emulated the fails of England's Golden Generation Credit: X formerly Twitter / @SkySportsDarts 8 Littler and Humphries lost 8-4 to hosts Germany in their first match 8 Fans joked that Littler and Humphries were 'like Gerrard and Lampard' Expectations were so high that they would be victorious that Phil Taylor was saying they should be given the trophy before a dart was even thrown in anger. But World Cups can cause all manner of surprises and discombobulating displays – as England's Golden Generation found to their cost 19 years ago. Gerrard and Lampard were among the best midfielders of their era, goal-scoring machines for Liverpool and Chelsea. Yet despite their god-given talents, it never really worked for them in tandem when they donned a Three Lions shirt. Humphries and Littler are the best darts players of this era but they were crushed in their opening game by the Germans. So, why didn't it work? Why did it go so spectacularly wrong? Well, underdogs Martin 'The Wall' Schindler and Ricardo 'Pikachu' Pietreczko rose to the challenge superbly, winning their second-round tie 8-4 on Saturday evening. There is history between the two Lukes and pesky Pietreczko – Littler clashed with him at last year's Belgian Darts Open, and Humphries gave it back to German fans at Ally Pally after he eliminated the Berlin-born star. 8 The two Lukes can be compared to Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS The hostility that greeted the English duo when they walked out was unusual for darts – so, do not underestimate the impact that had on the No.1 seeds. The noise was ear-splitting and we all know Littler has little time for Deutschland fans. Luke Littler and Luke Humphries BOOED by German crowd on day they got their MBEs but fans love their 's---house' walk-on Twice before, in Berlin and Munich, Littler had been left unhappy with the reception he got from punters. The previous time it had happened over Easter, he wrote on Instagram he was glad he would not be back in the country until Dortmund in October, seemingly forgetting all about the World Cup in June. He might be the world champion and a global icon but we forget that Littler is still only 18. The Nuke stormed off stage, albeit after shaking hands, and just like when he lost the Premier League Final to Cool Hand Luke, he shows his emotions whenever things go against him. 8 Humphries struggled to produce his best form 8 Teenage sensation Littler was out of sorts Credit: Getty But as NFL legendary coach Vince Lombardi once said: Show me a good loser and I'll show you a loser. Parallels could be made with another England midfielder, Jude Bellingham, who is a stellar talent but is prone to outbursts and temper tantrums in difficult moments. Littler is not yet in that same league but this is a huge setback in his career – his first senior England appearance ending amid a cacophony of boos and regrets. It was so deflating that, the day after they had been recognised in the King's Honours List, Sky Sports pundit Wayne Marde joked: 'How quickly can MBEs be taken away?' What was telling was the observation made by Gerwyn Price, whose Wales side lost 10-9 to Northern Ireland in the final. In one of the revealing interviews this year, the Iceman claimed 'rubbish' England lacked 'a connection' and had no 'camaraderie off the stage'. He said: 'When all the teams first turned up on the first day, the only two players who didn't turn up together, didn't sit together, didn't play as a team. '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.' 8 Gerwyn Price revealed shock details about Littler and Humphries disconnection Credit: Getty World No.1 Humphries and reigning world champion Littler are always so polite and respectful on stage, fist-bumping each other's high checkouts. But is it all a facade? Are they really as compatible off the oche as they make out? Can they ever put aside their fierce rivalry for this team format? Humphries is 12 years older than Littler and is like a big brother but if Price is right, they will have to work on their connection in a team situation. They came over to Germany as the bookies' front-runners but were gone after 12 legs. At least Gerrard and Lampard managed four games together at the 2006 World Cup before their quarter-final exit.
