Latest news with #TheNuke
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Luke Humphries doubles down on Luke Littler call out with 'damaging' reply
Luke Humphries has issued a response to Dennis Priestley's scathing attack on his World Cup of Darts partnership with Luke Littler, with The Nuke also hitting back Luke Humphries has hit back after he and Luke Littler were accused of letting their country down at the World Cup of Darts. The England pair entered the tournament as the overwhelming favourites, courtesy of their status as the top two players on the planet and the past two world champions. However, after receiving a bye to the second round, they were shockingly dumped out 8-4 by hosts Germany in one of the biggest upsets in the tournament's history. The defeat came shortly after they had been honoured with MBEs, with darts legend Dennis Priestley claiming they didn't deserve the accolades and had failed their nation on the big stage. Taking to social media on Friday, Humphries fired back at the two-time world champion, reminding fans that it was only last year that he won the World Cup with Michael Smith. Cool Hand posted on X: "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 tho did I? One bad game for us and we will back next year to go again. Let's move on now." Humphries' response comes after Littler delivered a brief backlash against Priestley's comments in a hastily deleted Instagram post. Littler wrote: "Doesn't deserve an MBE but done more in 12 months than he ever did... that's what I would say anyway." Priestley certainly didn't mince his words as he ripped into England's performance in Frankfurt. He said: "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." Reflecting on his own successful pairs partnership with Phil Taylor, Priestley 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." On the pair's inclusion in the King's Birthday Honours list, The Menace, 74, added: "To be brutally honest, I don't think either Luke Littler or Luke Humphries have done enough to earn their MBEs just yet. "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." Priestley acknowledged Littler's contribution to the sport since he burst onto the scene 18 months ago, but believes there is room for improvement. He said: "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." Humphries and Littler's next big tournament is the World Matchplay in Blackpool, which begins on July 19. Humphries won the tournament last year, while Littler lost in the first round to Michael van Gerwen.
Daily Record
31-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Phil Taylor warns Luke Littler he'll need 25 years of graft to beat his records
The Power has set the standard and says it might Nuke another quarter century to get there Relentless Phil Taylor has warned Luke Littler he better be dedicated for the next quarter of a century if he wants to break his record. The Power remains darts' greatest ever player have racked up a staggering major-title CV with 16 World Championship wins the astounding highlight and benchmark. Littler, 18, has exploded into the game as a teenager and wants to hunt down more success having scooped his first World crown in January. However, Taylor says it's going to take another 25 years of graft for The Nuke to detonate his mark and set a new milestone. He said: 'If he wants to carry on and win, beat my records, then he's going to have to be dedicated. And I mean dedicated for at least 25 years. If he gets the right advice and the right person looking after him, then he could do other things, like social media. Some people make millions out of it.' Littler has confirmed his future is firmly fixated on darts and pledged to play for at least another 10 years. His rise has been meteoric, but rival and pal Nathan Aspinall has claimed the kid is already getting fed up with the schedule. The Stockport star stated on a radio show that he feels The Nuke might have had enough of it all and five years time and walk away from the sport to pursue other activities. But Littler responded to that notion by saying: 'I've heard that! I'll be here in 10 years. Obviously, it's crazy to even think about retiring at the minute. Obviously, I think what they're saying is that if we win 16 titles in the next 16 World Championships, then obviously I will retire! I don't think of any retirement at the minute. Obviously, the money, it's there to be won, especially the World Championships now. But not only that, everything has gone up. It's all about what you're feeling and I'm sure I'll be here for a long time.'
Daily Mail
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Luke Littler's new female 'friend' is spotted cheering on darts sensation, 18, as he loses out on £275,000 prize pot in Premier League final
Luke Littler 's new female 'friend' was seen cheering on the darts sensation at the O2 Arena, as he narrowly missed out on a stunning £275,000 prize pot. Littler fell to a narrow defeat against rival Luke Humphries in the final night of Premier League Darts on Thursday - with the latter clinching the final match 11-8. It marked a reverse outcome from when the two darts stars met in the same event last year, where Littler announced his arrival onto the scene in stunning fashion. It wasn't to be this time round for Littler, who was supported by his parents and new female 'friend' Faith Millar at the O2 Arena. The trio were spotted on Sky Sports' broadcast during the event - with Millar looking particularly focused as Littler battled to get back into the match. It comes shortly after Littler swapped his darts for drinks as he hit the town with his new female friend and pals at the weekend. The darts dynamo shared a picture of the group at a table full of beverages in a pink-lit booth in a mystery location, his arm draped around the young lady. It comes after the 18-year-old went public with his 'fun-loving' beautician 'friend' Faith Millar earlier this month. 'The Nuke' shared a snap of them cosying up on a seat in a back garden. Mail Sport revealed that Littler, nicknamed The Nuke, met Faith Millar in February and that the pair were understood to have become almost inseparable since. However, both have been keen to play down the significance of their friendship - insisting emphatically that they are not dating or in a relationship. Millar, 19, comes from Wigan, just 15 miles from Luke's home in Warrington, Cheshire. She has already accompanied the PDC World Champion to public events including a Q&A session organised by his darts sponsors BoohooMan in Manchester in March. Eyelash beauty specialist Millar is also believed to have already met Littler's parents while visiting the 18-year-old at his mansion. A source told MailOnline: 'Faith and Luke have become firm friends and enjoy one another's company a lot.' The blossoming friendship comes nine months after the world number two split from his previous girlfriend 22-year-old Eloise Milburn last June. At 19, Millar is closer to Luke's own age than Milburn, who was in her twenties when she began dating him while he was just 17 - which saw her face hostility from some online fans, something known to upset both her and Luke. Littler has since been much more guarded about making his love life a public spectacle than he was when he very publicly dated Milburn at the same time as he was becoming a public figure thanks to his darts heroics at Ally Pally in December 2023.
The Irish Sun
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Luke Littler's rumoured girlfriend Faith Millar spotted supporting teen prodigy during Premer League Darts final
LUKE LITTLER'S rumoured girlfriend was spotted supporting him at the Premier League Darts final. Littler, 18, missed out on defending his title in London. 7 Luke Littler's rumoured girlfriend was in attendance at the Premier League Darts final Credit: Sky Sports 7 Faith Millar sat alongside Littler's dad at the O2 Arena Credit: Sky Sports 7 Littler lost the final 11-8 to Luke Humphries Credit: Reuters 7 The pair appeared to confirm their relationship with this photo on Instagram in May Credit: Instagram It was disappointment for Littler, who was cheered on by Faith Millar in the VIP section. The duo struck up a friendship after meeting in February. READ MORE ON LUKE LITTLER Faith is said to have met Littler's parents by the time the pair were And in May, they went public with a The Nuke had not been in a relationship since Most read in Darts CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS But during the final defeat to Humphries on Thursday night, the TV cameras cut briefly to the Littler support clan. And among them was Faith, cheering on her rumoured boyfriend in a red sleeveless top alongside Littler's dad Anthony Buckley and mum Lisa Littler. Luke Littler narrowly avoids being hit by object thrown onto O2 stage during Premier League Darts finals The darts superstar came from behind to But his dreams of repeating his heroic exploits of 12 months ago were dashed by a red-hot Humphries. 7 Humphries got his hands on the trophy at long last Credit: Reuters 7 Littler celebrated winning the 2024 Premier League with his ex-girlfriend Eloise Milburn Credit: instagram 7 Anthony Buckley and Lisa Littler joined their son at SPOTY last year Credit: PA
Daily Record
29-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Luke Humphries salutes Phil Taylor's role in Premier League win as Luke Littler has eyes on his own records
Cool Hand defeated The Nuke at London's O2 to complete the Triple Crown as he joins trio in prestigious club. Proud Luke Humphries joined Phil Taylor in the Triple Crown club and immediately thanked The Power for surging him to success. Cool Hand breezed to the Premier League title after a stunning fightback blew away Luke Littler. The World No.1 cast aside issues with wind across the stage to storm back and dump The Nuke in front of 14,000 at London's O2. Humphries pocketed the £275,000 winners cheque by beating Nathan Aspinall 10-7 and then silencing the Littler Army in London to win 11-8 and claim the cherished trio of elite prizes. He followed Taylor, Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson in winning the World Championship, World Matchplay and Premier League in his career with the success over his big rival. Afterwards, the champ confessed Taylor has been helping him and explained: 'Honestly, that means the world to me. That was the one I was missing. That was the one I wanted. I've done it now. 'If I don't win another title ever, I'm happy because I've done the three hardest ones to do. I've joined the elusive group of me, Gary, Phil, Michael. 'I must say to Phil, thank you so much because he's been giving me loads of support the last few weeks, really helped me out a lot. "Gave me a lot of advice and he gave me that extra boost. That was a struggle between me and Luke. It wasn't our best game, but I'm really, really pleased with it. 'I love him to bits. Honestly, he's one of my best mates on tour. He's so good. He wasn't his best, nor was I, but I managed to get in front of him. Well, I'm just going to go and retire now and that's it, I'm done! No, I want to search for more. He makes me want to be a better player. 'But right now, I'm doing okay. I've won eight major titles now, the most important ones that I can dream of, so now it's important that I go and finish this end of the season well and try and regain that World Championships. "I said to him: You'll probably get me back a few times, but I'm glad I've got it. One time or 10 times, one's good enough for me.' Littler dodged an object flung onto the stage and was hit by a foam finger prior to his 10-7 semi win over Gerwyn Price, but he couldn't get away from Humphries and lost out in his bid to go back-to-back. He said: 'I had a little bit of a thing after the game, as I do. No one likes losing, but I'm fine. Glad to say it's over. It's been a tough 17 weeks, but I'm very happy it's over. Came runner-up, I'll be back next year. 'I've set many records. Personally, I don't think they'll be broken because I'm going to go next year and try and break my own records. But a little bit of a break now.' The pair will team-up at the World Cup next month and Humphries said: 'I've won it before, Luke's going to want to win the World Cup and we're both really good friends, but we're good players, so if we connect, then we're going to stand a great chance of winning. "I know the pressure's going to be on us, but we believe that we can win it and if we do play our best, I don't think anybody's going to touch us, but we'll see.' Littler added: 'I can't wait, obviously. He won it last year, so now he can lead me to victory.'
