Latest news with #CoolHand
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Luke Humphries fires back at Premier League darts critics as yet another date is added
Champ Cool Hand prefers trophies to cheques and sticks up for PL system Champion Luke Humphries has hit back at critics of the Premier League set-up. The world No.1 took the title at the end of a 17-week darts marathon which turned off many observers. Humphries and Luke Littler clashed for a ninth time in the campaign in the Final and Raymond van Barneveld is amongst the snipers who think that's way too much and is taking away the spectacle. But, as PDC chief Barry Hearn revealed plans to add Antwerp in Belgium to the PL schedule in 2026, Cool Hand responded to enquiries about changing the tournament's current make-up and said: 'Can you give me advice on how you change it? If me and Luke play in every Players and Euro Tour, every major and every Premier League, because that is what the fans, they want all these darts, if we make the final of every tournament, you are going to see us play 40-50 times a year. 'The only reason we play each other so much is because we end up making the finals. I don't know how you stop it. I think as much as everyone wants to change the Premier League, I am happy to be in it. 'I don't care what it does, what you do, whether it's a league format, a singular night, it doesn't stop the fact that me and Luke might play each 10-15 times a year. That's because of how much darts there are. We can play each other next weekend if we make the final [in Copenhagen]. 'The magnitude of darts now, we are playing every week and sometimes you are playing the Players Championship, two or three times a week. Then a Euro Tour. If you are the two best players in the world performing so well and making the final every week, you will keep playing each other every week. 'I would not even suggest it. I honestly don't know. It's up to the PDC. I'm happy playing it. I am not going to be the one that wants to change it. Of course, they do change it, I am happy with that as well. 'But for me, I won't be sitting here moaning, saying I don't want to play this or I want to play in this. I am happy to be involved. The PDC know what they are doing. If this is the best format for them, then they will do it. It still does good numbers, the fans still come, still gets good numbers on Sky Sports. They know what they are doing. Not for people like me to change things, it's up for people like me to work hard and win titles. Let's not change it.' Such is the schedule, top stars such as Humphries get little time to savour successes. After his triumph at London's O2, he smiled: 'I want to have a beer and celebrate.' But asked if he'd allow himself a treat, he said: 'It's hard. I don't know. What do you treat yourself to really? I have bought a brand new house. I have bought a new car. I don't know. I am not one of those people that goes out and just wastes my money on nothing. I will have a nice holiday. That will be something. I don't think about money, I think about winning big titles and the money comes with it. 'When you pick up trophies like this, you don't think about how relentless it is. It makes it all worthwhile.'
Daily Record
5 days ago
- 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.'
The Sun
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Luke Humphries WINS Premier League Darts as Cool Hand recovers from horror start to stun Luke Littler
LUKE HUMPHRIES won his first Premier League Darts title by overcoming Luke Littler in a thrilling final. Cool Hand beat the Nuke 11-8 at the O2 Arena to avenge last year's final defeat. 2
The Sun
19-05-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
‘I was pretty drunk' – Luke Humphries lifts lid on boozy party that went on until 7am after winning 2024 world title
LUKE HUMPHRIES has kicked on to be one of the faces of the darts since his spectacular world title victory in 2024. The World No.1 earned the the Alexandra Palace crown over Luke Littler - coming out on top in the 7-4 final - and emerging as a new force in the sport. 2 2 Cool Hand went on a dominant run - dropping only seven legs in his five matches - on his way to the finale. Though, pegged back 4-2 by the sport's golden boy, he sparked a monumental effort to delay Littler's coronation. The triumph saw Humphries celebrate in king's fashion as his sleep suffered the gain of immortality status. Speaking on the Weekly Dartscast as a guest, Humphries recalled: "I got no sleep. I was just partying." "Well I say partying, I was drinking with a lot of people, and I didn't go to bed until about 7 o'clock in the morning." "There was about 30 of us. 30/40 people down there and yeah, I was pretty drunk to be honest," recalls the Premier League Darts star with a laugh. "Then my manager was knocking on the hotel door about an hour later, telling me it was time for media! "A lot of people messaged me saying 'You looked fresh. Did you not go out partying last night?' So I must have gotten away with it." "But it was a great night and one that I want to experience again to be honest," Humphries concluded. "I'd love to have that feeling of celebration again because there's no other feeling that tops it." Premier League Darts 2025: Dates and venues Night 1 - Belfast: Humphries beat Dobey 6-1 Night 2 - Glasgow: Littler beat Humphries 6-5 Night 3 - Dublin: Price beat Aspinall 6-3 Night 4 - Exeter: Humphries beat Littler 6-4 Night 5 - Brighton: Littler beat Aspinall 6-3 Night 6 - Nottingham: Price beat Littler 6-3 Night 7 - Cardiff: Littler beat Van Gerwen 6-4 Night 8 - Newcastle: Littler beat Humphries 6-1 Night 9 - Berlin: Bunting beat Price 6-5 Night 10 - Manchester: Aspinall beat Humphries 6-4 Night 11 - Rotterdam: Dobey beat Bunting 6-2 Night 12 - Liverpool: Price beat Humphries 6-4 Night 13 - Birmingham: Littler beat Van Gerwen 6-4 Night 14 - Leeds: Humphries beat Littler 6-5 Night 15 - Aberdeen: Aspinall beat Dobey 6-1 Night 16 - Utilita Arena, Sheffield - Thursday May 22 Play-Offs - The O2, London - Thursday May 29 Humphries' title defence in this year's event was ended in the fourth round by Peter Wright. He has since starred in the elite Premier League tour - booking his Final Four spot in the end-of-the-month bash at the 02.
Daily Mirror
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Luke Littler's three-word reply to announcement shows Luke Humphries his stance
Luke Littler expressed his joy about the confirmation of his "dream team" World Cup partnership with Luke Humphries prior to their thrilling Premier League Darts showdown. With Littler and Humphries having already secured their spots for the finals night at the O2 Arena in a fortnight's time, the pair's clash on Thursday left darts fans in disbelief. With 'Cool Hand' needing a win to close the gap on 'The Nuke' at the top of the leaderboard, the 2024 world champion eventually came up short - but not before playing his part in what is already being regarded as one of the all-time greatest games in Premier League history. The 18-year-old claimed a 6-3 win over his fiercest rival to secure top spot in the standings, despite Humphries averaging a whopping 110 as well as reeling off nine 180s in Aberdeen. Before the action got underway, the World Cup of Darts line-up was unveiled by the PDC, with both Humphries and Littler set to fly the flag for England in Germany next month. Littler took to Instagram to share several snaps of him and Humphries sharing a moment on stage. "Dream team confirmed," his caption began, before adding: "Bring on the world cup in June @lukehumphries180." There were doubts over Littler's participation in the World Cup of Darts when he declared he wouldn't compete in Germany again until October's European Championship, reports the Daily Star. He expressed his displeasure towards the nation's darts fans after being booed at the German Darts Grand Prix in Munich. He also pulled out from the European Darts Grand Prix in the country last month. Despite worries about his participation at the World Cup in Frankfurt, Littler had previously stated he never thought about skipping the tournament. "No, no I was always [going to play]," he said. "Luke [Humphries] will want to go back-to-back and obviously I want to win it for the first time. Even though it's not a major, it's still playing for your country." England are the reigning World Cup of Darts champions thanks to the triumphant efforts of Humphries and Michael Smith last year. They bested Austria's Mensur Suljovic and Rowby-John Rodriguez in the final. This marked England's first victory in the tournament since Phil Taylor and Adrian Lewis' successful partnership in 2016. In the intervening years, the Netherlands, Scotland and Wales each clinched the title twice, with Australia emerging victorious in 2022. Aside from the Littler and Humphries classic, and a Gerwyn Price nine-darter, it was Nathan Aspinall who captured his second nightly win on Thursday after besting Michael van Gerwen, Stephen Bunting, and Chris Dobey. The Englishman's victory saw him climb ahead of Van Gerwen and into fourth spot, and he's now four points ahead of the seven-time Premier League champion. The Dutchman will need to win in Sheffield next week to reach finals night.
