Latest news with #DennisPriestley
The Irish Sun
18-07-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘I love it' – Luke Littler, 18, reacts to Dennis Priestley spat and admits ‘people think I'm actually biting'
LUKE LITTLER insists he was having 'banter' with Dennis Priestley after he hit back at the darts legend for suggesting he does not deserve his MBE. Two-times world champion 2 Luke Littler has lifted the lid on his spat with Dennis Priestley Credit: Rex 2 The darts icon was critical of Littler's shortcomings at the World Cup Credit: Getty 'The Menace' also said that neither player had Teen sensational He said: 'Don't deserve an MBE but done more in 12 months than he ever did…That's what I would say anyway.' READ MORE IN DARTS He revealed: 'People probably see it as like, I'm actually biting, but I just look at it as a bit of banter. 'I love it. If I see something, then I will just comment on it.' The World No.2 admits his aim is to win a game at the World Matchplay after a first-round exit to Michael van Gerwen last year. Warrington ace Littler takes on Ryan Searle at the Winter Gardens as he looks to build on a remarkable 2025 season that's already seen him lift the World Championship, UK Open, and Belgian Open titles. Most read in Darts BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS He added: 'I'm looking forward to it and hopefully I can get my first win there. It was obviously a whole new experience. 'Obviously I've been there as a fan two or three years ago watching and supporting Nathan Aspinall. Luke Littler and Luke Humphries BOOED by German crowd on day they got their MBEs but fans love their 's---house' walk-on 'But the occasion, obviously how warm it is, it's like that near enough every year. 'So that's something you've got to get really used to. 'And obviously the opposition was Michael on debut, which was unfortunate. 'But hopefully I can, like I said, get a win.'
Scottish Sun
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
‘I love it' – Luke Littler, 18, reacts to Dennis Priestley spat and admits ‘people think I'm actually biting'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LUKE LITTLER insists he was having 'banter' with Dennis Priestley after he hit back at the darts legend for suggesting he does not deserve his MBE. Two-times world champion Priestley claimed Littler and Luke Humphries 'let their country down' following their exit from the PDC World Cup of Darts in Frankfurt. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Luke Littler has lifted the lid on his spat with Dennis Priestley Credit: Rex 2 The darts icon was critical of Littler's shortcomings at the World Cup Credit: Getty 'The Menace' also said that neither player had 'done enough to earn their MBEs just yet'. Teen sensational Littler 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…That's what I would say anyway.' Littler, 18, insists his cheeky jab at Priestley was all in good fun. READ MORE IN DARTS 'IT SHOWS' Gerwyn Price credits body transformation with epic comeback to top form He revealed: 'People probably see it as like, I'm actually biting, but I just look at it as a bit of banter. 'I love it. If I see something, then I will just comment on it.' The World No.2 admits his aim is to win a game at the World Matchplay after a first-round exit to Michael van Gerwen last year. Warrington ace Littler takes on Ryan Searle at the Winter Gardens as he looks to build on a remarkable 2025 season that's already seen him lift the World Championship, UK Open, and Belgian Open titles. BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS He added: 'I'm looking forward to it and hopefully I can get my first win there. It was obviously a whole new experience. 'Obviously I've been there as a fan two or three years ago watching and supporting Nathan Aspinall. Luke Littler and Luke Humphries BOOED by German crowd on day they got their MBEs but fans love their 's---house' walk-on 'But the occasion, obviously how warm it is, it's like that near enough every year. 'So that's something you've got to get really used to. 'And obviously the opposition was Michael on debut, which was unfortunate. 'But hopefully I can, like I said, get a win.'
The Sun
18-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
‘I love it' – Luke Littler, 18, reacts to Dennis Priestley spat and admits ‘people think I'm actually biting'
LUKE LITTLER insists he was having 'banter' with Dennis Priestley after he hit back at the darts legend for suggesting he does not deserve his MBE. Two-times world champion Priestley claimed Littler and Luke Humphries 'let their country down' following their exit from the PDC World Cup of Darts in Frankfurt. 2 2 'The Menace' also said that neither player had 'done enough to earn their MBEs just yet'. Teen sensational Littler 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…That's what I would say anyway.' Littler, 18, insists his cheeky jab at Priestley was all in good fun. He revealed: 'People probably see it as like, I'm actually biting, but I just look at it as a bit of banter. 'I love it. If I see something, then I will just comment on it.' The World No.2 admits his aim is to win a game at the World Matchplay after a first-round exit to Michael van Gerwen last year. Warrington ace Littler takes on Ryan Searle at the Winter Gardens as he looks to build on a remarkable 2025 season that's already seen him lift the World Championship, UK Open, and Belgian Open titles. He added: 'I'm looking forward to it and hopefully I can get my first win there. It was obviously a whole new experience. 'Obviously I've been there as a fan two or three years ago watching and supporting Nathan Aspinall. Luke Littler and Luke Humphries BOOED by German crowd on day they got their MBEs but fans love their 's---house' walk-on 'But the occasion, obviously how warm it is, it's like that near enough every year. 'So that's something you've got to get really used to. 'And obviously the opposition was Michael on debut, which was unfortunate. 'But hopefully I can, like I said, get a win.'
The Sun
11-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
‘That's a bit harsh' – Former world champion slams darts legend Dennis Priestley over Luke Littler and Humphries jibe
KEITH DELLER has told former oche rival Dennis Priestley he was wrong to accuse Luke Littler and Luke Humphries of 'letting their country down'. Two-time world champion Priestley, 74, made the explosive comments last month after the best two players in the world lost in round two to hosts Germany at the PDC World Cup of Darts in Frankfurt. 5 5 5 The words angered both Littler, 18, and Humphries, 30, who were playing together in an England shirt for the first time. Their early exit has divided opinion across the sport, especially as they were such strong favourites for the title, but Deller reckons it is harsh to accuse them of being flops. Deller – the 1983 BDO world darts champion – told SunSport: 'I don't think they let the country down at all. 'If you ask them, they'll feel they let themselves down. Being number one and number two in the world, obviously the big pressure was that they would win. 'But what people have got to understand is that pairs action is nothing like playing singles. You've got to wait longer for a throw. 'If you look at Luke Humphries and Luke Littler they have got to get on with it. 'It was unlucky to draw Germany. No disrespect to other countries, if they had someone like China, they'd have probably come through that very easily. 'They never got into a rhythm against Germany and when they were behind, they were in trouble. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS 'The problem is you're waiting to throw all the time, so you have more time to think about the throw and that's what happened. 'Look, they could win it the next 6-7 years if they play together. 'This is why we play darts indoors' - Video of Luke Littler and Luke Humphries struggling in new tournament emerges 'England didn't play well on the day. But all this 'letting your country down' – that's a little bit harsh.' Yorkshireman Priestley – who thrashed Eric Bristow (6-0) and Phil Taylor (6-1) in two world finals – also said the Lukes of Hazard had not done enough in their careers thus far to earn their MBEs. Those special honours, given to them as part of the King's Birthday celebrations, were announced on the eve of the team tournament. Littler screenshotted an article that contained Priestley's quotes and captioned it up as saying: 'Don't deserve an MBE but done more in 12 months than he ever did…That's what I would say anyway.' Deller is one of seven players, past or previous, to have received a gong off the Royal Family, 5 5 The Suffolk thrower – speaking as an ambassador for Grosvenor Casinos – said: 'I got mine last year. Went to Windsor Castle. It was an unbelievable day. 'Dennis said: 'Is it too early for the Lukes?' Well, you see other sportspeople, youngsters even, who get an MBE early doors. 'You could say that about a footballer, why did he get it at the end of his career? You get people who might get a bronze medal in the Olympics or the world championships and get an MBE. 'You can criticise it any time. Okay, mine was 42 years in the making. I did wait long enough. 'I think personally Dennis has got a right to have his opinion but so has Luke Littler and Luke Humphries got the right to come back. List of all-time Darts World Champions BELOW is a list of darts world champions by year. The list does not include winners from the pre-Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) era or BDO world champions. That means Raymond van Barneveld, for example, is only listed once - Barney also won four BDO titles - and none of Eric Bristow's five BDO titles are included. 1994 - Dennis Priestley 1995 - Phil Taylor 1996 - Phil Taylor (2) 1997 - Phil Taylor (3) 1998 - Phil Taylor (4) 1999 - Phil Taylor (5) 2000 - Phil Taylor (6) 2001 - Phil Taylor (7) 2002 - Phil Taylor (8) 2003 - John Part 2004 - Phil Taylor (9) 2005 - Phil Taylor (10) 2006 - Phil Taylor (11) 2007 - Raymond van Barneveld 2008 - John Part (2) 2009 - Phil Taylor (12) 2010 - Phil Taylor (13) 2011 - Adrian Lewis 2012 - Adrian Lewis (2) 2013 - Phil Taylor (14) 2014 - Michael van Gerwen 2015 - Gary Anderson 2016 - Gary Anderson (2) 2017 - Michael van Gerwen (2) 2018 - Rob Cross 2019 - Michael van Gerwen (3) 2020 - Peter Wright 2021 - Gerwyn Price 2022 - Peter Wright (2) 2023 - Michael Smith 2024 - Luke Humphries 2025 - Luke Littler Most World Titles 14 - Phil Taylor 3 - Michael van Gerwen 2 - John Part, Adrian Lewis, Gary Anderson, Peter Wright 1 - Dennis Priestley, Raymond van Barneveld, Rob Cross, Gerwyn Price, Michael Smith, Luke Humphries, Luke Littler 'Luke Littler saying he has done more than Dennis – well I wouldn't go that far. 'Dennis, if we're being honest, if it wasn't for Phil Taylor might have won about six or seven world titles. He won two. 'To me, Dennis is one of the best players of all time. We live in a social media world now, where it's easy to put something back on there. 'But they have a right to come back and defend themselves.' 'All Things Darts' - A night with darts royalty Keith Deller and Russ Bray - will take place at the Grosvenor Casino Luton on Sunday between 4-8pm.
The Sun
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Luke Littler fires brutal four-word dig at World Cup of Darts winner who taunted him as The Nuke continues to hit back
LUKE LITTLER has continued to hit back at those who criticise his World Cup of Darts flop. The reigning world darts champion and world No.1 Luke Humphries bombed out of the team tournament this month – they lost to Germany in round two – despite the England pair being title favourites. 3 Dennis Priestley, a two-time world champion, claimed the pair 'let their country down' and said they did not deserve their MBE status as they were too young. Northern Ireland thrower Neil Duff, the WDF world champion in 2022, followed up that criticism by writing online in a sarcastic tone: 'How's England doing?' His home country, led by Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney, ended up winning the trophy in Frankfurt. These latest comments riled Littler, 18, who responded on his Instagram Story with the caption 'How's Neil Duff doing?' followed with a smiley face emoji. The post, which was available to up to TWO MILLION accounts, used an image of Duff losing 4-1 to Martin Thomas in the MODUS Super Series darts event on Saturday night. Littler also posted a social media message that screamed: Thomas sends Duff packing! The Nuke, the world No.2, is flying to New York this week as he takes part in the two-day US Darts Masters, which starts on Friday at The Theater at Madison Square Garden. Humphries also took to social media to criticise Priestley's take. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK 3 Cool Hand Luke wrote: "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? Luke Littler and Luke Humphries BOOED by German crowd on day they got their MBEs but fans love their 's---house' walk-on 'One bad game for us and we will back next year to go again. Let's move on now.' Humphries is also set to be in action at The Theater in New York next week. 3
