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The Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Fans gobsmacked by price of pint at Premier League Darts final and are instead left ‘chugging water'
DARTS fans have been left gobsmacked over the price of a pint at the Premier League Darts finale. Luke Humphries got payback over Luke Littler, beating the youngster in the final to avenge last year's defeat. 2 2 It was an action-packed night as Littler had earlier come from behind to beat Gerwyn Price before Humphries brushed Nathan Aspinall aside. However some punters were left unimpressed because of the sky-high price of alcoholic beverages. The cheapest beer on offer was a Budweiser, coming in at £9.25. Other pints were priced at £9.80, including Camden Pale Ale and Camden Hells Lager, which increased by 55p and 35p respectively on last year. Fans were in uproar over the prices and made their feelings clear. One reacted saying: "£9.25 British pounds for a f***ing Budweiser, Games gone, hope there's a 9 darter to make up for it." Another added: "£9.50 for a pint of BUDWEISER at the O2 tonight. Turned back round and chugged my water." A third wrote: "The O2 is far too big for the Premier League Darts. Void of any true atmosphere, much like it is when there's a gig there. £9.80 a pint, too." Some darts fans were also left frustrated by the Premier League final format following Littler's defeat. Many argued it was unfair Littler had dominated the competition for the previous 16 weeks only to lose. One wrote on X: "Fair play to Humphries and I'm glad he won, but I really don't see the point in playing a 16-week league phase for it to come down to one game." Another said: "Format isn't great. What's the point of dominating for 16 weeks, for it to come down to one night? [It] seems a bit forced, IMO."
BreakingNews.ie
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- BreakingNews.ie
Luke Humphries thanks Phil Taylor for ‘extra boost' after winning Premier League
Luke Humphries says a pep talk from Phil Taylor inspired him to become the Premier League champion. The world number one completed darts' 'triple crown' as he beat rival Luke Littler in the final at the O2 Arena in London, adding to his World Championship and World Matchplay wins. Advertisement He joined an esteemed list as only Taylor, Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson had previously won all three prestigious tournaments. And the 30-year-old revealed chatting to Taylor – a six-time Premier League champion – helped him get over the line. 'To Phil Taylor, thank you so much. He has given me so much support,' he said. 'He has given me a lot of advice and an extra boost tonight. I'm really happy with that win. 'I'll keep it private between me and Phil. He just gave me confidence and was supportive of me. I think when you've got the greatest dart player in the world, showing a bit of support and belief in you, it makes you feel good. Advertisement 'It's always nice when someone believes in you, but when the best in the world, or was the best in the world, believes in you it feels good.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Professional Darts Corporation (@officialpdc) Humphries looked a good bet to dominate the sport until Littler came along 18 months, with the teenager's to the World Championship final kickstarting an enduring rivalry. They are streets ahead of the rest of the field and this was their 24th meeting in 18 months, with nine of them coming in this season's Premier League alone. Humphries revealed that Taylor's advice was centred on him rather than how to beat Littler. Advertisement 'It wasn't anything to do with Luke. It was all about me,' he said. 'He's never going to give me advice on how to beat people. He's just going to give me advice about me. 'It's all about me. He was telling me stuff about myself, about my just believing in me, to be honest. 'I would never, ever say anything that he's told me specifically, because that's our business. 'But he's just really supportive and gave me that bit of advice.' Advertisement
The Independent
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Luke Humphries thanks Phil Taylor for ‘extra boost' after winning Premier League
Luke Humphries says a pep talk from Phil Taylor inspired him to become the Premier League champion. The world number one completed darts' 'triple crown' as he beat rival Luke Littler in the final at the O2 Arena in London, adding to his World Championship and World Matchplay wins. He joined an esteemed list as only Taylor, Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson had previously won all three prestigious tournaments. And the 30-year-old revealed chatting to Taylor – a six-time Premier League champion – helped him get over the line. 'To Phil Taylor, thank you so much. He has given me so much support,' he said. 'He has given me a lot of advice and an extra boost tonight. I'm really happy with that win. 'I'll keep it private between me and Phil. He just gave me confidence and was supportive of me. I think when you've got the greatest dart player in the world, showing a bit of support and belief in you, it makes you feel good. 'It's always nice when someone believes in you, but when the best in the world, or was the best in the world, believes in you it feels good.' Humphries looked a good bet to dominate the sport until Littler came along 18 months, with the teenager's to the World Championship final kickstarting an enduring rivalry. They are streets ahead of the rest of the field and this was their 24th meeting in 18 months, with nine of them coming in this season's Premier League alone. Humphries revealed that Taylor's advice was centred on him rather than how to beat Littler. 'It wasn't anything to do with Luke. It was all about me,' he said. 'He's never going to give me advice on how to beat people. He's just going to give me advice about me. 'It's all about me. He was telling me stuff about myself, about my just believing in me, to be honest. 'I would never, ever say anything that he's told me specifically, because that's our business. 'But he's just really supportive and gave me that bit of advice.'
The Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Darts fans demand major change to Premier League after Luke Littler's shock final loss
DARTS fans have demanded a drastic change be made to the Premier League following Luke Littler's final defeat to Luke Humphries. Teen sensation Littler, who was the best player throughout the tournament, suffered an 11-8 defeat in a replay of the 2024 final at the O2 Arena on Thursday night. 3 3 Humphries took his head-to-head with Littler to 13 defeats and ten victories with his maiden Premier League title win. The match enthralled darts fans, although many of them couldn't help but vent their frustrations at the four-month-long competition coming down to one final match. One wrote on X: "Fair play to Humphries and I'm glad he won, but I really don't see the point in playing a 16-week league phase for it to come down to one game." Another said: "Format isn't great. What's the point of dominating for 16 weeks, for it to come down to one night? [It] seems a bit forced, IMO. "I get why they do it, you don't want the league winner to run away with it as viewings will go down. But [it] needs looking at." And another said: "Bit weird how Luke was miles away the best player over 17 weeks and well clear at the top of the table. "But Humphries is the champion because of a one-off game? Leagues are meant to be won on consistency, surely." One remarked: "I think the person who is top after all the weeks should receive a trophy for that achievement. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS Luke Littler prize money breakdown Here is all the prize money Luke Littler has won so far after being crowned 2025 PDC World Darts Championship winner: World Championship 2025 - £500,000 World Championship 2024 - £200,000 Grand Slam of Darts 2024 - £150,000 European Tour - £91,000 Player Championships events - £71,500 Players Championship final runner-up - £60,000 UK Open 2023 + 2024 - £17,500 World Matchplay - £10,000 World Grand Prix - £7,500 European Championship - £7,500 (Unranked) Premier League Darts - £315,000 TOTAL: £1.43 million "Like rugby with the playoffs [and] a separate one-off event for the top players. "Ultimately, it will always be Luke vs Luke in the final as no one [is] anywhere near them. Fans sing along to Luke Littler's walk-on song as darts star shares footage from stage Humphries, 30, was over the moon with his first-ever Premier League Darts title win. He told Sky Sports: "This one means the world to me, that was the one I was missing. "It was the one I wanted, I have done it now. "If I don't win another title, I am happy as I have done the three hardest ones to do. " Phil Taylor has given me a lot of support over the last couple of weeks, so Phil, if you are watching, thank you. "He gave me a lot of advice and that extra support." 3
BBC News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Overcoming struggles & Taylor's advice - Humphries seals triple crown
The joy on Luke Humphries' face was there for all to than two months on from saying he felt "emotionless" on the oche due to a relentless playing schedule that had made darts a "chore", the world number one was full of beaten Luke Littler to claim his maiden Premier League title, there was no shortage of delight, satisfaction or relief on display as Humphries stood triumphant in front of a packed O2 Arena with tears glistening in his eyes."It's about when I had those struggles in March," the 30-year-old said."It felt hard work and everything you dedicate yourself for, it makes it worthwhile when you achieve things like this."It's emotional because you work so hard, you're away from home for so long to get them trophies. It means the world."I do believe I've got that mental strength. I said earlier, if I win the title, I know I'll have won it by mental strength and belief. I feel like that was the case."In the final I was 3-0 down and could easily have let that slip away from me but I used mental strength to keep myself in the game."Humphries, who was world champion in 2024, has previously reflected on his rise to the top of the sport having had mental health challenges and anxiety at times in his career. He considered quitting the sport after one anxiety attack on stage in having overcome those struggles to add another major title to his tally, after his most recent victory, Humphries was already looking ahead to the future."I'm still relatively young in the game and I'm only a couple of titles away from being possibly the third-most successful darts player," he added."But when you reach 10 major titles, you're in some unseen territory so I'll keep pushing. I want to get over 10 so hopefully I can do that in the next couple of years." In winning the Premier League, Humphries became just the fourth player to complete darts' triple crown - that also includes the World Championship and the World Matchplay."It feels amazing. There are only four people who have done it so that makes it really, really special," he to Sky Sports, he added: "I've joined an elite club with Gary Anderson, Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen."I must say to Phil Taylor a big 'thank you' because he's been giving me a lot of support the past few weeks. It's really helped me so Phil if you are watching, thank you."He's given me a lot of advice and that extra boost."Humphries insisted the advice he received from 16-time world champion would stay between the two of them but confirmed it was solely about himself rather than any of his rivals."He was telling me stuff about myself and just believing in me," Humphries said."When you get the greatest darts player in the world showing a bit of support and belief in you, it makes you feel good." 'Another final in the Luke and Luke saga' Victory was also payback for Humphries after he lost last year's final to Littler as their rivalry continues to first playing each other in the 2024 World Championship final, the pair have faced off a further 22 times with Littler claiming 13 wins to Humphries' are the two top-ranked players in the world and over the past 18 months, that has been abundantly they are on top form, it feels as if the other is the only player who can live with in the consistency with which they are able to reach that level and it is little wonder the Littler-Humphries rivalry is being talked about as one that could dominate darts for years to come."These two could have darts sewn up," Sky Sports pundit Wayne Mardle said."They are going to be the mainstay of the darting world. Others are going to have to play really well to get the better of these two."If they have that hunger for four, five, six or even 10 years then someone is going to have to step up."Asked if he felt that he and Littler would be fighting it out at the top for the next 10 or 15 years, Humphries was less convinced."The problem is, there's always another person who comes around the corner," he said."In five years' time there could be about 10 players who are as good as me and Luke and it could be a battle between us all."I'd love to say over the next 10 years we'll battle it out in many finals – and we probably will – but they'll probably be a lot of other names involved with us."For the time being, though, Humphries and Littler have put some distance between themselves and the chasing even after 23 matches against each other in such a short space of time, there is no sign of familiarity breeding contempt just yet."I love him. I think he's a good kid," Humphries said of his teenage competitor."He's a close friend of mine in darts. He'll probably win much more than I'll ever win in my career because he's young and he's a great talent."I'm just happy when I nab one here and there. I said to him on the stage, I'm really happy to win this but I'm sure he'll get me back plenty of times in the future."It's just another final in the Luke and Luke saga."The next stage in the saga will see the rivals become team-mates as they join forces for England at June's World Cup of Darts in Frankfurt."I cannot wait," Littler told Sky Sports. "He won it last year so hopefully he can lead me to victory."They should form a formidable duo but it is only a matter of time before they will be battling it out again on the oche in a major next time it is Littler, rather than Humphries, who might have a bit of revenge on his mind.
