Latest news with #darts
The Sun
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
‘There are so many in the making' – Nathan Aspinall reveals there's an army of Luke Littlers ready to take over darts
NATHAN ASPINALL reckons darts has boomed so much these past two years that 'footballers and actors' are all obsessed with what is happening on the oche. But he claims the next generation of tungsten throwers will be groomed in sports academies rather than unearthed on building sites. 4 4 4 The 17-week Premier League Darts reached its climax last Thursday night with Luke Humphries beating Luke Littler in the O2 Arena final. Two days before that, Prem semi-finalist Aspinall was a guest at Tottenham playmaker James Maddison's golf day at The Centurion Club with darts pal Joe Cullen. The annual invitational golf tournament – which raises funds for different causes – was attended by ex-footballers John Terry, Jimmy Bullard, Wes Morgan, Gareth Barry and comedian Michael McIntyre. And Aspinall – a two-time major winner – claims everybody was talking to him about Littler and Co. Stockport's world No.9 said: 'Everyone is obsessed with darts. I was at this golf day and everyone wanted to talk to me about the darts. 'I'm looking around, all these footballers and actors and stuff. Everyone was speaking to me. 'Everyone loves darts. Whatever you're a celebrity, own a company, from a council estate. Whether you're a kid. A woman. A Man. 'We all know we owe a lot of it to Luke. But also the rest of the guys that turn out week-in, week-out. 'Oh my god, John Terry shot four under gross. And he plays off five. 'Joe Cullen played as well. He was a bit worse for wear the next morning, shall we say. Luke Humphries apologises to fans after hilarious nine-darter fail leaves even rival Nathan Aspinall laughing 'Humphries was asked to play in it but he didn't want to risk injuring himself before the finals. Whereas I couldn't give a s***.' Littler emerged on the senior scene in December 2023 aged 16 and raced all the way to the World Darts final where he lost to Humphries. A year later, he went one step further and lifted the Sid Waddell Trophy at the age of 17. It is a far cry from previous world champions like Phil Taylor (ceramic factory), Gary Anderson (grate builder), Peter Wright (tyre fitter) and Rob Cross (electrician) who had other jobs before throwing darts. Yet Aspinall – who runs a darts academy in the North West – reckons there is an army of wannabe Littler s set to appear in the coming years. Aspinall, a father of two, said: 'There are so many more Luke Littlers in the making at the moment. It's mental. 'I might be 33 but I'm an old boy compared to what's coming through. 'If the money gets to like golf levels, there's no way people are doing this for 25 years. 'Guys in their early to mid-30s are the last of a generation and after us it's going to be all these kids coming through, who're fearless. 'Then it will go from this pub game, which everyone still calls it, even though it is not. And it will finally be called a sport in 5-10 years. 'But the problem you're going to have is: Where are the characters? 'You see it with footballers when they do their interviews, they are robots. They get told what to say. And they are all the same answers all the time. 'I think people like myself, I just say it as it is. It gets me in trouble a lot of time. I've had no media training in my career. 'I was thrown into the deep end. I don't want darts to get that to level. Because you do need those characters in the game. 'If everyone turns up and they are all the same, they all throw the same, no-one celebrates, does the interviews the same, it would get boring. Hopefully that doesn't happen.'
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
Premier League Darts set to come to new country next year as Barry Hearn makes huge announcement
BARRY HEARN revealed the newest country set to host Premier League Darts action next year. The tournament has taken to Britain, Ireland, the Netherlands and Germany this season. 2 But now, PDC boss Hearn confirmed Antwerp, Belgium will be the latest addition to the fixture list next season. Former Winmau World Masters champion and current VTM co-commentator Erik Clarys said: "I honestly didn't see this coming. "But it shows just how popular darts has become in our country. I'm sure it's going to be a spectacular night." The Belgian Open in Wieze has become a fixture on the European Tour and the Flanders Darts Trophy was added to the calendar in 2024. Both events have drawn strong crowds and players have regularly praised the warm reception in Belgium. There have been sell-out crowds in Belgium and the demand for a Premier League night has grown. Luke Humphries was crowned this year's Premier League champion after victory over good friend Luke Littler. He said: 'That one means the world to me. That's what I was missing. I have done it now. 'If I don't win another title, I'm happy because I've done the three hardest ones to do. Luke Littler narrowly avoids being hit by object thrown onto O2 stage during Premier League Darts finals 'I've joined an exclusive group of me, Gary Anderson, Phil Taylor and Michael van Gerwen. 'To Phil Taylor, thank you so much. He has given me so much support. He has given me a lot of advice and an extra boost tonight. If he's watching, then thank you. I'm really happy with that win. 'I can retire now – I'm done! I want to search for more. This makes me want to be a better player. 'I've won eight major titles. Now it's important to finish the end of the season well. 'It wasn't our best game. We struggled. I love Luke to bits. He's one of my best mates on tour. "He wasn't at his best. It was hard. We struggled to cope with the conditions.'
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.
