Luke Humphries hits back! World No.1 gets revenge on Luke Littler in Northampton showdown

Luke Humphries reminded everyone exactly why he’s still the man to beat in world darts, holding off a spirited Luke Littler to win 8–5 in a thrilling main event of the latest MODUS Darts exhibition in Northampton.

The pair have been trading blows on stage all season, with Littler closing in fast on Humphries’ world number one spot after his relentless run of major finals. But on Saturday night at the Northampton Roadmender, it was the reigning world number one who landed the heavier punches — and perhaps a small dose of revenge — after Littler’s 6–1 demolition of him in last month’s World Grand Prix final.

While exhibitions might not carry ranking points, they often reveal something more telling: form, confidence, and the mood behind the scenes.

On that front, Humphries looked razor-sharp. He averaged north of 110 earlier in the night during a 4–1 win over Ricky Evans, then carried that same rhythm into his showdown with Littler. Despite the teenager’s trademark power scoring — which included a missed double 15 for a perfect nine-darter in his opening 3–1 win against Ben Goodger — Humphries kept his cool and timed his surge perfectly to pull clear late on.

It was another gripping chapter in what’s fast becoming darts’ defining rivalry. Littler, still just 18, continues to set the bar for the sport’s new generation, while Humphries’ composure and relentless scoring under pressure prove why he’s at the summit.

With the Grand Slam of Darts, Players Championship Finals, and of course, the PDC World Darts Championship all fast approaching, this felt like a quiet reminder from the world number one that he’s not ready to give up his place at the top of the rankings just yet.

Elsewhere, the Northampton crowd were treated to a full day of action across both sessions. In the afternoon, Nathan Aspinall opened proceedings with a 3–0 win over Colin Gray, before Tony O’Shea, Chris Dobey, and Joe Cullen all produced classy displays to see off Darryl Fitton, Stuart Gilmour, and Christian Shipley respectively.

The session closed with a high-quality clash that saw Ricky Evans defy a 108+ average from Aspinall to snatch victory 6–5, much to the delight of his home crowd.

The evening line-up featured a star-studded roster, with Luke Smith overcoming Trina Gulliver 3–1, and Fallon Sherrock sealing a 3–1 success over Phil Coward thanks to a clinical 88 checkout on the bullseye.

But the main event belonged to Humphries and Littler, two world champions, two generational talents, and a rivalry that continues to deliver every time they share a stage.

Humphries walked off to raucous cheers, but it’s the next few months that will really matter. If Northampton was a teaser for what’s to come, darts fans are in for a gripping winter.