“He is the world champion and No. 1, and the attention is not on him" - Michael Smith admits he 'feels sorry' for Luke Humphries amidst Luke Littler hype

It has been more than two weeks since Luke Littler won the Premier League Darts. For the 17-year-old Englishman, it was the first major title of his still young career as he continues to set the darting world alight since bursting onto the scene at the most recent World Darts Championship.

Michael Smith was himself active in the past Premier League Darts, but lost in the semifinals of the playoffs after a 10-5 defeat to Littler. "Fair play to the kid. He did what he did in the Worlds and we thought it could be a bit too much but he's just come on stronger and stronger," Smith recently reflected in conversation with Mirror Sport. "“Won the Premier League and backed up the statements. Won in Bahrain, won in Europe, he's unreal and rightly so he deserves the attention, he's only 17 and he's getting everything."

In and amongst all the Luke Littler hype however, Smith admits the man who best the teen sensation in the final of the World Darts Championship at the Alexandra Palace earlier this year, Luke Humphries, would have every right to feel aggrieved by the lack of attention he is recieving in turn. "The only person I do feel sorry for is Luke Humphries," BullyBoy explains. “He is the world champion and No. 1, and the attention is kind of not on him. It could be a bit more."

"But listen he's (Littler) filling all pockets by talking to everyone, everyone wants him, and I think that's why the record ticket sales are here this year. Everyone wants to see Littler. I'm not bothered by that," the former world champion concludes. "We're gonna get bigger sponsors, I get paid more and my kids eat more."

Luke Littler will be absent from the Nordic Darts Masters this weekend on the World Series of Darts. Smith will be present however, and this Friday night the Englishman will face off against Paavo Myller in the first round in Copenhagen.