At the 2024
World Grand Prix, there was much talk about
Gary Anderson and
James Wade's lashing out toward the media's coverage of the top pros. Both top darters felt that
Luke Humphries is not getting the recognition and attention he deserves as world champion and world number one.
It was Anderson in particular who lashed out adamantly at the media because, according to him, almost all the attention goes to 17-year-old Luke Littler and Humphries' accomplishments are not valued enough. Something Wade later joined him in agreement. But
Richard Ashdown, former WDF referee and currently active as a spotter at PDC tournaments nuances that. "I don't think they're speaking for the majority of the players. I think the majority get it and embrace the current media attention - including Luke Humphries," Ashdown said via
Sky Sports' Love the Darts podcast.
"There's also a difference to punditry to journalism and I think that's a key point. I don't like the pundits being criticised because they're there to give their opinion so if they want to speak about Luke Littler for 10 minutes, then that's their privilege," continues Ashdown. "I think their intentions are good regarding Humphries but what I do feel for the pair of them is that they're players themselves who like to fly under the radar and they often contradict themselves. If you talk about them, they'll play it down. Gary will always say 'I'm here just to play darts' while James will often say 'people have written me off' - but I don't think I've ever heard anyone write him off."
Luke Humphries lost 6-4 to Mike De Decker in the final of the World Grand Prix
On the podcast, Ashdown and regular host Emma Paton were joined by Sky Sports' Michael Bridge, who agreed with the former's comments. "If you spoke to Luke Humphries personally, he would say 'brilliant'," said Bridge, "I don't think he would have an issue. I think Gary even more so because he's at a stage where he's enjoying life. He doesn't have any Premier League nights to worry about and he goes from tournament to tournament and says 'let's see how well I do'."
"In his post-match interviews, he can say what he thinks, but what Luke Humphries will acknowledge as well, if we are referencing Luke Littler, he will know that everything they're doing now with exhibitions, financially, everyone could be better off. There's never been so many eyes on darts, venues are sold out, Euro Tours are bigger and better than ever. It's good for the sport," concludes the Englishman. "The players have never had it so good. They work hard and they travel hard, but they're in a fantastic position. Luke Littler has been brilliant for darts and brilliant for the sport."
