"I owe him one" - Luke Littler out for Luke Humphries revenge in 2025 World Grand Prix final

Speaking to Dartsnews.com, Luke Littler has described his rivalry with Luke Humphries as “the biggest game in darts” after storming into the 2025 World Grand Prix final with a ruthless 5–1 demolition of Jonny Clayton in Leicester.

The 18-year-old world champion averaged just over 97, hit ten 180s, and landed half of his starting and finishing doubles in a clinical display that saw him crush former Grand Prix champion Clayton and book a sixth major final appearance of the year.

It means the top two players in the world will collide yet again, this time for the double-start crown, with Humphries coming through 5–3 against Danny Noppert in the other semi-final. The pair have already met in the multiple major finals over the course of their career, including the PDC World Darts Championship and the Premier League Darts — and Littler insists their rivalry is defining the modern game.

“Yeah, I think me and Luke is the biggest game in darts,” Littler said in his post-match press conference, following his win over Clayton. “Whether it’s a final, a first round, or a semi-final, we bring the best out of each other. Another Luke vs Luke final doesn’t get boring.”

For all the talk of the format favouring the more experienced players, Littler has taken to the World Grand Prix with the same swagger that’s defined his record-breaking rise in the sport. Against Clayton, he produced an exhibition of power scoring and timely brilliance — none more so than a 140 checkout in the fourth set that effectively killed the contest.

“I think the main checkout was the 140 to go 3–1 up,” he said. “That pretty much summed it up. From then on, Jonny was still behind me — I couldn’t drop off.”

Clayton had led early on, taking out 85 on the bull to claim the opening leg, but Littler responded instantly with a show-stopping 161 finish. The Welshman struck back with a 154 outshot in the third set, but his younger opponent never wavered, reeling off three straight sets to reach yet another Sunday night showdown.

Littler was quick to praise Clayton’s performance but admitted the game turned when he delivered that crushing 140. “It felt amazing,” he said. “Coming back on at 2–0, I just told myself: get into the lead — at least 3–1 or even 4–0. Jonny got the next set, but I thought, you’ve got to break him once or twice to win — and that’s what I did.”

The final will mark the latest major meeting between Littler and Humphries — a rivalry that’s beginning to echo the legendary duels between Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld or The Power and Michael van Gerwen in their pomp.

Littler’s admiration for his counterpart is obvious, even as he prepares for revenge after losing to Humphries in the Premier League decider earlier this year.

“I owe him one,” he admitted. “That’s the last big one we met in, apart from New Zealand. But on the major stage, I owe him one tomorrow night. When it’s Luke Humphries in the opposite corner in a final, it feels even bigger. We’ve both beaten each other in major finals. But this one’s very different — double start. Whoever gets off first tomorrow probably wins.”

Asked whether their rivalry now carries the same aura as the Taylor–Barney or Taylor–MVG eras, Littler didn’t hesitate to place their names in that conversation. “Yeah, even like Taylor–Barney or Taylor–MVG,” he said. “Me and Luke are both getting close to whatever numbers they had in major finals. I’ve never checked how many, but the list’s getting bigger for Luke vs Luke — and there’s another one tomorrow.”

This run to the final continues Littler’s freakish knack for learning fast and winning faster. In just his second appearance at the Grand Prix, he’s beaten three former champions — Gerwyn Price, Mike de Decker, and Jonny Clayton.

“The first round was tough — first set against Gian [van Veen], against the darts, and I won it,” he recalled. “Then Mike [de Decker] didn’t show his best, and the Gezzy game was unreal. Then Jonny tonight — like you said, three players who’ve won this before, and hopefully I can make it four tomorrow.”

It’s a pattern that mirrors his remarkable year elsewhere.“Like I’ve always said, I want one of every major,” Littler added. “Last year in the Matchplay I went out first round — this year I won it. Last year in this, I went out first round — now I’m in the final. So I’m not saying anything just yet.”

For all the mutual respect between the two Lukes, Littler made clear he’s not just here to make up the numbers. With a trophy in sight, he knows it will come down to who adapts quickest to the treacherous double-start format. “Now I’m here, I can finally say the trophy’s in sight,” he said. “Whoever turns up best tomorrow will win. But for me, it’s just about hitting the doubles — first or second time around.”

Even he admits the run could easily have ended earlier in the week, after surviving match darts against Gerwyn Price in the quarter-finals. “You could say it’s a free shot,” Littler said. “Gezzy missed I don’t know how many match darts, and I just had to turn the afterburners on and go for it — which I did. So yeah, maybe I shouldn’t be here… but I am, and I’m in the final.”

And with Humphries once again standing between him and another slice of history, Littler knows what’s required. “It’s huge,” he said. “There’s four or five majors left this year, and I want to tick this one off. Luke’s been here and done it before, so he knows how to win this final. But as long as I hit my doubles, I’ll win.”