"I think he’s the greatest darts player that’s ever lived” – Luke Humphries heaps praise on unbeatable Luke Littler

Luke Humphries spoke with sportsmanship and realism after his extremely tense 6-5 defeat to Luke Littler in the final of the Winmau World Masters 2026. In a final that stayed balanced right up to the very last leg, the Englishman ultimately had to acknowledge the superiority of his young compatriot.

Despite missing out on the title, Humphries felt not only disappointment, but above all pride and confidence for the rest of the season.

The final of the Winmau World Masters in Milton Keynes was hailed by many experts as a true world-class darts clash. Humphries and Littler matched each other throughout, with high averages, key checkouts, and minimal margins for error. Only in the deciding leg did Littler find the edge and pull the title his way.

“Of course I’m gutted not to win it, but you have to take the positives,” claimed Humphries afterwards. “I can go away this weekend and know that my game is in a good place again. It’s been a great tournament for me."

The world star emphasized that he drew a lot of confidence from his performances throughout the tournament.

According to Humphries, there was little to fault in his performance in the final. “You look back at the whole game and it’s hard to pick holes in it because it was such a great game of darts," analyses the former world champion.

Naturally, Humphries also had high praise for his opponent Luke Littler, whose victory once again confirmed his status as the sport’s standout attraction. “Luke showed his true class there. He never folds under pressure."

The former world champion went even further in his assessment of the young world champion. "This may be premature, but I think he’s the greatest darts player that’s ever lived,” remarked Littler's most storied rival.

That remark not only underlined the respect Humphries has for Littler, but also the exceptional standard of the final, which received a standing ovation from the fans. The duel was seen as a showcase for the sport, with two players pushing each other to the limit.

Despite the defeat, Humphries looks ahead with his head held high.