"I think Luke Humphries will go back to back World Championships" - Russ Bray assesses Ally Pally hopes of pre-tournament favourites

With the draw now confirmed, the excitement and anticipation is building once again for the upcoming PDC World Darts Championship. Although legendary referee Russ Bray won't be present at Ally Pally this year, 'The Voice of Darts' has cast his eye over the field and given his prediction for the tournament.

First name mentioned is losing finalist last year, Luke Littler, who since his emergence onto the scene at the Alexandra Palace last December has continued his meteoric rise to darting stardom, lifting major titles such at the Premier League Darts and Grand Slam of Darts on debut and hitting a record-equalling number of nine darters during the calendar year. Can 'The Nuke' top it off with a first world title?

"Littler has got a squeak, he's always got a squeak," Bray, who refereed last year's world final between Littler and Luke Humphries, analyses for The Sun. "He's still a young man though and he's now going to be under a different type of pressure. Last year's World Championship, he was revelling in being the underdog coming through. Now, he's one of the favourites. So he's got a target on his back and a different style of pressure to accommodate."

Over the course of his debut year on tour though, Littler has consistently proven he can handle pressure. "He's always got a chance because of the way he throws," Bray notes, before turning his attention to the defending world champion, Luke Humphries, who has continued to be the man to beat in world darts across 2024, most recently retaining the Players Championship Finals title at the expense of Littler in the final. "He's been Mr Consistent, albeit didn't do too clever in the Grand Slam. But, over the longer format, I honestly think he can go back to back. That would be my choice," Bray predicts.

"I think Luke Humphries will go back to back World Championships, " the legendary referee then reiterates. "Dark horse? Other than Littler, I'm going to say MVG (Michael van Gerwen ed.). He's not done what I thought he could do a lot more of. He's really underachieved. When MVG is on top form, no one touches him, it's as simple as that."