“When you’ve got someone as dominant as Luke Littler, you have to chase him” – Luke Humphries admits world No.1 rivalry is driving him forward
PDC
Luke Humphries once again demonstrated why he belongs among the very best in the world. With an average comfortably above 100 and clinical finishing, the Englishman powered into the next round of the UK Open with a convincing victory.
ADVERTISEMENT
Yet there was little sense of celebration afterwards. Instead, Humphries remained notably critical of his own performance.
The reigning world champion proved far too strong for Luke Woodhouse in the fourth round, securing a 10-3 win in Minehead.
Even so, Humphries believes there is still more to come from his game, a mindset that could make him even more dangerous for the rest of the field this weekend.
Strong display, but Humphries still sees room for improvement
On paper, the result looked emphatic. An average of more than 105, consistent scoring and excellent finishing ensured a comfortable passage into the next round.
For many players that would be reason enough to be fully satisfied. Humphries, however, sees things differently.
ADVERTISEMENT
“It sounds strange, but I still thought I could have played a little bit better,” he said after the match in conversation with dartsnews.com. “When I came off I saw Wayne and he said, ‘Was that not 100 average? Was it that good?’ I didn’t really feel like it was.”
Humphries admitted that certain moments in the match left him feeling he could have produced an even higher level, although his finishing proved decisive. “The doubles were good,” he explained. “There were frustrations in the game, but my finishing was undeniable.”
The world number two also recognised that the draw had not been especially kind. “I really rate Wessel as a player. I think he’s a really tough player to face. When you see the draw and you get him, you think it’s not the best draw in the world.”
That made the convincing victory even more satisfying. “So for myself to win quite convincingly like I did is a really good result.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Preparation key to Humphries’ approach
Like many top players, Humphries follows a strict preparation routine before stepping on stage. Watching the draw live is part of that process. “I came over around four o’clock,” he explained. “When you’re playing at eight you have to prepare for that. Three and a half hours is about the time I like to prepare.”
By following the draw, he was able to estimate when his match would likely take place. “When you saw Michael against Nathan you kind of thought that would probably be fourth on. So I thought I’d probably be second or maybe first.”
That prediction proved correct, allowing him to structure his preparation accordingly. “You’ve got to be prepared,” Humphries added. “If I’d been last I could have gone back to the chalet and had an hour out, but it’s always best to prepare in case you’re on early.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Strong performances still searching for results
Despite regularly posting high averages, Humphries admits that results have not always followed as he would like this season. “Yes and no. Of course when you’re playing well and not getting the results you want it is frustrating,” he said.
But the Englishman believes patience is key. “If you keep playing like that, the results will come.”
In the Premier League Darts he feels his performances have often been solid, even if decisive moments have sometimes slipped away. “My performances have been decent, but maybe in those clutch moments they haven’t been there at the right time.”
ADVERTISEMENT
However, his finishing against Woodhouse showed that he remains capable of delivering when the pressure is on. “Tonight I showed I can do it under pressure on the doubles.”
Rivalry with Luke Littler driving improvement
One of the defining storylines in modern darts is the rivalry between Humphries and fellow English star Luke Littler.
Humphries admits that Littler’s rise has pushed him to keep evolving his own game. “But when you’ve got such a dominant force in Luke, you’re kind of thinking right, you have to try and chase him.”
That mindset has led Humphries to make subtle changes to his setup as he searches for marginal gains. “I’ve changed a few things this year and they have been working,” he said. “I do believe I can make it more consistent.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Read also
No concern over Premier League standings
Humphries currently sits outside the top four in the Premier League standings, but the situation is not something that worries him.
“Never,” he said when asked if his position in the table was a concern. “For me I’ll never hope for points. I’m just there to entertain the crowd and keep pushing myself to put in good performances.”
Even if results do not immediately follow, he believes the focus must remain on effort and performance. “If it gets to week 16 and I’m fifth, sixth, seventh or eighth, it doesn’t matter as long as I’ve put the effort in and tried my best.”
ADVERTISEMENT
His objective remains clear. “I couldn’t care less whether it’s fourth, third or second. As long as I’m at the O2, that’s what I’m pushing for.”
Luke Humphries in action at the 2026 UK Open
Always searching for marginal gains
A key part of Humphries’ approach is his constant search for small improvements to his equipment. “I’m always looking for that extra one or two percent that might make me even better,” he explained.
That might involve experimenting with small details such as flights or points. “You don’t want to change too much though because trying to improve one or two percent could make you worse if you overdo it.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Rising standards across the sport
According to Humphries, the overall level in professional darts continues to rise rapidly, particularly among players just outside the elite. “There are so many players outside the top 16 now who are really good,” he said.
He specifically highlighted the strength of rising talents on the circuit. “Outside the top 16 it’s going to change a lot because there are so many great players.”
That reality makes constant improvement essential. “For me it’s important to keep improving and stay ahead of that.”
Despite his already impressive list of achievements, Humphries believes his current form may still not represent his peak. “My performances this year have actually been really good,” he concluded. “But there’s always that lingering feeling that they could be even better.”
Kieran WoodDarts Journalist
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He contributes to DartsNews.com, where he covers professional darts through news, match reports, analysis, and live coverage across the PDC calendar and major tournaments.
A key part of his work is on-site reporting from leading events. Kieran has covered the PDC World Darts Championship in person, reporting daily from the venue and providing first-hand insight from the tournament. During his coverage, he has conducted interviews with leading players including Luke Littler, Luke Humphries, and Gerwyn Price.
He is also one of the leading voices of the English-language Dartsnews Podcast, contributing regular analysis and discussion on developments across the professional darts circuit.
In his reporting, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles when new, verified information becomes available.
claps 0visitors 0
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- And why should he listen to you?Deduce635807-11-2026
- Ultimately it is a bye for whoever draws Barney. It will be another stroppy and sulky performance once he goes behind. Barney was excellent but really must completely call it a day now.richieburnettrocks07-11-2026
- I'm disappointed he was not able to secure a spot at the Grand Slam. With Carl Sneyd taking care of Daryl Gurney, he would have had to beat Andy Boulton before facing the winner of Sneyd vs Mensur Suljović for a Grand Slam spot. Unfortunately, after beating Filip Bereza comfortably, he succumbed to Boulton, and the board would ultimately be won by the highly inconsistent Carl Sneyd. Since he could instead have been drawn against the likes of Cristo Reyes, Dirk van Duijvenbode and Stephen Bunting, I think once Gurney was out of the picture he would have been favourite to win his board, and it seems like a massive missed opportunity to put 5 grand on his ranking and seal another major TV appearance ahead of the Worlds. The highs and lows of following Raymond van Barneveld!Deduce635806-11-2026
- Probably i will receive a lot of backlash and hate for this reaction, but well, so be it. I am more than sick and tired of those lies of you Barry Hearn. How dare you defend yourself over the back of Fallon’s son! He has a disability and not an illness, so let me correct that for you! I know because I have the exact same disability. I have tried to reach out to Fallon in the past, and offered her to help her and her son, because I was struggling with the same problems, and I understood the boy. I wanted him to have finally someone who understood him. However she told me that she did not want my help, and I have respected Fallon’s choice. I have never asked Fallon for money. They don’t need money in that case. I only ever wanted the best for Fallon and Rory, but I have to be honest about the situation. Fallon should tell the true story and not be forced to tell lies. I don’t hate Fallon, and I don’t begrudge or envy a single penny that she gets, but this situation/case is just not fair. I hate the lies and the dishonesty and injustice. I don’t want Fallon to be hated because there is an unfair disadvantage created. Don’t proclaim your false lies over the back of Rory! I only stand for integrity and justice. I am precisely the one who always sticks up for Fallon. And you don't, you don't give a damn about them. You were never there for them, and now you only want to save your own position! You are just trying to talk your way out of your own bad behavior at the expense of someone with a disability. And to Fallon, I don’t know if this may ever reach you, and you read it, but I want you to know I love you and I love your son Rory very much, I am sorry how things developed and went. I hope you and Harriet are still friends. I am sorry if I were too persistent to you, or you experienced it that way, but it was never my intention. Please understand I have autism as well. As Barry Hearn would say, I am only just a human being too, and I also make mistakes and misjudge things sometimes. I promise you I did everything out of the deepest love and care for you and Rory. If I were you, I should just keep all the money, only please never be dishonest or tell lies anymore for Barry Hearn, or anyone else. I hope you have the best life, and I wish nothing more than the best for you. I have always loved the two of you. Farewell.Hiddo05-11-2026
- She is a professional. If darts is her income, she is a professional. Same as Adrian Lewis, Martin Adams. A tour card just means someone can play on the PDC tour. You could even make a case that Clayton wasn't a professional (until recently I believe) because he had employment elsewhere.BandB04-11-2026
- She's technically not a professional though as she doesn't hold a pro tour card.mr-pablo04-11-2026
- Such a shame that lakeside has been reduced to this. Fantastic venue,and previously a great tournament. Not any morerick6703-11-2026
- Seems to me that the top 16 players pick and choose whatever they want to play. Good,all the money will get spread out more. They get more money from exhibitions than tournaments so let them all withdrawrick6703-11-2026
- Play all legs and the winners split the pot. Luke gets the lot of he wins them all. If your occupation is darts player you can't enter, regardless of ability.BandB01-11-2026
- I'm quite a jaded person all things considered, but to be honest I found Beat Luke Littler to be pretty entertaining. It certainly wasn't seamless, which is to be expected given the lack of precedence, but I actually think the pacing was pretty good, the production was impressive, and there was a good sense of humour and levity to it. I think it was a very ambitious undertaking but one that, for the most part, paid off. I liked the system with the four pots and I think it added to the drama and intrigue. I enjoyed seeing the diverse range of entrants and learning about their backstories. I think the interactivity was pretty clever and well-integrated. The panel was a little incoherent at times; Lee Mack shone however, and his improvisational skills were appreciated during some more awkward interstitial moments. As far as the darts is concerned, it was a shame that the format didn't allow Littler to get into full flow. You obviously don't want him to steamroll everyone but you want to feel like you're getting the full Littler package rather than seeing him struggling to get out of first gear. I will say that his leg against Jayden Walker was very impressive, but it was mostly downhill from there. The attraction revolves around Littler being this untouchable, indomitable force, yet the format doesn't really allow him to fulfil that characterisation. As for Fallon Sherrock, she was mightily impressive and deserved the victory. It is a testament to her unshakeable character that she was able to bang in a 14-darter under such mind-bending pressure. Everything that has been said about the misleading marketing is valid, though they were clear about their eligibility criteria and were able to offload the responsibility somewhat by bringing the viewers into the decision-making process in real time. What is clear though, is that Fallon played the game according to the rules, and she should not be criticised for that, much less abused. I will admit though that it is a kick in the teeth for those true amateurs who committed time and money to the course, and I would also question those who think pub players would have no chance, given that some of Littler's winning legs were dispatched in 7 visits to the board! The great thing about darts is that it isn't so much that amateurs cannot replicate the feats of brilliance pulled off by professionals of the sport, than it is that they simply cannot replicate the consistency of their output, something that this format almost entirely removes from the equation. It should also be noted that, financially, Fallon certainly stands to benefit much less in relative terms from the paycheque than would your average pub thrower, as I'm sure she nets a fair income from the lucrative exhibition circuit alone. What I do hope is that she might use this as an opportunity to really build up a head of steam heading into the new season, as it seems long overdue that she come through Q-School and really take it to the pros on a week-in week-out basis, but whatever she chooses to do, she has certainly achieved enough already for one if not several lifetimes, so who am I to dictate terms? To conclude though, I will state once again that I found Beat Luke Littler to be a pretty enjoyable evening of entertainment. I do feel for the contestants who never actually had the chance to try their luck against the world #1, although I suppose it comes with the format, but all which inevitably raises the question: will Netflix be tempted to do it all again next year? It's hard to say. Whether it would be financially viable, I can't weigh in there. One point I have been making though, and which I touched on earlier, is that the entire concept relies on a public perception that Littler is more or less unbeatable, and that certainly hasn't been the case of late. If the execs had been trying to pitch the show in recent months while Littler has seemed vulnerable, rather than when he was mopping up almost every major title on the calendar, it would certainly be a tougher sell. We will have to see in about 6 months' time whether Littler can still reliably command perception as a near-unstoppable force in darts, and then we'll have a clearer idea about whether we should expect a second helping. Even as a one-off experiment though, and with all the controversy taken into account, I still don't think they disgraced themselves by any means, and that will probably be my lingering assessment of the event when all is said and done.Deduce635801-11-2026