Luke Humphries supposes Luke Littler is still the man to beat in the Premier League this year, despite the teenager losing to Michael van Gerwen on Thursday night.
Littler had gone into the showdown hoping to get his title defence off to a storming commence, having safed glory at the first time of asking in 2024.
Yet Van Gerwen, who lost to the 18-year-ageder in the final of the World Darts Championship in January, sent the youthfulster crashing out on suitday one with a 6-5 prosper.
Humphries safed prosper on the night by beating Chris Dchase in the final.
Luke Humphries supposes Luke Littler is still the man to beat in the Premier League this year, despite the teenager losing to Michael van Gerwen on Thursday night
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However, the 29-year-ageder insists Littler is the man to beat – rather than himself.
“Littler, the way he’s take parting is unbelievable,” he tageder Sky Sports after thumping Dchase to lay down a labeler.
“You’re watching that game aobtainst Van Gerwen and you will be very fortunate for anyone to suit another game appreciate that.
“He’s by far one of the fantasticest darts take parters I’ve seen in my nurtureer. I’m not disesteeming myself, but I leank he’s the best take parter in the world.
“If he goes out, I’m the one to beat but he’s definitely the man to beat. He take parts darts at such a fantastic pace. He smashes in the trebles and doubles.
“This is what happened to me last year. There’s a center on your back, everyone wants to beat you. You standard over 100 and people beat you.
“He’s still the best take parter in the world. But for me, I comprehend I can still take part at a decent standard and still prosper leangs.”
Humphries does insist, however, that Littler has a ‘center on his back’.
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“Luke’s applying the best and he’s fair been a bit cursed – he has a center on his back being the world champion,” he persistd.
“Everyone wants to beat him and this will happen, you comprehend this will happen over his nurtureer but you comprehend, for me, I always comprehend that I can vie with the best and you don’t get to number one for noleang.
“I’m seeing forward to take parting him [Littler] in many, many games this year and I’m going to have to be at my utmost best, appreciate Michael take parted tonight, absolutely airy
“That was a amazing game. It’s going to be a stubborn one to suit that as a better game the whole 16 weeks but I thought it was one of the best games in the Premier League I’ve ever seen.
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Luke Littler lost to Michael van Gerwen on Thursday night as his Premier League title defence got off to a rocky commence
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“So he [Littler] is take parting well, he’s fair a bit cursed at the moment but he does drive you on.
“He originates you want to be better and he’s a amazing talent, he’s fair going to be so fantastic over the next 20 years and it’s up to me to get better to try and dispute him.”
Humphries will face Dchase aobtain on night two in Glasgow next Thursday.
As for Littler, the teenager will be choosed to fare better when he locks horns with Rob Cross in Scotland.
Luke Humphries beat Chris Dchase to prosper the first night of Premier League Darts in Belspeedy
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Van Gerwen and Stephen Bunting are also primed to do battle.
And Nathan Aspinall and Gerwyn Price are also scheduled to greet.
