Luke Humphries shows true colours with classy comments after Luke Littler demolition

Luke Humphries showed his true colours after being put to the sword by darting rival Luke Littler, losing 6-1 in the final of the World Grand Prix in Leicester

World No. 1 Luke Humphries admitted he was no longer competing for personal glory during his crushing 6-1 loss to Luke Littler in the World Grand Prix final.

The final was expected to deliver a nail-biting encounter between the world’s top two players. Yet Littler dominated from the off, storming to a commanding 4-0 advantage.

During the clash, ‘The Nuke’ came within one dart of becoming just the fourth player in the tournament’s history to achieve a nine-darter.

That near-miss didn’t knock him though as he coasted to a 6-1 triumph and pocketed the £120,000 winner’s prize. Runner-up Humphries collected £60,000 but appeared visibly crushed by the defeat.

Speaking to Sky Sports afterwards, ‘Cool Hand’ displayed his sportsmanship and revealed how he was performing for the crowd in the closing stages.

“It was one of those games. He was so clinical in the first four sets,” Humphries said. “Double 16 was my friend in the last three years, but it wasn’t my friend tonight. Very unfortunate.

“When I was 4-0 down I just wanted to give the crowd something. I wasn’t playing for myself, I was playing for the crowd because the game had got away from me.

“It’s hard to take. It’s disappointing because I felt I was going to give him a better game than I did. I have to just get better. I have to work harder.

“If I don’t he’ll walk away with it all the time. I need to work harder than I ever have because I want to match him.”

While Humphries is determined to improve, Littler isn’t taking any breaks. He confirmed after the match that he’ll be participating in the World Youth Championships in Wigan tomorrow.

Littler stated: “It’s true, I’ll go to the world youths tomorrow and just have a bit of fun, see everyone. I don’t think anyone is going to be my friend tomorrow but it’s 20 minutes up the road and I’ll try my best.”