DARTS LEGEND BLASTS LITTLER AND HUMPHRIES AFTER WORLD CUP LOSS

By Phil Lanning

LEGEND Dennis Priestley blasted that Luke Littler and Luke Humphries “let their country down” in the World Cup.

The pair crashed out of the tournament at the first hurdle to hosts Germany in Frankfurt on Saturday night.

Former world champion Priestley believes that the pair now have to learn from that disappointing experience.

He told OLBG: “Luke Littler and Luke Humphries let their country down at the World Cup of Darts, from what we’ve heard they weren’t sitting together or practising together.

“When I was playing in pairs with Phil Taylor we practised together and sat together, we played all over the world and I only remember us getting beaten once.

“If you go on and win the tournament without practising then it doesn’t matter, but when you go out without winning a game as the big favourites, it’s not a good look.

“Having said that, I think they will learn from the experience and come back stronger. Don’t be surprised to see them lifting the trophy next year.”

Priestley also was quick to dismiss the recognition the Lukes got with being awarded MBEs.

He added: “To be brutally honest, I don’t think either Luke Littler or Luke Humphries have done enough to earn their MBEs just yet.

“I think in time they could’ve done enough to warrant it but it feels very early, they have both won one World Championship each and are still young in their careers.

“Littler has been recognised for raising the popularity of darts which is great, but he can still do so much more. If he is getting an MBE this soon then you’d have to think he is on the right path to a knighthood, nothing would surprise me now.”

Priestley also insists that Littler must be protected by his management from the lure of sponsorship deals.

He said: “Luke Littler’s team needs to shield him from all distractions [including new McDonald’s sponsorship] and make sure he gets all the best advice because he is still so young.

“I hope he reads this because my advice would be it’s not about how much money you earn now, it’s about how much you’ve kept when your career comes to an end.

“He has his head screwed on but the important thing is that the darts remains the priority rather than all the sponsorship deals he keeps being offered.”