Darts Wars: Rise of the Lukes

By Iona May Todd.

THE name Luke is rarely out of the darts conversation these days. 

From winning almost every major, to both shockingly being in the bottom three of the Premier League after four weeks. 

Then even presenting an award at the BRITs. 

Skywalking the thin tightrope of darts, World No.1 Luke Littler and World No.2 Luke Humphries, have locked darts barrels in many battles.

To combine the fast-paced, flat-footed, small-flick-style of Littler’s sporting excellence, with the streamlined, steady, steep-angled entry of Humphries’ throw, the output might result in an invincible, tyrannical Jedi of the darting republic. 

An output which, if it hasn’t already, would hold the darting sphere by the scruff of its neck with a four-fingered grip.

In plainer terms, the omnipresent ‘Battle of the Lukes’ has become a palpable presence in the darting world; one that has become somewhat of a gargantuan watcher, and one that stalks the top players in the game. 

In this vein, not only has the ‘Battle of Lukes’ become a ubiquitous reminder of the stunning skill and endurance of the top two darting players in the world, some may argue it has become a bit… well, predictable.

It’s often said that any sequel to an original premise is a bit of a let-down. 

But has society ever considered what the impact of the 27th installment of a once sought-after match might be? Well, it’s time to consider it, because Humphries has done the maths for us. “I think we’ve played each other 27 times in two years,” he said earlier this month. “I mean, it’s a lot isn’t it?”

With the two playing almost weekly, it begs the question whether the darting game could be exhausted by the ‘Battle of the Lukes.’ 

Whilst darting contention like this could well result in a revolutionary rivalry, one that dictates the very core of the sporting world, it also borders the expected – a sporting no-no that serves neither the players nor the fans.

Humphries himself has admitted that the battle has “lost its edge.” 

The somewhat ‘predictable’ nature associated with the ‘Battle of the Lukes,’ also lends itself to some recent comments made by current World No.4, Michael Van Gerwen. 

Earlier this month, Van Gerwen was quoted saying that the Premier League format itself “needs to change,” with players facing each other “too often.” 

With this in mind, is the war of the starry-eyed Englishmen exhausting itself?

They have met in the Premier League already in Antwerp, yet shockingly neither has made a final. That will surely change soon and possibly in Belfast on Thursday. 

Recently, Humphries described Littler as the “greatest darts player of all time.” 

But weighing in on the debate, darts icon Wayne Mardle said it’s Humphries who is the best player on the planet right now. And here, right here, we have a toe-tipped tango between the throwers which is presenting itself now as more of a meet-cute than of fierce competition.

Do we need a match that feels more dangerous and new? Is it perhaps, say, a Michael [Van Gerwen] vs. Michael [Smith] discourse that the darting republic is crying out for? Or is it something else entirely?

This might well be the case, because following Littler’s performance in the Premier League over the past few weeks, it seems fires could be burning low. 

Littler is yet to win a night in the Premier League, and Mardle has said that “pressure” is mounting on the 19-year-old as a result. It’s reported that Littler is yet to reach his typical 105/106 average. Is this the darts-thrower we’ve come to know? 

Is the ‘Battle of the Lukes’ really taking its toll?

No. Out of the Premier League, comes a purple and yellow fluro glow. 

The Luke Littler we really know, shone brightly in the Poland Darts Open last weekend. 

Afterwards, Littler admitted he “needed” this win, after games “not going his way” in the Premier League up to this point.

Here, we have evidence that a change, a sense of newness on the Euro tour could be the answer to spicing up current darting matches.

Now, if all darts players were given their opportunity to shine, the sport would frankly be fresher with each rendition in turn. But is this fairness what really makes for a sporting superstar?

Is it simply that Luke and Luke are so dangerously talented that it’s only sense that each are to battle it out by the oche over and over and over and (27 times+) over?

Regardless, by the looks of it, the dominion of the ‘Battle of the Lukes’ in both the game and the cultural zeitgeist, is what is creating a radiance around the darting game at the moment, whether it is a in a tired match, or in a powerful dart-dominating duo.

No matter how many times they meet, this is THE match of the sport and we can’t get enough of it.

In this Darts Wars, the sequels just keep getting better.