HUMPHRIES HITS BACK AT PRIESTLEY
20/06/2025 By Aaron Nijjar
LUKE HUMPHRIES has responded to darts legend Dennis Priestley after he criticised England’s early exit at the World Cup of Darts.
England entered the tournament in Frankfurt as clear favourites but suffered second round heartbreak at the hands of Germany last week.
Two-time world champion Priestley said that Humphries and Luke Littler had “let their country down” with their lackluster performance.
That result came the day after it was announced the two Lukes – the top two in the world – were going to receive recognition in the King’s Birthday Honours List.
Priestley also admitted that neither player had “done enough to earn their MBEs just yet”.
World No. 1 Humphries took to social media to defend himself and Littler.
He wrote: “Disappointing to hear a top former pro who I admired say such a damaging thing to me and Luke.
“I didn’t let my country down last year tho did I.. 😊 One bad game for us and we will back next year to go again. Let’s move on now 🫣😂”
Eight-times major winner Humphries previously won the competition in 2024 alongside Michael Smith.
The duo ended an eight-year trophy drought for the three lions at the World Cup.
‘Cool Hand Luke’ returns to action next weekend at the US Darts Masters in Madison Square Garden, New York.
