HUMPHRIES AND WADE: “WE’RE FINE”

By Phil Lanning

LUKE HUMPHRIES has revealed that there’s no more malice with James Wade over ‘Lickgate’.

The World No.1 was upset after the 10-times major winner appeared to lick his neck before knocking him out of the UK Open earlier this month. 

‘Cool Hand’, 30, faces Michael van Gerwen in the Premier League in Cardiff tonight. But he admits that there’s no further problems with his mate Wadey.

When asked if he’s kissed and made up, he replied: “Yes. I think, you know, things happened in the game. Obviously, not the lick on the neck like everyone thought it was.

“But there’s water under the bridge now. You see each other the next week and we’re fine. 

“These things happen in darts. We’ve seen it many, many times over the years where two players have had a disagreement and they’re friends again. So, yeah, we’re fine now.”

Kind-hearted Humphries is also going to give a young fan the day of his life – after finding out on social media he was getting bullied. 

Alex McGarrie, 14, has been pulled from his school in Stockport after being repeatedly assaulted by groups of thugs for several years.

Humphries has arranged so that Alex can go to a Premier League night in Manchester on April 10.

He added: “I’ve asked his dad, who’s his favourite player, I think Luke Littler is his inspiration, so I’m going to try and get a signed shirt off Luke. Then obviously he’s going to meet all the players and PDC have kindly given him some tickets as well.

“It’s all in place. I spoke to his dad and they’re pretty happy. It’s not just me. The PDC obviously have said yes about it as well, which is great on their part.

“Hopefully some of the bullies are darts fans and they can see him and see how much of a great time he’s having because, obviously, money can’t buy this type of thing.

“It’s good that he gets something out of it, but, of course, I’d rather they didn’t bully him and he didn’t have to go through this. But, hopefully, it gives him a bit of hope.”

Humphries also revealed he’s yet to see the special gold darts from BetMGM – worth £30,000 – he won by hitting a nine-darter in the Premier League in Belfast.

He added: “I think they’re maybe being given to me next week or the week after. But I don’t know what they look like or anything. A lot of the players actually didn’t know anything about it.

“I was the only one that knew about it because in Belfast, that was the first time I learnt about it as well.

“I don’t know too much about it. I don’t know what they look like, but I think they’re being made now and being delivered to me at one of the Premier Leagues in the next couple of weeks.”

Image by Taylor Lanning.