HUMPHRIES BACKS LITTLER AHEAD OF FRANKFURT RETURN

LUKE HUMPHRIES believes Luke Littler has learned how to handle “the burden of the world”.

The world No.2 reckons the teenage superstar is now better equipped to deal with the pressure and attention that comes with being darts’ biggest attraction after a painful defeat in Frankfurt 12 months ago.

Cool Hand and Littler headed into the 2025 World Cup as overwhelming favourites but crashed out at the second round to Germany in front of a hostile home crowd.

Humphries feels both players are far better prepared for the challenge that awaits them at the Eissporthalle arena.

He said: “It’s probably the worst draw we could have got.

“Obviously, Luke wasn’t the greatest of support for the German people at that time, so of course he was going to get a lot of stuff, and obviously it was going to come with me anyway.

“I don’t think we didn’t bond well. Nothing changed. We weren’t separated on the practice board. We always get along really well.

“Luke has probably learned to deal with the burden of the world a lot more over the last 12 months.

“He’s probably gained a lot of experience from what’s happened over the last couple of months, and I don’t think that sort of thing would affect him as much now.

“It’s not a foregone conclusion. Whoever we play, we can lose to anybody. But we are prepared this year to be more up for it, more feisty, and we’re looking forward to the challenge.”

The former world champ averaged a whopping 109.92 to cruise past Jeffrey De Graaf in round one of the Nordic Darts Masters.

Humphries revealed the players who influenced his throw and explained the technical refinements he has made over the past 12 months to eliminate the snatching and pulling that can creep into his action under pressure.

He added: “I would probably say Adrian Lewis would be the main one.

“He was always my idol. I would have loved to have had the same throw as him. In my opinion, he has still got the best throw that’s ever lived.

“It takes a long time. It takes a lot of dedication, but I think that is what changed my career for the best.”

Humphries insists his game is in excellent shape despite falling agonisingly short of Premier League glory last week, losing 11-10 to Littler in the final.

He continued: “It’s been the last four to five weeks maybe that I’ve felt a lot more comfortable in my throw, and I feel like I can play this level a lot more often.

“I’ve had so many ton-plus averages, so many good performances, doubles have been better.

“It gives you that little bit of a boost, a little bit of confidence that you can keep doing it.

“I knew Jeffrey won the Players Championship the other week, so I knew he was going to be in good form, in good spirits and good confidence.

“It’s not just an easy first-round game. It was a nice test for me and I think the first six or seven legs, we both played really good.

“It’s a bit of a weird one because when I was playing in the Premier League and a few other tournaments, my doubles were really bad, but I still managed to keep up such a high level of average.

“I tell you guys all the time, that is when I’m dangerous.

“If my scores are going in and my doubles are going in, then I am really close to Luke as one of the best players.”

The Cheshire ace is chasing a third World Series crown and faces Gian van Veen tonight for a place in the semi-finals.