HUMPHRIES GIVES THEORY TO LITTLER BOOS

By Phil Lanning

LUKE HUMPHRIES believes that Luke Littler now gets crowd abuse because fans want to “knock someone down”.

The World No.1 returns to Leeds for what he regards as his home round of the Premier League on Thursday night.

Humphries, 30, faces in the quarter-finals and admits that he’s not surprised that his oche buddy has been getting more stick from crowds.

He said: “I’m surprised because he’s done nothing wrong but the reason I’m not surprised is because everybody wants to knock someone down that’s doing well.

“That’s what happens in life, you know. I really never had anything like that until I became world champion and World No.1 then all of a sudden it’s like nobody wants to see you succeed. If you do then people want to boo you.

“I think the reason why it’s been happening is because he’s not the underdog anymore. When you’re at the top everyone wants to see you lose I think.

“That’s when you’re getting booed they just want to put you off so Luke just has to take on the chin and accept that this is what happens when you get to the top.

“It’s happened to me and it’s happened to Gezzy (Price) when he was at the top, it’s happened to Michael when he was World No.1 and world champion so it’s just what happens unfortunately.

“I get it a lot where I go but never really done anything to deserve it or think I’ve done anything wrong.”

Leeds football fan Humphries also admits he is excited to return to the party atmosphere in the city just days after the bus parade.

He added: “This is the one that feels like my home venue, even though I’m not from here, you know, it feels like the home venue for me.

“So really looking forward to going out there, especially after the last week. All the city of Leeds is in absolutely great spirits. It’s good timing.”

Humphries also hopes that the fans will be on his side and make life difficult for his rivals!

He said: “I’m hoping so. It’s kind of what I have to experience every week. It’s kind of nice that I don’t have to.

“But of course, it’s not only just full of Leeds fans, there are going to be other fans in there as well.

“So there might not be all my support, but I’m hoping that I get a good welcome. I think everyone knows I’m a massive Leeds fan and I think that that will go my way, that’s for sure.

“There will be a new shirt that’s different to last year. It is a special shirt. It’s a Leeds inspired shirt and there might be a little start up song. I’ll be having I Predict A Riot, but there will be a little start up.

“I think you can probably think about that. What’s going to be Joy Division.”