HUMPHRIES READY FOR LUKES BATTLE

LUKE HUMPHRIES admits that the lives of him and rival Luke Littler will “change forever”.

New World No.1 Hump will take on 16-year-old sensation tonight, as the pair battle to lift the Paddy Power World Darts Championship for the first time.

Humphries, 28, is quick to realise that it’s going to be a huge event for both players. 

He said: “It’s really special to make the World Championship final.

“It’s something I never really dreamed of happening so early on in my career.

“The game against Scott was probably one of the best performances I’ve ever produced on the stage; I just hope it isn’t one game too early!

“I needed to put in a statement performance because Luke [Littler] was fantastic tonight, and if I put in an edgy performance then everybody would’ve probably thought it was a one-sided final.”

“You would think he [Littler] will feel pressure tomorrow but I don’t think he will with the way he handled himself against Rob. I don’t think there’s any nerves coming from him.

“With the way I played against Scott, I don’t think there’s any nerves coming from me [either], but in those really close edgy moments no one knows what’s going to happen.

“For one of us, our lives will change forever, so there’s a lot on the line, and I feel like when you’re in those career-defining moments, who knows what will happen?”

The Berkshire-born superstar first played a 12-year-old Littler four years ago, and admitted he was wary of the special talent the Warrington youngster possessed, even at such a young age.

He added: “The first time I played him I think he was 12 and he was scarily good then.

“It was in a local competition, and he missed a 164 to go two all and I think I took out a 64 in three – it says a lot that I remembered what happened.

“He’s showed that he’s the real deal and regardless of what happens [in the final], he’s got a massive, massive future.”

“Hopefully I can win tomorrow, then he can go on and win loads afterwards!”

Images by Taylor Lanning.