04 January 2024 , 09:14
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Newly crowned PDC world champion Luke Humphries believes Luke Littler should change his nickname to “relentless” after staking a major claim for a Premier League place.
The pair went head-to-head in an incredible final showdown at Alexandra Palace on Wednesday evening - Humphries claiming a 7-4 success to add to his newly claimed world No.1 spot. Humphries had found himself 4-2 behind before staging an eye-catching comeback.
The defeat was the conclusion of a dream run for Littler on his debut at the tournament. He had managed to overcome Christian Kist, Andrew Gilding, Matt Campbell, Raymond van Barneveld, Brendan Dolan and Rob Cross en route to the final.
The man who eventually managed to stop him, Humphries, thinks he should change his name from “The Nuke” to “Relentless” after his stunning performances. He has also suggested the youngster should trust his instincts when it comes to a potential spot in this year’s Premier League.
Speaking with SportsBoom, Humphries said: "It's up to him and his family to decide. If he decides not to go into the Premier League, he's got loads of World Series. The PDC would love to put him in. The only advise I would give Luke [Littler] would be to follow his heart, as I don’t think the Premier League would be too overwhelming for him.”
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Premier League Darts is set to get under way in early February and will run until May. The line-up is expected to be named on Thursday, January 4, with current champion Michael van Gerwen aiming to defend his title.
Luke Littler was defeated by Luke Humphries in the final of the PDC World Championship (Getty Images)Should Luke Littler be handed a spot in the Premier League? Share your thoughts in the comments below
The top four players in the world are automatically handed a place, which means Humphries, Van Gerwen, Michael Smith and Nathan Aspinall already have a spot. The remaining four places are decided by the PDC and Sky Sports.
Gerwyn Price, who finished as Premier League runner-up last term, is expected to be named alongside Littler’s semi-final opponent Cross. The last two places remain open and Littler could be among those named, although he has already put his potential spot in doubt.
Speaking out on playing in the Premier League, the youngster said: “I've seen what the Premier League does. You have Monday, Tuesday Pro Tours, and then Wednesdays the Euro Tour qualifiers.
“Then you've got the Premier League, the weekend's Euro Tour [event]. So I think the PDC are going to keep me out of it, because that will be just be gruelling, like everyone's said.”