Luke Humphries backs Luke Littler after darts rival squared up to him and hopes he tries the same trick against him
LUKE HUMPHRIES has advised Luke Littler to carry on behaving exactly the way he is and ignore all the naysayers.
Littler is only 17-years-old but he has been thrust into the global spotlight ever since he lost to Cool Hand Luke in the PDC World Championship final in January.
The Warrington teen was accused of arrogance by aggressive Ricardo Pietreczo during the recent Belgian Darts Open when he tried to check out 147 in showmanship fashion.
Yet Humphries, 29, has revealed he has spoken with The Nuke and told him to keep doing what he has been doing.
Humphries, the world No.1, said: “It’s Luke’s first year, he’s got to learn.
“I spoke to him earlier. Everyone knows what happened between him and Ricardo.
“He goes the way he wants, it’s up to him. If he goes that way against me for a 147, I’ll be happy because I feel he’ll have less of a chance of taking it out.
“He’s young and I told him you just do what you want to do, don’t let anyone influence you or tell you what you should or shouldn’t do.
“There’s no arrogance in him going that way. He’s got a long, long future in this sport we all know that.
“He’s making the sport bigger than it has ever been.”
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The only way the Lukes of Hazard could meet tonight would be in the final of the BetMGM Premier League in Dublin as they are on opposite sides of the draw.
Humphries opens up against Scotsman Peter Wright over the best of 11 legs at the 3Arena while Littler faces St Helens thrower Michael Smith in the quarter-finals.
The Newbury thrower is aiming for a hat-trick of wins on the Prem circuit following his successes in Brighton and Nottingham.
Littler has had a rare few days off the board, having decided to skip the two Players Championship events this week in Hildesheim, Germany.
Yet he was part of the BBC Comic Relief show last Friday night, throwing darts live on TV for charity money as Z list celebrities were dipped in gunge.
Luke the younger not Luke the older is the one who TV bosses are desperate to have on their shows as he carries the sport of darts into the Big Time.
Humphries, to his credit, has taken it all in his stride and is not jealous of the acclaim that the recent school leaver is enjoying at his expense.
But he did joke: “In a strange way no-one wants to invite me, no-one wants to see the world champion. Apparently. No-one wants to see me!
“I do appreciate it in a professional manner. He’s elevating the sport, he’s doing it for everybody. He doesn’t have to do it, but he’s a credit to our sport.
“He’s doing all these things going here, there and everywhere. He’s making darts in a bigger atmosphere. He’s not getting paid to do these things.
“I’m really proud of how he’s handled all the media attention.
“If I was 17 I would have been a lot more anxious about it all than he has been.”
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