Luke Humphries believes Luke Littler is still the man to beat in the Premier League this year, despite the teenager losing to Michael van Gerwen on Thursday night.
Littler had gone into the showdown hoping to get his title defence off to a storming start, having secured glory at the first time of asking in 2024.
Yet Van Gerwen, who lost to the 18-year-old in the final of the World Darts Championship in January, sent the youngster crashing out on matchday one with a 6-5 win.
Humphries secured victory on the night by beating Chris Dobey in the final.
Luke Humphries believes Luke Littler is still the man to beat in the Premier League this year, despite the teenager losing to Michael van Gerwen on Thursday night
PA
However, the 29-year-old insists Littler is the man to beat – rather than himself.
“Littler, the way he’s playing is unbelievable,” he told Sky Sports after thumping Dobey to lay down a marker.
“You’re watching that game against Van Gerwen and you will be very lucky for anyone to match another game like that.
“He’s by far one of the greatest darts players I’ve seen in my career. I’m not disrespecting myself, but I think he’s the best player in the world.
“If he goes out, I’m the one to beat but he’s definitely the man to beat. He plays darts at such a great pace. He smashes in the trebles and doubles.
“This is what happened to me last year. There’s a target on your back, everyone wants to beat you. You average over 100 and people beat you.
“He’s still the best player in the world. But for me, I know I can still play at a decent standard and still win things.”
Humphries does insist, however, that Littler has a ‘target on his back’.
READ MORE: Former Premier League and Rangers footballer rushed to hospital minutes before kick-off
“Luke’s performing the best and he’s just been a bit unlucky – he has a target on his back being the world champion,” he continued.
“Everyone wants to beat him and this will happen, you know this will happen over his career but you know, for me, I always know that I can compete with the best and you don’t get to number one for nothing.
“I’m looking forward to playing him [Littler] in many, many games this year and I’m going to have to be at my utmost best, like Michael played tonight, absolutely brilliant
“That was a fantastic game. It’s going to be a tough one to match that as a better game the whole 16 weeks but I thought it was one of the best games in the Premier League I’ve ever seen.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
Luke Littler lost to Michael van Gerwen on Thursday night as his Premier League title defence got off to a rocky start
PA
“So he [Littler] is playing well, he’s just a bit unlucky at the moment but he does drive you on.
“He makes you want to be better and he’s a fantastic talent, he’s just going to be so great over the next 20 years and it’s up to me to get better to try and challenge him.”
Humphries will face Dobey again on night two in Glasgow next Thursday.
As for Littler, the teenager will be determined to fare better when he locks horns with Rob Cross in Scotland.
Luke Humphries beat Chris Dobey to win the first night of Premier League Darts in Belfast
PA
Van Gerwen and Stephen Bunting are also primed to do battle.
And Nathan Aspinall and Gerwyn Price are also scheduled to meet.