Luke Littler is the best player in the world, admits Luke Humphries despite world No1 being on course to make history

LUKE HUMPHRIES has declared Luke Littler to be the best darts thrower on the planet – contrary to what the world rankings say.

Cool Hand Luke dominates the PDC Order of Merit and is on course to become the first person to break the £2million prize money barrier over a two-year spell.

Yet Littler, 18, is the reigning PDC world darts champion and he is the sport’s biggest name off the oche.

Littler scored zero points when he lost 6-5 to Michael van Gerwen last Thursday on the first night of the Premier League Darts in Belfast but still averaged an eye-whopping 113.91 over 11 legs.

The two Lukes could meet over the next two days at the Players Championship events in Wigan.

Humphries, who turns 30 on Tuesday, said: "The way Luke played the other night, he’s going to be a force to be reckoned with.

"If I want to match that or keep up with that, I have to up my game as well.

"Luke is the best player in the world. Come on, we all know it.

"It’s not something you want to fight. He's the best player. He's performing the best.

"He’s been a bit unlucky. There is a target on his back of being the world champion, everyone wants to beat him.

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"I always know I can compete with the best. You don’t get to world No.1 for nothing.

"I’m looking forward to playing him in many games this year.

"Luke does strive me on. He makes me want to be better. He’s a fantastic talent.

"He is going to be so great over the next 20 years.

"It’s up to me to get better to try to challenge him."

Humphries took part in an exhibition showdown with Gerwyn Price on Saturday.

He hit a remarkable 119.88 average in the best-of-11 leg match - only to somehow lose 6-1.

Price produced his own spell-binding average of 118.64 but was more ruthless with his doubles.

Taking to X, a stunned Humphries wrote: “Jammy b****r he was.

"[He] didn’t miss a double. Has to be the highest ever recorded average over a best of 11 in history. And got bashed hahahaha.”