In a gripping final at Minehead, Luke Humphries successfully defended his Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals title, overcoming teen sensation Luke Littler 11-7.
The match showcased the incredible talent of both players, with Humphries securing his seventh major title and Littler, just 17, demonstrating his potential with remarkable checkouts.
Humphries, who had previously claimed the title in 2023, faced a challenging start but managed to recover from an early deficit.
FOR THE SECOND TIME 🏆🏆
Luke Humphries retains his 2024 Ladbrokes Players Championship Finals title, beating Luke Littler 11-7 in the final. pic.twitter.com/QUhxvSbGeu— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) November 24, 2024
Despite Littler's impressive performance, which included checkouts of 170, 164, and 136, Humphries held his nerve to clinch victory by winning the last three legs.
Reflecting on the match, Humphries expressed his pride in the victory, stating,
I'm really, really proud of that one to be honest. I didn't feel myself this week playing-wise; I felt like I was a dart behind in a lot of the scenarios, but there's something that Luke does to you. He really drives me, makes me want to be a better player, and I enjoy playing him.
He let me in really early in that first session to go 4-1 up; I never looked back and I'm proud that I didn't take my foot off the gas. These big games are what I live for.
Luke is a special talent... I said to him I've got to get these [titles] early before he wins them all. I'd love to be up here and hitting 105 averages like Luke is all the time, but he's a different calibre, he's probably the best player in the world right now, but there's something about me that never gives up.
This is a great way to go into the Worlds.
Littler, who had an exceptional tournament leading up to the final, expressed his disappointment at not capitalising on early opportunities.
It was tough; I missed a few doubles, and if you don't take chances early on, it's a lot to come back,
It's been a good past two weeks. I just can't wait to go home, chill out, and obviously practice at home for the Worlds. That's it now, leading up to the big one.
May not have won this one but proud to be in another final❤️ always know a match against @lukeh180 will be tough and congrats to him for defending the title🤝🏼 next up worlds😎 pic.twitter.com/2g9qcUlmne
— Luke Littler (@LukeTheNuke180) November 25, 2024
After the match, Humphries reflected on the significance of competing against such a high-caliber opponent, stating, "I beat one of the best players in the world," highlighting his competitive spirit and determination.
The final was a testament to both players' skills and determination, with Humphries ultimately securing the win despite Littler's valiant efforts.
As the darts world looks ahead to the upcoming World Championship, both players are poised to make significant impacts in the competition.
