Darts
“It’s War Now”: Luke Littler Downs Luke Humphries Again as Rivalry Reaches New Heights
Luke Littler hit back at Luke Humphries’ “war” cry after retaining the Grand Slam title, insisting their rivalry is only getting fiercer. Now world No.1, he also sent a clear message to the rest of the PDC field, warning that if anyone is tired of seeing the two Lukes dominate, someone will have to step up and stop them.
Credit: PDC
Luke Humphries may have vowed that “it’s a war now” heading into the 2025 Grand Slam of Darts final, but it was Luke Littler who dropped the first ’nuke’ in Wolverhampton.
The teenage superstar edged his rival once again, securing a 16-11 victory to retain the Eric Bristow Trophy and go back-to-back at the event.
Humphries’ warning came during his pre-match build-up with Sky Sports, yet despite his fighting talk ahead of the looming PDC World Championships, it was Littler who walked away with the spoils.
Humphries: ‘I’m going to win the worlds’
Defeated but far from deflated, Humphries doubled down on his belief that he will soon reclaim the upper hand in darts’ hottest rivalry.
Speaking on stage with Sky Sports’ Polly James, he issued a striking prediction for what comes next.
“I’m going to win the worlds,” he demanded.
“I’m playing good, the time just crept in.”
The former world champion insists that the 2025 World Championship will provide the perfect stage for him to finally turn the tide against the 18-year-old sensation.
"World championships. Me vs. Him in the final. We’re going to see who’s the one.”
Humphries unfazed by losing No.1 spot
Littler’s Grand Slam triumph also carried him to the top of the PDC rankings, making him the youngest world number one in history. But Humphries dismissed the idea he’ll stay there for long.
“He can have seven weeks," Humphries said on-stage.
Littler responds: ‘It definitely is war’
Minutes after lifting the trophy, Littler responded to Humphries’ fighting words, and he didn’t disagree.
With the silverware in hand, he embraced the growing intensity of their rivalry.
“It definitely is war. You don’t want to be second, it’s took me 19-20 months to get to number one and now I want to stay there for a few years,” Littler said.
“Now I’ve got that number one spot, he wants it back. We’re going to be battling even more. He wants it back and I don’t want to give it away.”
Eyes on Ally Pally: both men expect a rematch
Both stars are already turning their focus to Alexandra Palace, with Littler predicting another chapter in darts’ must-see showdown.
“If it goes all to plan then me and Luke will meet in the final,” Littler added.
Littler fires a warning to the field
Littler didn’t just exchange blows with Humphries, he took aim at the entire PDC field, suggesting the rest of the tour must raise their game if they’re tired of the two Lukes dominating the sport.
“We are the final show; the stats show it.”
“If everyone’s getting bored with me and him, then someone needs to stop us. Otherwise, we’re going to keep winning one and two, and continue to meet in the finals,” Littler concluded.
Louis Hobbs is the Sports Editor at SportsBoom, overseeing daily coverage across a wide range of sports while shaping the site’s editorial direction and breaking news agenda.
When he’s not editing the website from home or SportsBoom’s London office, Louis can usually be found in the darts or snooker press room. He has covered both sports extensively for SportsBoom, reporting live from venues for over three years and building strong relationships across the professional circuits.
With a background in interviews, exclusives and live event reporting, Louis combines on-the-ground insight with sharp editorial judgement to ensure SportsBoom delivers authoritative, engaging and timely sports journalism.