Four in a row is littler bit tricky
Humphries on brink of Premier League history but fears Luke the Nuke will scupper his dream
LUKE HUMPHRIES is in the mood to make history tonight – but fears Luke Littler could “blow me away” again.
The BETMGM Premier League leader goes for a record fourth consecutive nightly win in Belfast after conquering all in Brighton, Nottingham and Dublin.
Only Michael van Gerwen (twice), Michael Smith and Cool Hand Luke have won three in a row under the competition’s revamped format.
But Humphries, arguably the most dominant Englishman in his sport right now with the possible exception of snooker legend Ronnie O’sullivan, says he’s feeling “on top of the world” after posting eight 100-plus averages out of nine trips to the oche.
He meets boy wonder Littler at the SSE Arena mindful that he has not beaten Luke the Nuke since their epic World Championship final at Alexandra Palace (below). Humphries said: “I have worked so hard to get to a level that not many people have seen.
“Michael has been at this level before, probably even better. I will never achieve what he has achieved but I am close to getting to a level I am really proud of.
“Four in a row? I’d be delighted to do things that nobody has ever done, but I have to do it the hard way.
“Luke has not been as consistent of late, but can blow anybody away.
“He might not be playing at his optimum best, but I haven’t beaten him since the Worlds.
“It’s not about revenge – there is no revenge in darts – because I won the biggest tournament in the world.
“You can beat somebody 20 times in a row, but if you get the one that really means the most, then it doesn’t matter. I’m not going to put pressure on myself. But I want to create
history. Anybody is beatable. If I don’t keep playing this way, I will be beaten.”
Quarter-final rival Littler is aiming high – and wants to win more World Championship titles than Phil Taylor to be crowned the greatest darts player of all.
The 17-year-old has followed becoming the youngest player to reach the Ally Pally final with titles at the Bahrain Masters and Belgian Open.
The Nuke, asked what he’d like to achieve by the time he retires, said: “I’d love to beat Phil Taylor’s record of 16, so I’d say 18.” TONIGHT’S GAMES
(7pm, Sky Sports): Luke Littler v Luke Humphries, Michael Smith v Michael van Gerwen, Nathan Aspinall v Gerwyn Price, Peter Wright v Rob Cross
‘Luke has not been as consistent of late, but can blow anybody away’