Luke Littler vs Luke Humphries LIVE: Teenage sensation slips to defeat in World Darts Championship final

Never will so few words be written about a world champion, which is unfair on Luke Humphries, the deserving new king of darts. He is now the world No 1 and, aged 28, has produced the most remarkable of breakout seasons, winning three major titles including this world championship, the biggest prize in the sport.

And yet even in victory – a brilliant victory in which Humphries located an unbeatable level in the latter half to blow his opponent away – he was upstaged by a 16-year-old boy.

Luke Littler started nervously but he came to life in the second set, and when he went 4-2 ahead in a race to seven, Alexandra Palace expected him to go all the way. Instead Littler’s level dipped and Humphries’ play transformed. He began thudding 180s for fun, rattling off five successive sets to win 7-4.

The world is talking about Luke Littler, the 16-year-old darts prodigy who smashed his way to final of the World Darts Championship. But there he was beaten by the impressive new world No 1 and world champion, Luke Humphries.

Humphries was among the favourites coming into the tournament after a stellar year which included three titles – the World Grand Prix, the Players Championship Finals and the Grand Slam of Darts – along with a big rise up the rankings, and his run to this final ensured he jumps to the top after the tournament.

Nicknamed ‘Cool Hand Luke’ – a riff on the 1967 prison-drama film of the same name – Humphries is a calm, understated figure, which has led to accusations from some quarters that he lacks the domineering personality to take over the darts world.

Watch the moment 16-year-old Luke Littler collects his trophy after finishing runner-up in the World Darts Championship. The teenage sensation came up just short against Luke Humphries, who won 7-4 in the showpiece event.

Despite seeing his fairytale run end in heartbreak, Littler will leave Alexandra Palace with memories that will last a lifetime, having beaten Raymond van Barneveld, Brendan Dolan and Rob Cross en route to the final.

The new world champion, Luke Humphries, believes 16-year-old Luke Littler should be heading for a Premier League debut later this month.

“I’m not just saying this because it will please everyone, but Luke has been an unbelievable talent,” Humphries said after his World Championship win.

“Not just about the dartboard, he has been fantastic with all the media that has come about with him and he took the defeat so well. He said go on and celebrate. You will never see never down to a 16 year old kid like him who is just something else.

“I really hope he’s in the Premier League because, if he don’t want to play in it fair enough, but I think he’d be a pleasure to play alongside him this year.

“He’s one of the best players in the world, there is no doubt about that.”

Luke Humphries, speaking to Sky Sports after his victory: “I’ll draw a lot from this and this will be a moment that will never be forgotten.

“I don’t want to say that I’ve completed darts but everything that you want the resume I’ve done now, so now it’s now about motivating yourself to do more and more.

“Now I want to be double world champion and win loads of majors.”

Luke Littler, speaking to Sky Sports:

“It has been unbelievable. The one negative was I lost too many legs with my throw so Luke could break me. That was the only negative, I just couldn’t hold my own throw and I didn’t win.

“Every game has been good but that one has just really annoyed me, especially the three missed to keep it going. That’s what the crowd wanted but fair play to Luke, he deserves it.”

Luke Humphries gave his reaction to Sky Sports after his exceptional victory: “I cannot put into words how great this feels!

“In the back of my mind throughout today I was thinking ‘get this one now because he [Littler] is going to dominate world darts soon!’

“He’s an incredible player and when I was on the brink of winning he was so relentless. I was really proud of the performance there. He’s an incredible talent and I had to win this one tonight and he’s going to win plenty I’m sure.”

Luke Humphries has a huge smile on his face as he is announced as the new world champion.

The crowd, very much in support of Luke Littler, give him a deserved and warm reception as he hoists the Sid Waddell trophy aloft.

This victory caps off an amazing three months for Humphries. He’s won the World Grand Prix, the Grand Slam, the Players Championship and now the World Championship.

What a journey for the 28-year-old.

What a match, what a final, what a tournament.

Luke Humphries gets the job done having won five sets in a row against the incredible 16-year-old sensation Luke Littler. The teenager is keeping things together well. He was a wonderful competitor who took the darts world by storm over the last three weeks.

The crowd chant for him as he collects his runners-up trophy.