Luke Humphries isn’t used to losing, particularly in such strange circumstances.
The world No.1 fell to the great James Wade at the UK Open, making a surprise quarter-final exit before Wade fell to eventual champion Luke Littler in the final.
Before there were some bizarre mind games when Wade appeared to give Humphries a lick on the neck during their pre-match handshake, and the veteran didn’t let off getting in his opponent’s head.
Before the deciding leg, the pair didn’t exchanged a customary handshake or fist bump.
And then, ss the game edged towards a mighty close conclusion, the elder Wade brought out six 180s in three legs, helping him take down Humphries 10-9.
And it was clear his opponent wasn’t too happy after either, with an apparent small shoulder barge as they crossed paths.
Then, clearly reacting to some criticism, he took to social media, writing: “Everyone loves to see people be a bad loser but I’m generally one of the best losers in the sport.
“I wasn’t going to give someone who didn’t deserve my respect after what he was doing through the game a hug and be all happy about it, that’s just my honesty.”
Humphries has since deleted the tweet, but Wade explained how he’d given his younger rival a lesson, particularly when it came to the late 180s.
He explained: “It’s all about timing and as soon as these young darts players realise it’s not about these big 100 averages it’s about timing the right things at the right time, unfortunately they’ll learn off me, and there’s going to be more of them.”
He added: “I’m really, really happy, I played Luke who is the best darts player in the world at the moment.
“I move on and Luke doesn’t but he’ll probably win another two or three TV majors this year.”
Unfortunately for Wade, Littler wasn’t another young player to learn off him, as he was destroyed 11-2 in the final in Somerset.
Speaking post-match, the defeated three-time champion said: “It’s been a long time since I got to a final! I played well in the semis, in the final he just completely gassed me out.
“It seems quite strange, I’m the senior darts player and he completely bashed me to bits. But what can you do about that?
“He was the far superior player, as much as it kills me to admit it. At the moment he’s probably the best or second best darts player in the world, comfortably.”
Wade had previously launched a staunch defence of Humphries, claiming he’s the best player in the world and too much attention is afforded to Littler due to his age.
Yet ahead of this tournament, he turned his ire on both, saying the current era is overhyped.
“I don’t think it’s what it’s hyped up to be,” he said.
“What I feel is there’s more better players that can win tournaments, there’s more than a few of them now, but I don’t feel the big numbers are coming and I don’t feel that the magical games are that in-depth in tournaments now.
“I just don’t feel that the big numbers are there. I watch very, very little darts, so I’m probably the worst person to ask, but I don’t see that the standards are as mighty as what some people talk about.
“It’s magical, you know, and it’s amazing. But I just feel there have been other years and other times where it’s probably been a bit better. That’s my experience from what I see anyway.”
