Luke Humphries has promised to rally round England team-mate Luke Littler if he is targeted by German fans at this weekend’s World Cup of Darts.
Littler had previously claimed in April he would skip tournaments in Germany after being booed in Munich and Berlin that month, having faced similar treatment in September following defeat by Peter Wright in the German Championship final in Hildesheim.
But Premier League champion Humphries, who clinched World Cup success with Michael Smith last June, said: “It’s just about not getting involved in the crowd isn’t it?
“We’ve just got to make sure that if they’re on his back, I’ll be there to say, ‘don’t worry about what they’re doing, focus on your game’ and if we play against Germany that’s going to be hard but I think he’ll learn from the occasions of playing against crowds that are hostile.
“I’ve been there, I’ve had it a little bit before and you just have to focus on the game and not worry about what is going on behind you.”
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Speaking on Love The Darts, Michael Bridge and Stuart Pyke discuss the rivalry between Humphries and Littler after the pair contested the Premier League final
Even though Littler has struggled with German crowds, Humphries plans to send the 18-year-old out to throw first when they begin their campaign in the second round on Saturday.
“I will probably put him first,” Humphries revealed.
“He is definitely the best scorer in the world. That’s not a lie, it’s obvious.
“So, you’re going to put your strengths forward. You put him first, he is probably better at going for the bullseye than I am, getting the throws.
“Only if he’s comfortable with it. If not, I’ll go first but I played the anchor role last year.
“I felt really good going second, so maybe that is my role for this year as well.”
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Highlights of the Premier League Darts final between Littler and Humphries at the O2 Arena, London
Victory for Humphries and Smith at Eissporthalle last summer was England’s first World Cup win since 2016.
It ensured Humphries enjoyed a triumphant World Cup debut and he is sure Littler will experience the same.
Humphries added: “As you saw when we won, the emotion that comes out of you, you don’t expect it but it does because you’re just so buzzing.
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“It’s really special and he will understand. He may even feel a little bit nervous at the start, or for the first game we play because all eyes are on us, everyone will be expecting us to be powerful every game we play.
“But I did say to him, it doesn’t matter how we play as long as we win the trophy, that’s what really matters. It will be a special feeling for him, as it was for me.”
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