Luke Littler dismisses Luke Humphries' 'greatest player ever' claim

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/humphries-luke/n34VOAWo/"]Humphries[/a] labelled [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/littler-luke/0URN6Xks/"]Littler[/a] "the greatest darts player who ever lived" after suffering defeat to him in the final of the World Masters on Sunday.[/p][p]It added one of two major televised titles which have eluded him in a stunning career to date, which has seen him win the World Darts Championship twice.[/p][p]But Littler disagreed with Humphries' bold claim, stating 16-time world champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/taylor-phil/fi5POt44/"]Taylor[/a] would always hold the title of top dog unless he matches his success.[/p][p][b]"It's really good to hear, but I'm not one of those to go off and say, 'Yeah, I am the best' because I'm not the best,"[/b] Littler said at the 2026 Premier League Darts launch in Newcastle.[/p][p][b]"Phil Taylor will always be the best, unless I somehow win more than him, and what he's done for the sport. So we can only see what happens in my career.[/b][/p][p][b]"Unless I go on and win 16 worlds and 16 or 17 Matchplays, then I'll get one over him, then I'll be the best, but until someone breaks his records, then he'll always be the best."[/b][/p][embed guid="6888840e-3161-4bb7-934a-b3604ed63892" url="https://x.com/BBCSport/status/2018341189209239798?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Littler's World Masters exploits in Milton Keynes saw him become the joint third most successful player in PDC history with 11 major titles.[/p][p][b]In just two years, he has moved level with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/wade-james/MRrXjBAB/"]James Wade[/a] and now only trails [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/van-gerwen-michael/SU4UkKsm/"]Michael van Gerwen[/a]'s 48 titles and all-time leader Taylor, who has 79.[/b][/p][p]Littler won the Premier League on debut against Humphries in 2024 for his first major title, but was beaten by the world number two in last year's final.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/darts/littler-l-0URN6Xks/van-veen-g-jgT1AT29/?mid=EelvMvIG"]He begins his Premier League campaign against Gian van Veen[/a] on Thursday night in a repeat of the World Championship final.[/p]