Luke Humphries names player he'd love to see win World Darts Championship title
12/31/2024 04:06 AM
Luke Humphries would love to see friend and practice partner Stephen Bunting succeed him as world champion, with the Bullet still going strong at Alexandra Palace.
The defending champion crashed out of the World Championship at the hands of Peter Wright in the last 16 on Sunday night, beaten 4-1 by an inspired former two-time champion.
Bunting now takes on Snakebite in the last eight after he comfortably beat Luke Woodhouse 4-0 on Monday.
The Bullet admits he expected to be playing his pal Humphries in the last eight, but despite the disappointment of defeat, Cool Hand got in touch and said it is Bunting he hopes to see lift the trophy on 3 January.
‘I’m focussed on one game at a time, one leg at a time, one dart at a time, one throw at a time. It’s pointless me thinking about who I’m going to play because things happen,’ Bunting said after beating Woodhouse.
‘Luke didn’t win. He’s the best player on the planet, he’s unbelievable, but Peter, 70-odd per cent on doubles, played a fantastic game.
‘I probably did expect to play Luke, to be fair, in our practice sessions we talked about playing in the quarters. I kept my end of the bargain and unfortunately Luke just fell short. It wasn’t for lack of trying.
‘I spoke to him this morning [Monday] and he wished me luck, he said he would love to hand the crown over to me and give me his World Championship, That means a lot. He’s a massive friend of mine. We’ll continue to practice after this tournament.
‘I know I can go all the way, it’s about doing it.’
The message from Humphries was typically classy, having sportingly congratulated Wright on stage after their contest.
Wright said of their on-stage interaction: ‘He wished me all the best.
'He's a lovely guy, a real family guy and I wish him all the best moving forward.
'He's been a fantastic world champion, he's done everything for the PDC and for the sport.
'He goes all around the world doing interviews and stuff like Luke Littler has. They've been spreading the game fantastically.'
Wright and Bunting meet on Wednesday evening with the winner taking on either Luke Littler or Nathan Aspinall in the semis.
In the other half of the draw Chris Dobey takes on Gerwyn Price and Michael van Gerwen meets Callan Rydz.
