Luke Humphries: World Champion thanks Gary Anderson for praise but says Luke Littler is a darts 'superstar'

Luke Humphries has thanked Gary Anderson for his high praise and claims that he doesn't get enough credit, but admits Luke Littler is the current "superstar" of darts.

Anderson stated Humphries gets "overlooked" and deserves "a bit more respect" after he surged to world No 1 in the last 12 months and beat Littler in the World Championship final earlier this year.

Humphries, who is in the quarter-finals of the World Grand Prix after seeing off Ricardo Pietreczko on Wednesday night, hopes to meet Anderson in this week's final in Leicester.

Anderson plays Belgium's Mike De Decker in the second round on Thursday night, live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports+ at 7pm.

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"Gary had some lovely words to say about me. When a legend of the game and someone you look up to says nice things about you, it makes you feel good inside," said Humphries.

"I might have to watch back what he said. It's a nice feeling for someone like that to big me up.

"He's a legend of the game and maybe he doesn't get the respect he deserves because he's a great player. In my eyes he's the best player in the world.

"He will sit here and say I am but if you're going on stats and potential, I think Gary Anderson is the best in the world right now. Hopefully I might see him in the final because that will be a dream for me."

Humphries' remarkable rise to the top of darts began 12 months ago with the World Grand Prix title, then he went on to win the Grand Slam of Darts, Players Championship Finals and the World Championship later that season.

He lost to Littler in the Premier League Darts earlier this year but won the World Cup of Darts with Michael Smith for England in the summer and also won the World Matchplay for the first time.

"I do feel like I've got a lot of credit. I don't feel like the media hasn't given me credit. I don't feel that way," continued Humphries.

"I just think when you've got a superstar [Littler], it's hard not to go with that. Luke has grown the sport to absolutely incredible levels and he's making the sport bigger for all of us, let's be honest."

Humphries: I get on really well with Littler

Littler and Humphries have played each other 12 times this year, with the teenager from Warrington leading the head-to-head 8-4.

However, seven of the matches have gone down to deciding legs, so there is very little to separate the 2024 world finalists.

"If I was 17, 18 and all the attention was on him and not me, then I'd be gutted because I would be a young kid and think 'I want all this', but I'm an older guy now. I just want to win titles," explained Humphries.

"Luke's fantastic and I really get on well with him and he's just a different talent. He's 17 years old and one of the best players in the world. That's an incredible feat. It's something that doesn't happen - not just in darts, but any sport.

"I can see the media attention is on him. Maybe I deserve a bit more, maybe I deserve a bit more alongside with him. But the media attention he gets, he deserves and that's no disregard to that. I do think I get a little bit of credit. I think it's not as bad as it seems."

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