Top English Darts Players Criticize Ex-Champion's MBE Comments After World Cup Exit

Luke Littler and Luke Humphries, the top two ranked darts players and recent world champions, have faced criticism from former two-time world champion Dennis Priestley following their unexpected first-round exit at the World Cup of Darts, where they were heavy favorites. Priestley accused them of 'letting their country down' and questioned the merit of their MBEs, suggesting they had not yet achieved enough in their careers to deserve such honors. Littler responded aggressively on Instagram, asserting he had accomplished more in the past year than Priestley, though he later deleted the post. Humphries took a more measured approach on social media, defending their past success, including Humphries' 2024 World Cup win with Michael Smith, and expressed disappointment at Priestley’s comments, emphasizing their commitment and promising to return stronger next year. The controversy also touched on their teamwork, with Priestley criticizing their lack of practice and cohesion, a point that drew mixed reactions from fans and commentators. Despite the backlash, both players appear determined to move past the incident and focus on future competitions.