NATHAN ASPINALL has no idea why people he knows dislike darts world No.1 Luke Humphries with a passion.
Cool Hand Luke has won seven PDC premier events since October 2023, including the world title in January 2024, and is known for making time to meet fans at exhibitions.
RexNathan Aspinall has praised rival Luke Humphries[/caption]
PAThe world No1 was criticised on social media after admitting he is suffering from burnout[/caption]
Yet for some reason – maybe because he is a big Leeds United fan and there is growing tribalism within darts crowds – he gets booed and jeered during his Premier League appearances.
Maybe it is because of his respectful rivalry with teenaged superstar Luke Littler, who is adored across the country.
Aspinall, 33, does not understand all the negativity and recent abuse on social media, saying: “The stuff he got last week online was absolutely disgusting. Disgusting. He’s an absolute credit to this sport.
“Humphries is one of the nicest men I have ever met in my life, forget about darts”.
The Stockport thrower, who is a crowd favourite himself, said: “Luke is a great role model for darts.
“I have a lot of mates that love darts and no-one likes Luke. They can’t stand him.
“I don’t know what it is. Maybe it’s jealousy because he’s so good. It grates me.
“Two lads, who came away with me last week in Berlin, hate Luke Humphries.
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“We had a couple of beers in the hotel afterwards and they went to him: ‘I need to apologise Luke, I didn’t like you, but you are a great lad.’
“People don’t know the real people. I get a lot of stick. I know I’m an absolute idiot. I’m like Basil Brush sometimes. Boom, Boom!
“I don’t understand it and hopefully it will change as he is a great guy.”
This month, Berkshire-born Humphries, 30, admitted he is in a bad place mentally and needs a break as he struggles to cope with the congested darts calendar.
Burnout is a real issue in the sport and as the sport’s highest ranked star, he is expected to play in every event.
Humphries said: “I feel like my emotions are just all over the place. It’s not that I don’t want to be here — it just seems a chore for me at the moment.”
Aspinall, who faces Gerwyn Price in Thursday’s Premier League in Rotterdam, added: “People just think we teleport from place to place.
“People only see the games we play on TV. Like the Premier League, World Matchplay. But we also play ProTours in-between that.
“Don’t do exhibitions, people say – we’re doing that for our fans. We are doing 20-25 days a month away from home. It is tough.”
Premier League Darts 2025: Dates and venues
Night 1 – Belfast: Humphries beat Dobey 6-1
Night 2 – Glasgow: Littler beat Humphries 6-5
Night 3 – Dublin: Price beat Aspinall 6-3
Night 4 – Exeter: Humphries beat Littler 6-4
Night 5 – Brighton: Littler beat Aspinall 6-3
Night 6 – Nottingham: Price beat Littler 6-3
Night 7 – Cardiff: Littler beat Van Gerwen 6-4
Night 8 – Newcastle: Littler beat Humphries 6-1
Night 9 – Berlin: Bunting beat Price 6-5
Night 10 – AO Arena, Manchester – Thursday April 10
Night 11 – Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam – Thursday April 17
Night 12 – M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool – Thursday April 24
Night 13 – Utilita Arena, Birmingham, Thursday May 1
Night 14 – First Direct Arena, Leeds – Thursday May 8
Night 15 – P&J Live, Aberdeen – Thursday May 15
Night 16 – Utilita Arena, Sheffield – Thursday May 22
Play-Offs – The O2, London – Thursday May 29
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