Tom Clark: Luke Humphries the missing SPOTY nominee out to spoil Littler's party

For sports fans in the UK, Christmas has always been a special time, but despite the wall-to-wall football on offer, darts has conquered the festive calendar.

Sky Sports has recognised this and has replaced their usual festive football adverts with a ‘Merry Football Dartsmas’ version, tapping into the nation's love of all things darts.

Luke Littler’s phenomenal rise to national stardom 12 months ago as a 16-year-old has catapulted an already thriving sport to another level, and the exquisitely named and superb documentary ‘Game of Throws’ is further evidence of the game's popularity.

Despite the enormous sums of money on offer for the top talents, the players come across as approachable men and women of the people. Nathan Aspinall and James Wade speak openly about their mental health in a way few sportspeople have ever done, and credit to them for that – the more people talk about it the better. And former world champion Michael Smith’s Q&A in a local St Helens sports club, followed by footage of him alone at his parents’ pub practising for hours, is a far cry from the luxury other top athletes are afforded. 

Athletes might not be the right term for all darts players but for one player in particular it is apt – world number one, reigning world champion, World Matchplay winner, World Cup holder, and back-to-back Players Championship winner Luke Humphries. Over the past few years Cool Hand Luke has shed 25kg and turned his darting fortunes around and is the man to beat as a result. Yet still, he is not even the most famous Luke in the sport thanks to Littler’s rise.  

Luke The Nuke’s fame and success are undeniable. Just a year ago, he was relatively unknown but now he has won the Premier League, the World Series of Darts, and the Grand Slam of Darts.

However, his two big defeats in major finals have come at the hands of Humphries and the world number one could be forgiven for being a little miffed about his exclusion from the BBC Sports Personality of the Year shortlist. Cool Hand is far too gracious a character to envy Littler’s fame though, and the world champion confirmed he will attend the SPOTY event and cheer on his fellow dartist: 

“I’ll go, and I’ll be supporting him, and if he wins, then it’s good for the sport,” he said. “It’s nice to be invited, I think they acknowledge it a little bit, what I’ve achieved.”

Littler is a shoo-in for the Young Sports Personality award and is second favourite behind Keely Hodgkinson, a mile ahead of Joe Root in third, for the main event. If Littler were to come in second he would equal Phil Taylor’s runner-up spot in 2010 when the darting legend received national recognition after winning his 15th of 16 World Titles. Littler is yet to secure one but is already arguably more famous than Taylor outside darts and it feels inevitable he will accrue many titles in his career.

Another triumph at Alexandra Palace for Cool Hand may mean he starts to get the recognition outside the darting world he deserves. But if Littler claims his maiden World Championship the teenager from Warrington will see his fame go stratospheric. 

The only disappointment with this year's tournament is that the Lukes are on the same side of the draw and can only meet in a semi-final, denying us the opportunity of another classic title showdown. I am fortunate enough to be heading to the Palace for Littler’s opening match. No offence to the excellent Ryan Meikle but I do hope to watch The Nuke take on the Queen of the Palace Fallon Sherrock for a match that will raise the decibel levels to extraordinary heights. And yes, I will be in fancy dress and standing up because I love the darts. 

What a sport this is. Merry Football Dartsmas one and all!

Click for free bets and betting offers from the Racing Post