Luke Humphries believes no darts participant ‘works tougher’ than him after being branded ‘lazy’ by James Wade.
Wade sealed his spot within the final 16 of the World Masters in Milton Keynes following a 3-2 win over Mike De Decker.
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But it surely was Wade’s feedback following the win that generated headlines as he took a thinly-veiled swipe at Humphries and Luke Littler.
“I don’t imagine anybody is wonderful other than in all probability Luke and Luke and, after that, they are often fairly lazy,” Wade mentioned
“They’re not Phil Taylor’s, they’re not Michael van Gerwen’s at their greatest, however they’re phenomenal gamers.
“However there’s gaps out there and it’s what it’s.”
Humphries is already a step additional than Wade on the World Masters having thrashed Josh Rock 4-0 of their final 16 encounter.
Regardless of in a roundabout way addressing the ‘lazy’ dig from Wade, the 2024 world champion vehemently defended his work ethic and vowed to be the standard-setter in darts.
“I am trying to find one thing higher,” Humphries mentioned.
“I’m actually pleased with my performances over the past 18 months, I’ve been actually good, however in the event you’re going to maintain up you’ve bought to get higher and I wish to set the usual.
“There’s no participant that works tougher than me. Yesterday, I used to be the one participant right here training as a result of I wish to be performing on the highest degree.
“I wish to problem Luke [Littler], Michael [van Gerwen and Gezzy [Gerwyn Price], I don’t need it to part out and to not aspire to one thing nice.
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“I’m working extremely arduous and that’s all I care about. If it doesn’t work out for me then so be it.
“However all I can inform myself is I’m working arduous from the power I’ve bought and I’m simply looking for one thing that may make me even higher and problem all people.”
Humphries’ qualification to the quarter finals of the World Masters marks his deepest run within the event by some margin.
The 29-year-old had beforehand competed within the occasion thrice however had by no means made it past the third spherical.
However he’s now simply three wins away from his first title of the yr having fallen brief on the Bahrain Masters and Dutch Masters.
As for Littler, he has the prospect to make Wade pay for his feedback because the pair face off within the final 16 of the World Masters.
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The pair have confronted off simply twice beforehand, with Littler and Wade successful one every.
Littler goes into the match on the again of a 3-0 whitewash over Andy Baetens within the first spherical by which he averaged 104.33.