For Luke Humphries, the World Matchplay is not just another stop on the darts calendar. It is the tournament he wants to win again, the stage where a title feels bigger because the field is deeper, and the place where he has already shown he can finish the job. But ahead of the 2026 event, his most interesting comment was not about his own form. It was about who he would most like to meet in the final.
Humphries said the “dream draw” would be Luke Littler in the World Matchplay final, a matchup he believes would add an extra layer to any title victory. That is not a throwaway line. It reflects how the rivalry between the two has already become central to the sport, with Humphries pointing out that they have also met in a World Darts Championship final and a Premier League final. In his view, facing Littler there would be the ultimate test because it would mean beating the best player in the world when the pressure is highest.
That perspective matters because Humphries is not speaking as an outsider looking in. He won the World Matchplay in Blackpool in 2024, beating Michael van Gerwen 18-15, so he knows what it takes to survive the event’s demands. He also made clear that success in Blackpool carries extra value because it is the second biggest tournament in the calendar, and because he has already felt the lift that comes from winning it once before.
A rivalry that keeps swinging
Humphries’ comments also underline why this matchup carries such weight. He said he does not believe he has the edge over Littler and expects the rivalry to keep flipping over time. In his words, one player may win four of five meetings, and then the other will likely do the same. That is a concise way of saying the balance is real, and that neither player can treat the other as a predictable opponent.
He also said that both players know they have to bring their best when they face each other. That is probably the cleanest summary of the rivalry. It is not built on noise or novelty alone. It is built on the simple fact that each expects the other to be at peak level, which is exactly what makes the idea of a Matchplay final between them so appealing.
The timing only adds to the sense of occasion. The Betfred World Matchplay will be live on Sky Sports from July 18-26, and Humphries arrives with the kind of confidence that comes from having already won the event. He has also said before that his Matchplay triumph in 2024 was his first TV title since the Premier League in 2025, a reminder of how quickly the major-storyline cycle in darts can move.
So the “dream draw” is not really about convenience or softness. It is about drama, quality and meaning. If Humphries gets his wish and meets Littler in the final, the prize would be more than another trophy. It would be a major title earned against the player he regards as the standard.
