Who do you want to win the final?

[Ross, Bob]

Littler
I'm a fairytale kind of guy

You never had a fairytale ending in life..

There's still time

Sure about that mate?

[Randall]

Littler
I'm a fairytale kind of guy

You never had a fairytale ending in life..

There's still time

Sure about that mate?

Not really

[Wolflanternbumbag]

Littler
I'm a fairytale kind of guy

You never had a fairytale ending in life..

There's still time

You’ve got to believe Randy

[Randall]

Littler
I'm a fairytale kind of guy

You never had a fairytale ending in life..

There's still time

You’ve got to believe Randy

Doesn't get any easier

[thegentle]

Disappointed Littler couldn't complete the fairytale, but fair fucks Luke Humphries, a worthy champion. Happy for him, this was his big chance, but that's no guarantee of anything, just ask James Wade or Jonny Clayton

[thegentle]

Still early enough in his career, and he's been doing the business in other TV events, but if you'd asked me in January 2018 how Rob Cross would do in the Worlds I probably would have thought he'd do better than a single semi-final and no other significant runs. Mind you, his most recent conquerer was in primary school at the time!

[PT13]

Still early enough in his career, and he's been doing the business in other TV events, but if you'd asked me in January 2018 how Rob Cross would do in the Worlds I probably would have thought he'd do better than a single semi-final and no other significant runs. Mind you, his most recent conquerer was in primary school at the time!

Rob Cross said in late 2018 that all the demands (playing and sponsors), that had been put on his shoulders by being the reigning world champion, had wrecked his practice regime. His whole routine of 2017 had gone out the window, and he had to try and rebuild it in some other way.

There's all sorts of temptations and responsibilities that can throw a successful darts player off their focus. Even now, I don't think Rob Cross is 100% back to where he was from 2016 to early 2018, although he's close.

While he lost the final, Luke Littler now is going to face a lot of similar demands, and his whole routines will become very different. I still think that it would be best for him to jump straight in while his name is hot, even though some things could go wrong. Successful winners and champions don't seek to avoid pressure and responsibility but embrace it. Avoiding it might do well for survival on a battlefield but never for success or dominance in a professional sport.

Luke Humphries too will face his own pressures. It won't be like when he won his other majors. Being world champion is a different matter altogether, with the sponsorship responsibilities.

[thegentle]

Still early enough in his career, and he's been doing the business in other TV events, but if you'd asked me in January 2018 how Rob Cross would do in the Worlds I probably would have thought he'd do better than a single semi-final and no other significant runs. Mind you, his most recent conquerer was in primary school at the time!

Rob Cross said in late 2018 that all the demands (playing and sponsors), that had been put on his shoulders by being the reigning world champion, had wrecked his practice regime. His whole routine of 2017 had gone out the window, and he had to try and rebuild it in some other way.

There's all sorts of temptations and responsibilities that can throw a successful darts player off their focus. Even now, I don't think Rob Cross is 100% back to where he was from 2016 to early 2018, although he's close.

While he lost the final, Luke Littler now is going to face a lot of similar demands, and his whole routines will become very different. I still think that it would be best for him to jump straight in while his name is hot, even though some things could go wrong. Successful winners and champions don't seek to avoid pressure and responsibility but embrace it. Avoiding it might do well for survival on a battlefield but never for success or dominance in a professional sport.

Luke Humphries too will face his own pressures. It won't be like when he won his other majors. Being world champion is a different matter altogether, with the sponsorship responsibilities.

Littler's case is unique; unlike any other potential Premier League debutant, he is about to begin his first year on tour, and his run to the final hasn't brought him high enough in the rankings to guarantee him access to any events until the Worlds (he was already qualified for the Grand Slam). If he is to play in the Premier League, his schedule could potentially be busier than any other tour card holder, unless he picks and chooses events (which will be a bit of a risk as he's still a fair way away from the top 16 and starting from scratch on the ProTour). He's spoken about this, but unlike to us forum nerds, the Premier League is a massive deal to the players (financially of course, but playing against the best of the best on a weekly basis must stir the competitive juices too), so it'll still be a brave call to turn it down!

Cross definitely struggled with the additional attention and more events on his schedule, he had a health scare at one point and he did say in hindsight he'd have managed his schedule better. Still, it's no guarantee he'd have won another title even if he didn't have any of the challenges that come with winning the Worlds, he's just one of many good players capable of winning the Worlds, MvG, Wright, Price, Smith and Humphries and of course Clayton have had periods of extraordinary form since he won the Worlds

There will be lots of new challenges for Humphries, not least a heavier schedule with Premier League games to contend with, but I do wonder if the concurrent rise of Littler may take a bit of the attention off him? Conversely, with the added attention darts in general has received as a result of Littler's rise, the opposite may be true

[Rogg]

I never did decide which Luke I wanted to win. I was supporting whichever one which behind at the time, you know, like yer nan would.