COPENHAGEN — The darts world was rocked on Saturday night not just by Luke Littler’s stunning 5-7 semi-final loss to Luke Humphries at the Nordic Darts Masters, but by an explosive allegation that has fans questioning the integrity of the sport.
According to reports emerging from the Royal Arena, Faith Millar, the long-term girlfriend of the 19-year-old world champion, allegedly placed a significant bet on Littler to lose his final match of the night.
As Littler—known as “The Nuke”—crumbled under the pressure against his rival Humphries, social media exploded with screenshots purporting to show betting slips linked to Millar’s accounts. Within minutes of the final dart, a single question began trending across X (formerly Twitter) and darts forums: Why would the person closest to him bet against him?
The Match: A Rivalry Renewed
Just one week after Littler edged out Humphries in a dramatic Premier League final in London , the two English superstars met again in Copenhagen. The semi-final was a scrappy, pressure-filled affair. Littler struggled to find his usual blistering pace, and despite leveling the match at 4-4, he lost crucial breaks of throw.
Humphries, the world No. 2, sealed the victory with a composed finish, continuing his habit of spoiling Littler’s biggest nights .
But the post-match analysis quickly veered away from Humphries’ skill and toward the crowd of supporters watching from the VIP section.
The Accusation
While Millar is usually hailed as Littler’s “emotional rock” and “No. 1 confidante”—the woman he turns to when crowd abuse makes him want to quit the sport —sources suggest she had a very different financial interest in this specific match.
Alleged betting records indicate a wager placed just before the semi-final began, backing Humphries to win.
“Darts is a mental game. If you know the person you trust most thinks you’re going to lose… that messes with your head,” one fan wrote on social media.
It is the ultimate contradiction. In recent months, Littler has publicly credited Millar with saving his career, admitting he told her, “I don’t want to do it any more” when facing the “horrific” abuse from hostile crowds .
The Fallout
The Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) has not yet released a statement regarding the validity of the betting slips circulating online.
For Littler, the timing is cruel. Having just turned 19, he is legally able to gamble, but the suggestion that his inner circle did not back him strikes at the heart of his often-repeated narrative of family loyalty. He once joked about using his winnings to “treat” Millar after major victories . Now, the question is whether that relationship—and his focus—can survive this scandal.
As one commentator put it: “He can handle losing to Humphries. But can he handle losing the trust?”
