Two of the world’s top darting talents, Luke Humphries and Luke Littler, have been honoured in the King’s Birthday Honours with an MBE.
The honour to the two darts stars comes as the sport sees burgeoning popularity in the country.
The pair are joined by football legend David Beckham, former tennis player Virginia Wade, and former rugby league legend Billy Boston to be honoured.
Humphries, 30, is currently world No1, recently winning the Premier League title, picking up a cool £275,000 in prize money on the way.
Luke Humphires won the Premier League for the first time last month
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The Premier League victory completed his “triple crown”, consisting of the most prestigious PDC tournaments: World Championship, World Matchplay and the Premier League.
He beat Littler, 18, in the final, writing the latest chapter in what is sure to be a legendary rivalry.
The pair have been largely responsible for the rise in popularity and quality of darts in recent years.
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Luke Littler and Luke Humphries have faced off in many finals already
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Littler burst onto the scene at the age of just 16, reaching the final of the prestigious World Championships at Alexandra Palace.
The teenage sensation would lose to Humphries in the final but would beat him in the final of the pair’s maiden Premier League campaign that same year.
This year, it was Littler who ended triumphant in the World Championship instead, taking home £500,000 in prize money.
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To demonstrate the growing disparity between the top two and the chasing pack, Littler, sitting at over £1.3million in prize money, is almost double that of legend Michael van Gerwen at £730,000.
The pair have left van Gerwen in the dust, with the Dutchman failing to even qualify for the Premier League play-offs this year for just the second time in 13 years.
Littler and Humphries join forces at the oche for the first time on Saturday, as the duo represent England in the prestigious World Cup of Darts.
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Luke Humphries and Luke Littler are partnered for England at the World Cup of Darts this weekend
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Humphries is looking to defend his title after winning the tournament with Michael Smith last year.
The duo are clear favourites, but Humphries recently dismissed the notion that the added pressure could affect their performance.
“Luke and I have been the favourites in every tournament we've played in this year and we still manage to win them,” he stated.
The pair will go into the World Cup on Saturday with the added honour of the MBE title to their name.
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