Luke Humphries and Luke Littler are set to miss the opening European Tour event in Slovakia, scheduled for 19 June – 21 June. The pair are notable by their absence, with Gian van Veen, Michael van Gerwen and Jonny Clayton painting a very familiar picture as top names in Bratislava. Humphries, responding to reports that his absence was called 'disappointing' given it is the first ever European Tour in the country, explained that the reason is the US Darts Masters.
The US Darts Masters takes place in New York between June 25-26, the week after the Slovakia event. Humphries and others also need to acclimatise to jet lag and do media before the tournament begins at Madison Square Garden. However, Clayton, Price, James Wade, Stephen Bunting, Josh Rock and Gian van Veen will all at the moment play in Bratislava then play in the US Darts Masters as they are part of both line-ups.
“I would have gone mate, but New York is the next week later and logistically it’s a nightmare as I fly out on the Monday, and can’t get back from Slovakia on the Monday in time to make the flight to New York,” said Humphries in a response to a tweet surrounding the Slovakia line-up, which is the ninth European Tour of the year. When a fan responded, “Fair. Let's hope the PDC can find a better date for the event next year, the Slovakian fans deserve their shot at the world's best players too,” Humphries agreed, saying: “I agree! Probably wrong timing for that event this year really, I think Luke would of gone as well if they wouldn’t of clashed.”
With both deciding against playing quite a lot of European Tour events, it seems to be logistics over them deciding for a weekend off, and it throws into question the timing of such an event when wanting to grow the game in Bratislava with a European Tour. The US Darts Masters already struggles of sorts in a World Cup year, but it seems like the knock on is also that many of the top names won't play in Slovakia either, including Humphries and Littler. Humphries will return, though, next weekend in Riesa, so he does have European Tours in his plans.
