James Wade could be investigated after ‘disgusting’ Luke Humphries incident
James Wade has been slammed after appearing to lick Luke Humphries neck and told an investigation into the incident could come next.
Former Players Championship winner Paul Nicholson believes ‘The Machine’ may yet have to face the music for his bizarre action during the UK Open quarter-final match. After walking on at Minehead, Wade appeared to stick out his tongue to touch Humphries’ neck as they greeted each other.
That seemed to ensure world champion Humphries was in a spiky mood and the pair did not share a customary handshake or fistbump ahead of the deciding leg of their meeting. Instead, ‘Cool Hand Luke’ appeared to bump shoulders on his way past his opponent following defeat.
Humphries was even sparked into a social media post, now deleted, claiming Wade did not deserve his respect following the 10-9 defeat. “Everyone loves to see people be a bad loser but I’m generally one of the best losers in the sport,” he wrote.
“I wasn’t going to give someone, who didn’t deserve my respect after what he was doing through the game, a hug and be all happy about it that’s just my honesty.”
Some may have accused Humphries of sour grapes but Nicholson jumped to his to defence. The 45-year-old branded Wade’s lick as ‘disgusting.
Nicholson told Sporting Life: “Just two days after earning all that praise for bringing Beau Greaves back on stage, Humphries found himself being harshly criticised by some fans on social media for a frosty handshake and a small shoulder barge.
“It is ridiculous for anyone to call Humphries a ‘bad loser’ and his track record of graciousness speaks for itself.
“There had seemingly been tensions building throughout and they didn’t exchange the usual handshake or fist bump before the deciding leg, while Wade licking Humphries’ neck before the match began may have been an issue.
“I’m with Luke on this one. I think sometimes as a competitor, you have to draw a line and say, ‘If you are going to play games and do things within a competitive environment that cross the line, then don’t expect respect in return’.
“The photograph that surfaced of James sticking his tongue out and touched Luke’s neck was disgusting and I wouldn’t be surprised if it was investigated. Whether that was one of the things that bothered Luke or not, the fact he left the stage in the manner he did after the match wasn’t anything to do with being a ‘bad loser’.
“If James hadn’t done anything provocative, Luke’s reaction to defeat would have been very different.
“Obviously I’ve been in my fair share of incidents, and there was one time when I lost to Kim Huybrechts at the World Cup and I walked off without shaking his hand. “I was called a bad loser then but I was just mad at myself – not at Kim. So, these things can happen at the end of a match when there’s been no bad blood.
“Wade isn’t exactly the most gracious in defeat anyway. Some of the handshakes he’s given down the years have been perfunctory at best.
“We’ve got to give him credit for what he’s done in the sport for over 20 years, but he’s not an angel. Let’s instead focus on what an incredible role model Luke Humphries is and a fantastic ambassador for our sport.
“Humphries’ reaction to Greaves was just another example of how he recognises the bigger picture. He’s always been so magnanimous about the way Luke Littler takes the lion’s share of the spotlight even when others feel he’s been ‘overlooked’, while on this occasion he wanted to ensure Greaves got the credit she deserved.
“And he would have given her the highest praise possible had she beaten him without any sense of bitterness. When we see something like that, it just goes to show that there are people in sport who can be competitive, but also very gracious.”
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