In a stunning upset at the 2025 World Cup of Darts in Frankfurt, Germany, the heavily favored England duo of Luke Littler and Luke Humphries suffered a crushing defeat against the host nation’s Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko. The 8-4 loss in the last 16 dashed England’s hopes of retaining their title, leaving the darts world reeling from the unexpected outcome. As the Eissporthalle crowd roared with patriotic fervor, the German pair delivered a masterclass in composure and precision, outshining the world’s top-ranked players in a match that will be remembered as one of the tournament’s greatest shocks.
The atmosphere was electric from the outset, with the 3,500-strong German crowd setting a hostile tone. Booed during their walk-on to the tune of *Vindaloo* by Fat Les, Littler and Humphries faced intense pressure. Littler, the 18-year-old world champion making his World Cup debut, appeared rattled early on, struggling to find his rhythm. “When you get involved with the crowd, it never ends well,” Humphries had warned before the match, emphasizing the need to focus despite the jeers. Yet, the partisan atmosphere seemed to weigh heavily on the English pair, who were both honored with MBEs in the King’s Birthday Honours just hours before the match.
Germany seized the initiative, racing to a 2-0 lead with clinical finishing. Littler, known for his prolific scoring, responded with a spectacular 123 checkout to get England on the board, followed by a 64 finish to level the score at 2-2. The crowd’s intensity didn’t waver, and the momentum shifted back to Germany in the fifth leg. Littler missed three darts at a double, allowing Pietreczko to unleash a breathtaking 106 checkout that reignited the home fans. “The doubling was sensational from Germany,” one observer noted, highlighting the hosts’ precision. Another German finish in the sixth leg extended their lead, and Humphries’ costly miss—hitting 25 instead of the bullseye on a 122 attempt—saw Germany enter the break with a commanding 5-2 advantage.
After the interval, Pietreczko continued his onslaught, nailing a 101 checkout to push Germany to 7-2. England fought back, with Littler and Humphries clawing two legs to narrow the gap to 7-4. However, their hopes of a comeback were hampered by a dismal 36% double success rate, converting only four of their 11 chances. Germany, averaging a solid 93.70 and landing a high checkout of 106, remained unfazed. Schindler and Pietreczko sealed the 8-4 victory, sparking wild celebrations among the home supporters. “We are delighted to go through. German darts is in good shape right now, and we will continue to push forward,” the German duo declared post-match, their confidence buoyed by the upset.
For Littler and Humphries, the defeat was a bitter pill. As defending champions—Humphries had won the title alongside Michael Smith in 2024—the pair were expected to dominate. Their odds-on favorite status and recent accolades, including Littler’s meteoric rise as the youngest-ever world champion, made the loss all the more shocking. Sky Sports pundit Wayne Mardle pointed to their inability to handle the pressure, noting that both players were “way below par.” Despite the setback, Littler and Humphries showed sportsmanship, congratulating their opponents before leaving the stage, visibly dejected.
The match exposed vulnerabilities in England’s game, particularly their adaptation to the pairs format. Germany’s Schindler had predicted that the English duo were “beatable,” citing the challenge of syncing their individual brilliance as a team. This proved prophetic, as missed doubles and uncharacteristic errors plagued their performance. Meanwhile, Germany’s victory sets up a quarter-final clash against Australia, who dismantled Argentina 8-1. With the home crowd behind them, Schindler and Pietreczko are now dreaming of a historic first PDC major title for Germany.
This seismic result has reshaped the tournament landscape. England’s elimination opens the door for other contenders, with the Netherlands, led by Danny Noppert and Gian van Veen, and Wales, featuring Jonny Clayton and Gerwyn Price, emerging as strong threats. For Littler, the defeat marks another challenging chapter in Germany, where he has faced hostile crowds in past events like the German Darts Championship. Yet, his resilience and Humphries’ experience suggest this loss will only fuel their determination. As the World Cup of Darts continues, the darts world is left buzzing, with Germany’s triumph proving that even the biggest stars can fall in the face of inspired opposition.
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