The 2025 World Cup of Darts in Frankfurt was poised to be a coronation for England’s Luke Littler and Luke Humphries, the sport’s reigning superstars. Both adorned with MBEs from the King’s Birthday Honours, the duo entered as favorites, their individual brilliance expected to carry them to glory. Instead, a stunning 8-4 defeat to Germany’s Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko in the second round left fans shell-shocked and sparked a fiery critique from Welsh darts titan Gerwyn Price, who pointed to a glaring lack of camaraderie as the root of their downfall. “The only two players that didn’t turn up together, didn’t sit together, didn’t play as a team,” Price declared, his words cutting through the post-match buzz like a well-aimed dart.
The atmosphere at Frankfurt’s Eissporthalle was a pressure cooker, with 3,500 German fans unleashing a torrent of boos as Littler and Humphries, clad in matching white kits, strode to the oche to the tune of “Vindaloo.” Humphries, the world No. 1 with eight major titles, flashed a defiant grin, but Littler, the 18-year-old prodigy in his World Cup debut, seemed rattled by the hostile crowd. Germany capitalized early, surging to a 2-0 lead. Despite a brief fightback, England’s missed doubles—particularly Littler’s errant throws—proved costly, and the hosts sealed the upset with ruthless precision. Price didn’t hold back, labeling their performance “rubbish” and emphasizing the absence of the “team ethic” that defined other nations’ success.
Price, who alongside Jonny Clayton powered Wales to the final before a heartbreaking 10-9 loss to Northern Ireland’s Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney, contrasted England’s disunity with his own team’s cohesion. “You need to turn up together, you need to be as a team,” he said, his pride in Wales’ campaign evident. The Welsh duo’s journey, which saw them dispatch strong sides like the Philippines and Netherlands, showcased the synergy Price felt was missing in England’s camp. His pointed remarks fueled speculation about tension between Littler and Humphries, whose first-time partnership struggled to gel under the spotlight.
Littler’s meteoric rise has made him a global sensation, his world championship title at 18 drawing new fans to darts. Yet, Germany has been a challenging stage for him, marked by a prior clash with Pietreczko at the Belgian Darts Open and crowd hostility that prompted a fiery social media response. Humphries, who won the 2024 World Cup with Michael Smith, had vowed to guide his younger teammate through the pressure, but their lack of coordination was evident. Sky Sports pundit Wayne Mardle offered insight, noting the pairs format’s unique demands. “You can’t just think: ‘I’ve been here before, it’s fine,’” he said, highlighting the duo’s inexperience as a unit.
The defeat has prompted a rare pause for both players, who have withdrawn from the upcoming Players Championship events in Leicester, signaling a need to regroup before the Betfred World Matchplay from July 19-27. Humphries, the defending champion, and Littler, a rising force, face scrutiny after their high-profile stumble. Their rivalry, underscored by Humphries’ victory over Littler in the Premier League Darts final, had raised expectations for a dominant World Cup showing. Yet, Price’s observations about their backstage behavior—failing to sit together or project unity—cast a shadow over their partnership.
The darts world is abuzz with debate, with fans and analysts dissecting whether this was a one-off misstep or a sign of deeper issues. Littler’s youth and Humphries’ leadership will be tested as they prepare for the Matchplay, where individual prowess takes precedence. For now, Price’s blunt critique serves as a wake-up call, underscoring the importance of camaraderie in a sport where precision and teamwork can make or break a title run. As Littler and Humphries step away to reset, the question looms: can they forge the unity needed to reclaim their dominance, or will their World Cup woes linger?
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