The unexpected early exit of England’s star-studded darts duo, Luke Littler and Luke Humphries, from the World Cup of Darts has ignited a spirited critique from Welsh rival Gerwyn Price. According to the candid “Iceman,” the world’s number one and two ranked players lacked the essential team unity required for success in the paired format, a failing that ultimately contributed to their shocking second-round defeat against host nation Germany.
Littler and Humphries, who were awarded MBEs in the recent King’s Birthday Honours, entered the tournament in Frankfurt as overwhelming favorites. Their individual brilliance has dominated the darts landscape, with Humphries being the reigning World Champion and Littler having captivated audiences with his meteoric rise to the top. Yet, their highly anticipated partnership in the World Cup culminated in an 8-4 loss to Germany’s Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko, a result that sent ripples of disbelief throughout the darts community.
Gerwyn Price, who, alongside Welsh compatriot Jonny Clayton, made a strong run to the final before narrowly losing to Northern Ireland’s Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney, pulled no punches in his assessment of the English pair’s performance. Speaking after his own final defeat, Price didn’t hesitate to point out what he perceived as a fundamental flaw in their approach.
“All the teams when we first turned up, and I’m not just saying this because they lost, there were only two players that didn’t turn up together, didn’t sit together, didn’t play as a team,”1 Price stated, with a wry smile that suggested he knew exactly who he was referring to, even if he initially refrained from naming names. He continued, “I’m not saying who they are but they didn’t win their first game.”
The implication was clear: despite their individual talents, the English duo failed to foster the crucial bond and cohesion necessary for a team event. Price emphasized the importance of this camaraderie, highlighting the stark contrast with his own successful partnership with Clayton. “But no, you need it. You need to turn up together, you need to be as a team, you need to turn up as a team, you practise together, you sit together,”2 he insisted. “It is a team ethic and it didn’t show with England. It showed on the board – they’re great players individually but you need to be a team.”3
The Welsh darts ace further elaborated on his viewpoint, even as Clayton playfully interjected, “I thought you weren’t going to say who they were,” prompting laughter from the assembled media. Price, undeterred, doubled down on his criticism. “You need that team ethic and you need to be together as a team all the way through but it didn’t happen,” he maintained. With a final, blunt assessment, he added, “I wanted them to do well but they didn’t. I did, I swear I’m not just saying that because I want to make some fans or anything but I did, I wanted them to do well. But they4 were rubbish.”
Littler, in particular, seemed to struggle to find his rhythm in front of the boisterous German crowd, a country where he has faced difficulties in the past. Both he and Humphries were made to pay for missed doubles, which proved costly against a German pairing that played with immense belief and the backing of their home supporters.
The World Cup of Darts is a unique format in the professional darts calendar, placing a premium on partnerships and synchronized play. While both Littler and Humphries are accustomed to the individual spotlight, Price’s comments suggest that they may not have fully adapted to the demands of a team competition. His observations underline the idea that individual brilliance, while undoubtedly a powerful asset, is not always sufficient when a cohesive unit is required.
As Northern Ireland celebrated their historic World Cup triumph over Wales, the post-tournament discussion inevitably shifted to England’s unexpected early exit. Price’s forthright comments provide a compelling explanation, suggesting that beyond the statistics and individual averages, the crucial element of team unity was conspicuously absent for England’s “dream team.” It leaves a lingering question for Littler and Humphries: how will they adapt their approach if they are to successfully navigate future team events and truly live up to their billing as the best in the world, together?
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