In the high-stakes, high-drama world of professional darts, where rivalries burn as brightly as the stage lights, Gerwyn Price, the fiery Welsh star known as “The Iceman,” dropped a bombshell that has sent shockwaves through the sport. Following a thrilling 2025 World Cup of Darts in Frankfurt, where Price and teammate Jonny Clayton fell agonizingly short in a 10-9 final defeat to Northern Ireland’s Daryl Gurney and Josh Rock, Price turned his attention to England’s unexpected early exit. The pre-tournament favorites, world number one Luke Humphries and reigning world champion Luke Littler, suffered a humiliating 8-4 loss to Germany’s Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko in the second round. Price didn’t hold back, claiming the English duo’s failure stemmed from a lack of camaraderie and team ethic behind the scenes, igniting a firestorm of debate among fans and players alike.
Price, a two-time World Cup winner with Wales, was blunt in his assessment during a post-final press conference. “I think you need a connection, you need to have that camaraderie off the stage and have that connection,” he said, suggesting that Littler and Humphries’ partnership lacked the unity essential for doubles success. He went further, noting, “You need to turn up as a team, practice together, sit together, it’s a team ethic and it didn’t show with England and it showed on the board.” Price’s pointed remarks hinted at a disconnect, observing that “the only two players that didn’t turn up together, didn’t sit together, didn’t play as a team” failed to advance, a thinly veiled jab at the English pair. “They’re great players individually, but you need to be a team,” he added, branding their performance “rubbish” while insisting, “I wanted them to do well, but they were rubbish.”
The defeat was a stunning upset for Littler and Humphries, who arrived in Germany as the sport’s top two players, fresh off receiving MBEs in the King’s Birthday Honours. Their 93.34 average and 36.36% checkout rate paled against Germany’s inspired display, amplified by a raucous home crowd that jeered the English duo. Littler, just 18, struggled under the pressure, a rare off-day for the prodigy who has dominated darts since his 2023 World Championship final run. Humphries, the 2024 world champion, also faltered, unable to replicate the form that saw him win the World Cup with Michael Smith in 2024. Price’s critique suggested their lack of cohesion off-stage—failing to arrive or practice together—translated to their lackluster performance on it.
The comments sparked a flurry of reactions. Fans on social media were divided, with one tweeting, “Price spilling the tea! Littler and Humphries need to sort it out if they want to win as a team.” Another defended the duo, writing, “They’re young, they’ll learn. Price is just stirring the pot.” Humphries, however, has previously dismissed rumors of tension, saying last December, “I love him to be honest, I think Luke is fantastic. I get on really well with him.” Littler, too, has remained silent on Price’s claims but hit back at other critics, like Dennis Priestley, who questioned their MBEs, posting a now-deleted Instagram story asserting he’d “done more in 12 months” than the former champion.
Price’s own World Cup journey was a stark contrast. Alongside Clayton, he powered Wales to the final, defeating the Philippines, Hong Kong, and the Netherlands with a unified front. Their 10-9 loss to Northern Ireland was heartbreaking, but Price’s pride in their teamwork was evident. “You need that team ethic,” he reiterated, a principle he believes England lacked. As the darts world looks ahead to the 2026 World Cup, the question lingers: can Littler and Humphries forge the bond needed to redeem their Frankfurt flop, or will Price’s words prove prophetic? For now, The Iceman’s explosive claim has added another layer of intrigue to darts’ ever-evolving rivalries.
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