As the 2025 World Cup of Darts prepares to ignite Frankfurt’s Eissporthalle from June 12-15, the spotlight is firmly on England’s formidable pairing of Luke Humphries and Luke Littler. The world No. 1 and the 2025 PDC World Champion, respectively, are the odds-on favorites to defend England’s title, but Scotland’s Peter Wright has thrown a dart of doubt into their narrative. The two-time world champion, teaming up with fellow Scot Gary Anderson, boldly predicts that the much-hyped English duo “won’t click” in the unique pairs format, setting the stage for a dramatic showdown in Germany.
Humphries, 29, and Littler, just 18, form what many call a “dream team” for England, the reigning champions who secured a record-breaking fifth title in 2024 with Humphries and Michael Smith. Littler, making his senior World Cup debut, brings explosive scoring and a fearless mentality, fresh off his historic world championship win over Michael van Gerwen in January 2025. Humphries, the 2024 Premier League champion, complements him with clinical finishing and big-stage experience. Together, they’ve dominated the sport, with Humphries acknowledging the pressure: “The two best players in the world, a lot of pressure is going to be on our shoulders. I think everybody is expecting us to win it and no one’s going to touch us.” Yet, Wright, a seasoned veteran at 55, isn’t convinced their individual brilliance will translate to team success.
Wright, who won the World Cup for Scotland in 2021 alongside John Henderson, points to history to back his skepticism. “Look at the amount of really good England teams that have been paired up and they haven’t clicked, like James Wade and Phil Taylor,” he said, drawing parallels to past English pairings that faltered despite their star power. The pairs format, where teammates alternate throws in a best-of-15-leg doubles match, demands seamless coordination, and Wright questions whether Littler’s youth and Humphries’ intensity will mesh. “Littler is a fantastic player, a worthy world champion and all the other titles he has won, fantastic, but he is going up there playing pairs,” Wright noted. “I know he played as a youth for England, but whether he can do it in the seniors, I don’t know.”
Adding fuel to his argument, Wright suggested Littler should have stepped aside to let Michael Smith, ranked 20th in the PDC Order of Merit, defend the title he won with Humphries last year. “I think Michael should have been given the chance to retain his title,” Wright said, referencing how he and Anderson once made way for teammates to defend their crown. “Gary stepped aside when me and John won it to give us a chance to do it again.” His comments hint at a belief that Littler’s inclusion, while logical given his No. 2 ranking, might disrupt England’s rhythm. “Michael is a practiser, on the board all the time, Luke Humphries is a practiser. He’ll be practising his backside off and Littler will be playing his games and eating his sweets, so hopefully they won’t click,” Wright quipped, his playful jab masking a calculated challenge.
Scotland, seeded third, is no stranger to World Cup glory, having won in 2019 with Wright and Anderson. Despite their current rankings of 13th and 14th, the duo’s experience makes them a dangerous underdog. “Let them speak about them two. Hopefully we meet in the final and we can show who’s boss,” Wright declared, exuding confidence in Scotland’s ability to upset the favorites. Other nations, like Wales’ Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton, who won in 2020 and 2023, and Northern Ireland’s Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney, also loom as threats. Price, brimming with defiance, said, “I don’t care that England are world No 1 and No 2, it’s us Welsh boys, we’re going to stop them.”
The tournament’s format adds intrigue. England, as a top-four seed, bypasses the group stage, entering in the second round on Saturday. The doubles format, with its straight-start, double-finish 501 legs, tests chemistry as much as skill. Dutch player Vincent van der Voort echoed Wright’s sentiments, noting, “A strong partnership becomes even more important. Individual talent comes second.” With teams like Australia’s Damon Heta and Simon Whitlock, who won in 2022, and Belgium’s Mike De Decker and Dimitri Van den Bergh, who reached back-to-back semifinals, the field is stacked with potential spoilers.
As Littler and Humphries prepare to don the England jersey, the pressure is palpable. Littler, undeterred by Wright’s comments, is relishing the moment: “I’ve not spoken to anyone about putting the shirt on for your country, but I am sure it is one of the best feelings you’ll ever have.” Humphries, meanwhile, is focused on their synergy: “I like our dynamic together. If we connect, then we stand a great chance of winning this title.” Whether they can silence Wright’s doubts and deliver a historic pairs nine-darter remains to be seen, but the World Cup of Darts promises a thrilling clash of titans.
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