In a night charged with drama at Frankfurt’s Eissporthalle, England’s hopes of defending their World Cup of Darts title were spectacularly dashed by a relentless German duo, Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko. The pre-tournament favorites, Luke Littler and Luke Humphries, both fresh from receiving MBEs in the King’s Birthday Honours, faced a hostile home crowd and a formidable opponent, succumbing to an 8-4 defeat in the last 16 that left the darts world reeling.
The atmosphere was electric from the outset, with the 3,500-strong German crowd booing and whistling as Littler and Humphries made their entrance. Humphries, the world number one, flashed a wry smile at the jeers, while the 18-year-old Littler, the youngest-ever PDC World Champion, stared stoically at the floor, perhaps bracing for the challenge ahead. The partisan crowd’s energy seemed to unsettle the English pair, who struggled to find their rhythm early on. “We don’t approve the whistling and booing,” Schindler later remarked, acknowledging the crowd’s fervor but emphasizing the need to focus. “It’s not getting easier for us because our opponents are getting booed, so we still need to perform, and we’ve done that today.”
Germany seized the initiative, racing to a 2-0 lead as Littler’s nerves betrayed him. The teenager, known for his fearless precision, steadied himself with a stunning 123 checkout to put England on the board, followed by a 64 finish to level the score at 2-2. The brief resurgence sparked hopes of a comeback, but the German pair’s relentless accuracy soon took over. Pietreczko’s spectacular 106 finish in the fifth leg, capitalizing on Littler’s missed doubles, swung the momentum back to the hosts. By the break, Germany led 5-2, with Humphries’ errant 25—missing the bull for a 122 checkout—proving costly.
The second half saw Germany tighten their grip. Pietreczko’s 101 checkout after the resumption pushed the score to 7-2, and despite a late rally from Littler and Humphries, who clawed back two legs, England’s fate was sealed. Their dismal four-out-of-11 doubles success rate underscored a rare off-night for the world’s top-ranked players. “Both Lukes have been struggling, it seems to me,” Schindler observed, “but the day is done, and we’re happy that we’ve won that one.”
For Littler and Humphries, the defeat was a bitter pill. The pair, whose rivalry has fueled darts’ meteoric rise, had been tipped to dominate the tournament and add a sixth World Cup title to England’s tally. Humphries, who led England to victory alongside Michael Smith in 2024, and Littler, making his World Cup debut, were expected to form an unstoppable force. Yet, as Sky Sports pundit Wayne Mardle noted, the English duo “buckled under the pressure” of the hostile environment and Germany’s inspired performance.
The loss capped a whirlwind weekend for the English stars, who had celebrated their MBEs just a day earlier. Littler, reflecting on his honor, had called it a “triumph for darts,” while Humphries expressed a hunger to “perform even more” after the accolade. Their partnership, forged from a rivalry that includes two world finals and two Premier League finals, was meant to herald a new era of English dominance. Instead, Germany’s Schindler and Pietreczko, emboldened by their home crowd, proved that even the best can be toppled.
Germany now advances to the quarter-finals to face Australia, who earlier routed Argentina 8-1. For Littler and Humphries, the focus shifts to regrouping and reclaiming their form ahead of future challenges. As Littler had said before the tournament, “I can’t wait to partner him,” speaking of Humphries’ experience. Though this chapter ended in disappointment, their story—and darts’ golden era—promises more thrilling battles to come.
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