As the World Cup of Darts descends upon Frankfurt’s Eissporthalle from June 12-15, 2025, the darts world is abuzz with anticipation for a showdown between England’s powerhouse duo, Luke Littler and Luke Humphries, and their challengers. The English pair, ranked world No. 1 and No. 2, enter as overwhelming favorites to defend their nation’s title, but Scotland’s Peter Wright has thrown a verbal dart, predicting that the “Lukes of Hazard” won’t gel as a team. With a storied rivalry and a unique pairs format amplifying the stakes, Wright’s provocative words have set the stage for a gripping tournament filled with skill, strategy, and psychological battles.
Littler, the 18-year-old prodigy who clinched the 2025 PDC World Championship at just 17, and Humphries, the reigning Premier League champion, form a formidable partnership on paper. Their dominance is unquestioned: Littler boasts a 13-10 head-to-head edge over Humphries, including a nine-darter in the 2024 Premier League final, while Humphries countered with a 2025 Premier League title win. Last year, Humphries paired with Michael Smith to secure England’s fifth World Cup crown, but Littler’s debut adds a new dynamic. “The two best players in the world, a lot of pressure is going to be on our shoulders,” Humphries acknowledged, aware of the expectations that they’ll “win it and no one’s going to touch us.” Yet, Wright, a two-time world champion and 2021 World Cup winner with Scotland, isn’t convinced their individual brilliance will translate into doubles success.
“Humphries will be practising his backside off and Littler will be playing his games and eating his sweets, so hopefully they won’t click,” Wright quipped, painting a vivid contrast between Humphries’ relentless work ethic and Littler’s laid-back persona. The 55-year-old Scot, paired with fellow two-time world champion Gary Anderson, drew on history to bolster 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 told reporters, emphasizing the pairs format’s unpredictability. Wright’s jab wasn’t just about chemistry—he suggested Littler should have stepped aside for Smith, who won alongside Humphries in 2024. “I think Michael should have been given the chance to retain his title,” Wright added, noting Anderson’s precedent of yielding his spot after Scotland’s 2021 triumph.
Wright’s comments echo a broader sentiment among rivals eyeing an upset. Ireland’s William O’Connor, after a 4-2 win over Gibraltar, questioned whether Littler and Humphries’ “egos” might hinder their synergy, while Germany’s Martin Schindler highlighted the shift from singles to doubles play: “It’s a pairs tournament; you are not really prepared for that.” The Netherlands’ Vincent van der Voort, backing his nation’s duo of Danny Noppert and Gian van Veen, also expressed doubts, stating, “I’m not exactly excited about Littler and Humphries as a duo. You just expect them to win, but a strong partnership becomes even more important.” These warnings underscore the World Cup’s unique challenge, where teamwork often trumps individual talent.
For Littler, the tournament is a chance to silence doubters in his senior World Cup debut, though he faces potential hostility from German crowds after a frosty reception at the German Darts Grand Prix. Humphries, ever the supportive teammate, vowed to shield him: “If they’re on his back, I’ll be there to say, ‘don’t worry about what they’re doing, focus on your game.’” Their decision to skip joint practice sessions, relying on their elite skillsets, has raised eyebrows, with Wright’s barb about Littler’s “sweets” hinting at a perceived lack of preparation. Yet, Littler’s youth experience, including a gold medal in the 2022 WDF Europe Cup team event, suggests he’s no stranger to pairs play.
Scotland’s Wright and Anderson, ranked 13th and 14th, fly under the radar but carry a wealth of experience, having won the World Cup in 2019. Wright’s hunger is palpable: “Let them speak about them two. Hopefully we meet in the final and we can show who’s boss.” With Wales’ Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton, the Netherlands, and dark horses like Belgium’s Mike De Decker and Dimitri Van den Bergh looming, England’s path is far from assured. As the tournament unfolds, the darts world watches to see if Littler and Humphries can defy Wright’s prophecy or if the old guard will steal the spotlight in Frankfurt.
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