The darts world is still reeling from the unexpected second-round exit of England’s Luke Littler and Luke Humphries at the 2025 World Cup of Darts in Frankfurt, a defeat that has prompted the star duo to withdraw from the upcoming Players Championship events in Leicester. The pre-tournament favorites, both recently honored with MBEs, were stunned 8-4 by Germany’s Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko, a result that exposed cracks in their partnership and drew sharp criticism from Welsh darts legend Gerwyn Price. As the dust settles, Littler and Humphries’ decision to skip the next tournaments signals a moment of reflection for two of the sport’s brightest talents.
The Frankfurt Eissporthalle was a cauldron of intensity, with 3,500 German fans roaring their support for the home team. Littler, the 18-year-old prodigy making his World Cup debut, and Humphries, the world No. 1 with eight major titles, walked out to “Vindaloo” amid a barrage of boos. Humphries managed a wry smile, but Littler appeared unsettled, his composure tested by the hostile atmosphere. Germany seized the moment, racing to a 2-0 lead and capitalizing on England’s missed doubles—particularly Littler’s struggles—to secure a commanding upset. “We didn’t turn up together, didn’t sit together, didn’t play as a team,” Price remarked, his scathing assessment highlighting the duo’s lack of synergy.
Price, who reached the final with Jonny Clayton before a heartbreaking 10-9 loss to Northern Ireland, didn’t hold back. “They were rubbish,” he declared, pointing to England’s failure to embody the “team ethic” that defined other nations’ success. His own partnership with Clayton, which saw Wales topple strong teams like the Netherlands and Philippines, stood in stark contrast to England’s disjointed effort. “You need to be as a team,” Price emphasized, his words fueling speculation about underlying tension between Littler and Humphries.
For Littler, the defeat was a stark departure from his meteoric rise. The reigning world champion, whose charisma and skill have drawn a new generation of fans, has faced challenges in Germany before, including a heated exchange with Pietreczko at the Belgian Darts Open and crowd backlash that prompted a fiery social media post. Humphries, who won the 2024 World Cup with Michael Smith, had vowed to shield his younger teammate, but their first-time pairing faltered under the weight of expectation. Pundit Wayne Mardle offered perspective, noting the pairs format’s unique demands. “You can’t just think: ‘I’ve been here before, it’s fine,’” he said, underscoring the duo’s inexperience as a unit.
The decision to skip the Players Championship events—ProTours 13 and 14 in Leicester—has raised eyebrows, as both players seek to regroup ahead of the Betfred World Matchplay, set for July 19-27. Humphries, the defending champion, and Littler, a rising force, face mounting pressure to prove their mettle. Their rivalry, highlighted by Humphries’ victory over Littler in the Premier League Darts final, had set high expectations for a dominant World Cup showing. Yet, their lack of coordination, compounded by Littler’s youth and Humphries’ leadership challenges, left them vulnerable.
The darts community buzzes with debate over Price’s critique and the duo’s next steps. Littler’s flair and Humphries’ consistency remain undeniable, but their World Cup stumble has exposed the importance of unity in the pairs format. As they prepare for the Matchplay, where individual brilliance takes center stage, questions linger about their ability to mesh as a team in future events. For now, their retreat from Leicester offers a chance to reset, but the spotlight will follow them, eager to see if this setback fuels a resurgence or reveals deeper cracks in England’s darts dynasty.
# Luke Littler and Luke Humphries Retreat After World Cup of Darts Disappointment
The darts world is still reeling from the unexpected second-round exit of England’s Luke Littler and Luke Humphries at the 2025 World Cup of Darts in Frankfurt, a defeat that has prompted the star duo to withdraw from the upcoming Players Championship events in Leicester. The pre-tournament favorites, both recently honored with MBEs, were stunned 8-4 by Germany’s Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko, a result that exposed cracks in their partnership and drew sharp criticism from Welsh darts legend Gerwyn Price. As the dust settles, Littler and Humphries’ decision to skip the next tournaments signals a moment of reflection for two of the sport’s brightest talents.
The Frankfurt Eissporthalle was a cauldron of intensity, with 3,500 German fans roaring their support for the home team. Littler, the 18-year-old prodigy making his World Cup debut, and Humphries, the world No. 1 with eight major titles, walked out to “Vindaloo” amid a barrage of boos. Humphries managed a wry smile, but Littler appeared unsettled, his composure tested by the hostile atmosphere. Germany seized the moment, racing to a 2-0 lead and capitalizing on England’s missed doubles—particularly Littler’s struggles—to secure a commanding upset. “We didn’t turn up together, didn’t sit together, didn’t play as a team,” Price remarked, his scathing assessment highlighting the duo’s lack of synergy.
Price, who reached the final with Jonny Clayton before a heartbreaking 10-9 loss to Northern Ireland, didn’t hold back. “They were rubbish,” he declared, pointing to England’s failure to embody the “team ethic” that defined other nations’ success. His own partnership with Clayton, which saw Wales topple strong teams like the Netherlands and Philippines, stood in stark contrast to England’s disjointed effort. “You need to be as a team,” Price emphasized, his words fueling speculation about underlying tension between Littler and Humphries.
For Littler, the defeat was a stark departure from his meteoric rise. The reigning world champion, whose charisma and skill have drawn a new generation of fans, has faced challenges in Germany before, including a heated exchange with Pietreczko at the Belgian Darts Open and crowd backlash that prompted a fiery social media post. Humphries, who won the 2024 World Cup with Michael Smith, had vowed to shield his younger teammate, but their first-time pairing faltered under the weight of expectation. Pundit Wayne Mardle offered perspective, noting the pairs format’s unique demands. “You can’t just think: ‘I’ve been here before, it’s fine,’” he said, underscoring the duo’s inexperience as a unit.
The decision to skip the Players Championship events—ProTours 13 and 14 in Leicester—has raised eyebrows, as both players seek to regroup ahead of the Betfred World Matchplay, set for July 19-27. Humphries, the defending champion, and Littler, a rising force, face mounting pressure to prove their mettle. Their rivalry, highlighted by Humphries’ victory over Littler in the Premier League Darts final, had set high expectations for a dominant World Cup showing. Yet, their lack of coordination, compounded by Littler’s youth and Humphries’ leadership challenges, left them vulnerable.
The darts community buzzes with debate over Price’s critique and the duo’s next steps. Littler’s flair and Humphries’ consistency remain undeniable, but their World Cup stumble has exposed the importance of unity in the pairs format. As they prepare for the Matchplay, where individual brilliance takes center stage, questions linger about their ability to mesh as a team in future events. For now, their retreat from Leicester offers a chance to reset, but the spotlight will follow them, eager to see if this setback fuels a resurgence or reveals deeper cracks in England’s darts dynasty.
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