Luke Littler, the teenage darts prodigy known as “The Nuke,” is set to make his highly anticipated debut at the World Cup of Darts in Frankfurt, Germany, on Saturday, June 14, 2025. The 18-year-old from Warrington, fresh off his historic 2025 PDC World Championship victory, will team up with Luke Humphries, the world number one, to represent England in this unique pairs tournament. However, former champion Simon Whitlock has issued a cautionary note, warning that the World Cup’s distinctive format “levels people out,” presenting a fresh challenge even for a player of Littler’s caliber.
The World Cup of Darts stands apart from other Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) events due to its team-based structure, where players compete in pairs to represent their nations. Unlike individual tournaments, this format requires synergy and coordination, adding layers of complexity. “I love the World Cup. I mean, it’s pairs. It’s something different,” Whitlock remarked, emphasizing the event’s unique nature. He noted that the pressure of playing for both a partner and a country can equalize the field, making it a test of adaptability as much as skill. For Littler, who has dominated headlines with his meteoric rise, this debut marks a new frontier in his already illustrious career.
Littler’s ascent in the darts world has been nothing short of extraordinary. At just 17, he clinched the 2025 PDC World Championship, defeating three-time champion Michael van Gerwen 7-3 to become the youngest world champion in history. His 2024 season was equally remarkable, with victories in the Premier League, Grand Slam of Darts, and World Series of Darts Finals, alongside two World Series titles. “I cannot wait,” Littler said, expressing his excitement for the World Cup. He reflected on last year’s event, where his then-lower ranking on the PDC Order of Merit excluded him, leaving fans puzzled. “Last year, people were confused about the ranking system. Everyone was asking why I wasn’t in the World Cup, and I had to explain that I’d just started my career,” he explained. Now, with his world number two ranking and a string of titles, Littler is ready to take on the challenge.
Teaming up with Humphries, nicknamed “Cool Hand,” Littler forms part of a formidable England pairing. Humphries, who won the World Cup in 2024 alongside Michael Smith, believes Littler’s scoring prowess makes him the ideal lead-off thrower. “I will probably put him first,” Humphries said, acknowledging Littler’s unmatched ability to rack up points. “He is definitely the best scorer in the world. That’s not a lie, it’s obvious.” This strategic decision underscores England’s game plan to leverage Littler’s explosive scoring, which has seen him shatter records, including the most 180s in a calendar year and a televised nine-darter in the 2024 Premier League final.
Whitlock, the 2022 World Cup champion, praised Littler’s composure and skill, calling him “an absolute freak of darts” who “never looks flustered.” Yet, he cautioned that the pairs format demands a different mindset. “You’re not just playing for yourself, you’re playing for your partner and your country as well, which makes it unique from everything else,” he said. This dynamic could test Littler, whose aggressive, high-scoring style has often overwhelmed opponents in individual play. The World Cup’s structure, with only one pairs event on the PDC calendar, adds an element of unpredictability, even for a player who has redefined the sport’s possibilities.
Littler’s journey to this moment began at 18 months old, when he first threw darts at a magnetic board. By age 10, he was outclassing older competitors at the St Helens Darts Academy, prompting rule changes to allow him to compete on stage. His breakthrough came at the 2024 World Championship, where, at 16, he reached the final, defeating former champions Raymond van Barneveld and Rob Cross before falling to Humphries. Since then, Littler’s star has only risen, with his Instagram following soaring from 4,000 to 1.6 million and his net worth exceeding £1.5 million, bolstered by £500,000 from his World Championship win.
As England’s top-seeded team, Littler and Humphries enter the tournament with high expectations, facing their first match in the last 16 on Saturday. The duo’s chemistry will be crucial, with Humphries comfortable in the anchor role, having excelled there last year. Littler’s debut is a chance to further cement his legacy, but as Whitlock warned, the World Cup’s unique pressures could challenge even “The Nuke’s” unshakable focus. Fans eagerly await whether Littler can translate his individual brilliance into team success, proving once again why he’s darts’ brightest star.
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