The darts world is buzzing with tension as Luke Littler, the 18-year-old prodigy nicknamed “The Nuke,” finds himself at the center of a fiery controversy following England’s shock exit from the 2025 World Cup of Darts. After a stinging defeat to Germany’s Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko in Frankfurt, Littler faced a barrage of criticism, including a sarcastic taunt from Northern Ireland’s Neil Duff, the 2022 WDF world champion. Unfazed, Littler clapped back with a brutal four-word Instagram jab—“How’s Neil Duff doing?”—posted alongside a screenshot of Duff’s recent loss, escalating a war of words that has fans and players alike picking sides in this unfolding drama.
The World Cup, held in June 2025, saw Littler and world No. 1 Luke Humphries enter as overwhelming favorites to defend England’s title. Both players, fresh off receiving MBEs in the King’s Birthday Honours, carried the weight of national expectations. Yet, their debut as a pair ended in disaster, with Germany’s Schindler and Pietreczko capitalizing on a raucous home crowd to secure an 8-4 upset in the round of 16. Littler struggled early, missing key doubles, while Humphries failed to find his rhythm, allowing Germany to race to a 7-2 lead before sealing the win with a 62 checkout. The loss, England’s only match after a first-round bye, sparked intense scrutiny, with darts legend Dennis Priestley accusing the duo of “letting their country down” and questioning their MBE honors. “From what we’ve heard, they weren’t sitting together or practising together,” Priestley remarked, contrasting their approach with his own successful partnership with Phil Taylor.
Littler, never one to back down, responded to Priestley with a now-deleted Instagram Story, asserting, “Doesn’t deserve an MBE but done more in 12 months than he ever did… that’s what I would say anyway.” Humphries, too, took to social media, defending their effort: “Disappointing to hear a top former pro who I admired say such a damaging thing to me and Luke. I didn’t let my country down last year, though, did I?” His reference to England’s 2024 World Cup win with Michael Smith underscored the sting of the criticism. But it was Duff’s jab that pushed Littler to strike again. After Northern Ireland, led by Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney, clinched the World Cup title, Duff posted a sarcastic, “How’s England doing?”—a clear dig at Littler and Humphries’ flop.
Littler’s retort came swiftly during Duff’s appearance at the MODUS Super Series, where he suffered a 4-1 defeat to Martin Thomas. Seizing the moment, Littler shared Thomas’ match-winning dart on Instagram, captioning it, “How’s Neil Duff doing?” with a cheeky smiley face. The post, seen by his 1.9 million followers, sent fans into a frenzy, with some hailing Littler’s wit and others accusing him of pettiness. “Littler’s savage, but he needs to let his darts do the talking,” one fan commented, while another praised, “The Nuke’s got fire on and off the oche!” The exchange highlights Littler’s knack for turning criticism into fuel, a trait that has defined his meteoric rise since bursting onto the scene at 16.
This latest spat adds to Littler’s growing list of rivalries, including a heated 2024 encounter with Pietreczko at the Belgium Open, where the German confronted him over his bold checkout attempts. Despite the off-stage drama, Littler’s achievements speak volumes: he’s the reigning PDC world champion, having won the 2025 title at 17, and holds five major titles, including the 2024 Premier League and 2025 UK Open. His “Littlermania” has transformed darts, drawing new fans and inspiring young players, though critics like Priestley warn of distractions from his commercial ventures, like a McDonald’s burger launch.
As Littler heads to the U.S. Darts Masters in New York, the darts world watches to see if he’ll channel this energy into his throws or continue trading barbs. With the World Matchplay looming, where he faces a chance to redeem last year’s early exit, Littler’s ability to rise above the noise will be key. For now, his social media salvo ensures the spotlight stays on “The Nuke,” both as a champion and a provocateur.
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