Luke Littler and world No 1 Luke Humphries admit their 2025 World Cup of Darts debut left them short of chemistry. The pair entered as rainbow‑rainbow favorites but slipped to an 8‑4 defeat at the Eissporthalle in Frankfurt, where German duo Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko seized a decisive victory.

Both players note the draw was the worst scenario, forcing an early clash with a home‑crowd advantage that roared for Germany. Littler says the boos he faced after a recent Premier League win pushed him to the brink of quitting, while Humphries believes the experience has hardened him for hostile arenas.

Entering the 2026 edition as the No 1 seeds, the English duo aims to transform last year’s failure into a lesson. They plan to bond during the Nordic Darts Masters, then tackle the World Cup from June 11‑14 on Sky Sports, hoping the pressure will feel lighter after a season of growth.

Humphries stresses that the crowd’s hostility will no longer unsettle him, citing the mental battle he endured after the 2025 loss. The pair’s camaraderie off the practice board remains strong, and they are ready to face any opponent with renewed focus, confident that their partnership can finally click on stage as the BetVictor World Cup approaches.