Luke Humphries has admitted the suffocating expectation surrounding his World Cup of Darts pairing with Luke Littler last year became hard to deal with, as the duo prepare to reunite for England in Frankfurt this June. Speaking ahead of the tournament, which runs from 11-14 June 2026, Humphries revealed the intense scrutiny that followed their shock exit at the hands of hosts Germany.
“I wouldn’t say it is as a whole. But there was so much noise and people were saying you can’t lose a leg, type of thing,” said Humphries. “We didn’t believe it, but there was so much pressure put on us that we thought we can’t lose, because if we do lose then everyone is going to do what they did. Every time for the next three or four weeks after it was every exhibition we went to, it was like: ‘How did you lose? How did you lose?’ It was like you wanted to not hear it. I think last year people have seen we can lose, so the expectation this year is a bit lower. But we know if we both bond and play well, it will be an incredible performance from us both.”
Humphries also dismissed talk that Littler’s habit of arriving late to venues harmed their team bond, revealing they sat down after last year’s heartbreak to discuss how to improve. “We are going to do the same again. There is no you do what I do. Luke says you do what I do. It’s the same scenario as last year. I get to a venue about three and a half hours before I play a game. Luke gets into it about an hour or two before. I said to him last year, you do what you want to do. I’ll come when I want to come. Don’t think you have to come at the same time. We are a team. I think last year a lot was said, and a lot was said that they did not act like a good team. Trust me, me and Luke are good friends. We get on really well. We want to do well.”
With Littler yet to win the World Cup, Humphries is determined to help his teammate add the trophy to his CV. “This year we are probably more determined than ever. Last year it was really tough for us to take. We sat down together and were like, what did we do wrong maybe? We were like, we didn’t do anything wrong personally. We kind of let the occasion get the better of us. We are more determined and focused than ever to do well in the World Cup because Luke is missing it from his CV and he wants it badly. I’ve got it, but I can help him win it.”
The tournament takes place in Frankfurt from 11-14 June 2026, with Northern Ireland as defending champions. Other notable pairings include Dutch Dynamos Gian van Veen and Michael van Gerwen, Cameron Menzies making his debut alongside Gary Anderson for Scotland, and Nick Kenny stepping in for Gerwyn Price, who has decided not to play, to partner Jonny Clayton for Wales.