England won the World Cup of Darts for a record-extending sixth time as Luke Littler and Luke Humphries overcame the Netherlands 10-5 in Frankfurt. The top seeds defeated Wales and Scotland earlier on Sunday to set up a tantalising best-of-19-legs final against second seeds Michael van Gerwen and Gian van Veen.
Littler and Humphries' shock second-round exit to hosts Germany last year cast doubt over the partnership, but they averaged more than 104 to overpower the Dutch. "I'm absolutely delighted - that's the best we have played all tournament," Littler told Sky Sports. "That's what we needed to do. We can't do it every game, it's hard. There have been challenges but we got the job done."
The world's top four players produced a tight contest early on that stayed with throw until Littler found double 10 to break just before the first interval. England held after the break before Humphries took out 87 to break once more and establish a three-leg lead. From that point on the Premier League champion and runner-up did not look like surrendering their lead - Littler hit tops to extend the advantage to 6-2 as England's average crept up to 114, though Van Veen hit back with a timely maximum as the Dutch held with a 14-dart leg.
Humphries recovered from a slight wobble - his failed set-up left Littler needing and missing a bullseye to break - to hit double four to put the duo 7-3 up going into the second break. The Dutch were handed a lifeline when Littler failed to take out 78, affording Van Veen a 64 checkout to cut the deficit before Van Gerwen showed similar composure to stick with throw. But they knew the game was up when after hitting a remarkable 174, Van Gerwen bust on an attempted eight checkout and England broke. That led to England needing 41 to win, and Humphries secured the world title - his second and the first of Littler's career - with nine, 16 and double eight.
"Michael [van Gerwen] was unbelievable tonight - he is back and playing unbelievable darts," Humphries told Sky Sports. "We knew we needed to take our chances. You give Holland any hope and they'll take it away from you." After suffering a shock second-round defeat at last year's World Cup, it looked like England were heading for another early exit. Littler and Humphries found themselves 0-4 down to Wales in their quarter-final earlier on Sunday, and still trailed 2-5 at the break. England flew out of the traps in the second session, with Humphries wiping out the deficit before Littler pinned double tops as the pair went ahead for the first time. Wales' Nick Kenny forced a deciding leg after Littler reeled in the big fish, but missed 84 to snatch victory as Littler found double two to win.
