Luke Littler and Luke Humphries powered England to their sixth BetVictor World Cup of Darts title on Sunday, delivering a masterclass performance to defeat the Netherlands 10-5 in Frankfurt. The formidable English pairing, who had faced scrutiny following a surprising last-16 exit in the team event just 12 months prior, emphatically banished any doubts, living up to their billing as heavy favourites to lift the trophy.
After an initial exchange of blows between the top-seeded nations, England seized control. They reeled off five consecutive legs either side of the first interval, establishing a commanding 6-2 lead from which they never looked back. The English duo maintained total control throughout the contest, holding their throw with ease and showcasing exceptional consistency.
Humphries ultimately sealed the emphatic victory in style, pinning double 20 with a 12-darter, sparking joyous celebrations from Littler, who claimed his maiden World Cup success. England saved their finest performance of the week for the final, boasting an impressive pair’s average of 104.77 and each player rattling off four maximums in the showpiece event. In contrast, the Dutch managed only 10 attempts at doubles throughout the contest, despite Michael van Gerwen’s bright start with a 113 checkout.
The English pair quickly levelled after Van Gerwen's strong start before Littler secured the first break with a crucial double 10 to take a lead into the interval. Humphries then extended the advantage, finishing 84 for a 4-2 lead before adding a second successive break with an 87 checkout. Littler then checked 48 to complete the five-leg surge that put England firmly in command.
Van Gerwen briefly stemmed the tide for the Netherlands with a double 18, and the two sides traded the next four legs on throw. A tense 14th leg saw Gian van Veen miss a golden opportunity for a Dutch break, followed by Littler missing three darts. Van Gerwen then bust on double four, hitting double 18, before Humphries eventually found double tops to secure a 9-5 lead. Littler opened the 15th leg with a maximum 180, and Humphries closed out the emphatic victory with a 41 checkout on his second match dart. Littler, who averaged 108.22 in the final, has now won each of the PDC’s four televised events, while Humphries lifts the World Cup for the second time, having previously won with Michael Smith in 2024.