Luke Humphries says the pressure of expectation made England’s 2026 World Cup of Darts triumph alongside Luke Littler feel different — and more special — than his first title. Humphries had won the event in 2024 with Michael Smith, but a difficult 2025 saw he and Littler exit early to Germany in the second round when they first paired up.
Seeded again in 2026 as the world’s two top players, Humphries and Littler faced several scares en route to the trophy. They survived a testing match with Spain and staged a dramatic comeback in the quarter-finals after falling 4-0 behind Wales. From there their performances stepped up: the pair averaged almost 105 together, hit 15 maximums across the night and closed out a commanding 10-5 final win over the Netherlands’ Michael van Gerwen and Gian van Veen.
Humphries said that while a first win is always memorable, this victory carried different weight because of the constant expectation on them. He explained that everyone expects England’s top duo to deliver, and that pressure can be “so hard on your shoulders.” That made prevailing this year — when it finally all came together — particularly satisfying.
He also reflected on the partnership with Littler, dismissing suggestions that rivalry between the two top players would hinder their teamwork. Humphries stressed they are good friends off the oche, that they’ve learned to put individual competition aside for the team and that he’s proud of what they achieved together. Looking ahead, he referenced the England pair of Adrian Lewis and Phil Taylor — who won four World Cups — and said he and Littler want to aim even higher, hoping to win multiple titles together if the partnership continues.
Sky Sports pundit Wayne Mardle suggested the two Lukes versus the Dutch duo could develop into a modern World Cup rivalry akin to past great matchups, praising the quality and excitement of the final. Michael van Gerwen, who admitted he was playing well, paid tribute to England’s performance too, saying they produced fantastic darts when it mattered and that the English players had gained confidence during their route to the final.
Humphries summed up their run by acknowledging a bit of fortune at times — notably against Wales — but saying they took their chances and proved critics who doubted their ability to succeed as a pair wrong. “We worked hard and we won together,” he said, underlining that the title was a team effort built on form, resilience and handling the weight of expectation.