Teenage darts sensation Luke Littler, the 2025 PDC World Champion, faced sharp criticism from Michael Smith, who claimed Littler’s “ego” contributed to England’s shock exit at the 2025 World Cup of Darts. Gerwyn Price echoed Smith’s sentiments, aligning with the critique of the 18-year-old’s mindset. The comments, made in August 2025, highlight tensions within the darts community as Littler’s meteoric rise continues to draw scrutiny (web:7, post:0, post:1).
Smith’s Critique and Price’s Support
Smith, the 2023 world champion, pointed to Littler and Luke Humphries’ egos as the reason for England’s 8-4 loss to Germany’s Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko in the last 16 of the World Cup in Frankfurt. “They were trying to compete against each other instead of with each other,” Smith told dartsnews.com, contrasting his own approach in 2024 when he prioritized teamwork with Humphries to end England’s eight-year title drought (web:7). Price, a former world champion, backed Smith’s view, stating on Instagram, “Spot on, too much showboating cost them” (@gerwynprice, August 19, 2025). The Welshman’s agreement underscores a perceived lack of unity in Littler’s partnership with Humphries, the world No. 1 (post:2).
Littler’s Response and Context
Littler, nicknamed “The Nuke,” hit back, dismissing the ego claims. “I didn’t have an ego going on stage. I was world No. 2, and it was me and Luke versus everyone else,” he told Oche180, emphasizing his focus on the team (web:7). Despite the criticism, Littler’s 2025 season has been historic, with six Premier League nightly wins, a televised nine-darter against Michael van Gerwen, and titles at the UK Open and World Matchplay (web:6). However, his World Cup performance, averaging 92.3 compared to Humphries’ 95.1, was below par, with key missed doubles costing England (web:13). Social media reactions were mixed, with one fan noting, “Smith’s got a point, but Littler’s still a kid learning” (@DartsLad, August 19, 2025) (post:3).
Broader Implications
The criticism reflects the pressure on Littler, akin to young athletes like Coco Gauff navigating tennis scrutiny. Smith and Price, both seasoned pros, highlight the balance between individual brilliance and team dynamics, a lesson Littler may need to heed in future team events. Price’s own history with Littler, holding a 7-6 head-to-head edge, adds context to his remarks, though he’s praised Littler’s impact on darts’ popularity (web:4, web:8). As Littler prepares for the 2025 Grand Slam of Darts, his ability to channel criticism into performance will be key. With a favorable US Open draw ahead for Gauff, Littler’s darts journey mirrors her resilience under pressure, but the “ego” narrative may linger.
