In a shocking turn of events at the 2025 BetVictor World Cup of Darts in Frankfurt, Germany’s Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko delivered a sensational 8-4 victory over England’s dream team of Luke Littler and Luke Humphries in the second round on June 14, eliminating the reigning champions, per Sky Sports. The English duo, ranked world No. 1 and No. 2, entered as overwhelming favorites but faced a hostile home crowd at the Eissporthalle, booing them during their walk-on to ‘Vindaloo’ by Fat Les, per The Independent. Despite the jeers, Humphries laughed off the reception, while Littler remained stoic, signing autographs before the match, per @OfficialPDC.
Germany seized control early, leading 5-2 at the interval with inspired play, as Schindler and Pietreczko capitalized on England’s uncharacteristic errors, per @SkySportsDarts. The hosts extended their lead to 7-2 with five consecutive legs, leaving Littler and Humphries reeling, per @OfficialPDC. England mounted a brief comeback, winning back-to-back legs to narrow the gap to 7-4, but Germany’s relentless precision sealed the 8-4 triumph, sparking wild celebrations among the Frankfurt crowd, per @OfficialPDC. Posts on X, like @OfficialPDC’s “GERMANY STUN ENGLAND 🤯🇩🇪,” captured the magnitude of the upset, per @OfficialPDC.
Littler, making his World Cup debut, struggled to find his rhythm, a challenge compounded by his past difficulties in Germany, including boos in Hildesheim and Munich in 2024, per Runcorn and Widnes World. Humphries, who won the title with Michael Smith in 2024, had vowed to support Littler against the hostile crowd, but their doubles chemistry faltered, per GB News. Germany’s Schindler later told Sky Sports, “Littler and Humphries are very strong, but they are not unbeatable,” a sentiment echoed by their dominant performance, per Sky Sports. As England crashed out, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland advanced, with the tournament poised for a thrilling finale on June 15, per Daily Record.
