Luke Littler and Luke Humphries set to skip Another tournament after struggling at World Cup of Darts
England’s top darts duo, Luke Littler and Luke Humphries, suffered a stunning 8-4 defeat to Germany’s Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko in the second round of the 2025 BetVictor World Cup of Darts in Frankfurt on June 14. The world No. 2 and No. 1, favored at 2/5 odds, struggled with a 36% checkout rate and failed to find their rhythm, prompting both to withdraw from the Players Championship triple header in Leicester, scheduled for June 17–19, 2025.
Impact of the World Cup Loss
The unexpected exit, England’s earliest since 2010, appeared to weigh heavily on Littler and Humphries. Littler, in his World Cup debut at 18, missed key doubles, while Humphries’ errant 122 checkout attempt fueled Germany’s 5-2 lead, per Sky Sports. Gerwyn Price criticized their lack of “team ethic,” noting they didn’t practice or arrive together, per The Mirror. Their absence from Leicester suggests a need to regroup before the World Matchplay (July 19–27), per PDC.
High-Profile Withdrawals
The Leicester events, offering £125,000 per tournament with £15,000 for each winner, face a significant void with Littler, Humphries, and world No. 3 Michael van Gerwen absent. Van Gerwen, sidelined since May 22, 2025, after the Premier League finals, continues his break amid divorce proceedings with Daphne Govers, announced May 24, per Daily Mail. Other notable withdrawals include Rob Cross, Michele Turetta, Jules van Dongen, and Tim Wolters, opening spots for Challenge Tour players like Darius Labanauskas, Stefan Bellmont, Ted Evetts, Mervyn King, Jack Tweddell, Carl Sneyd, and Danny van Trijp, per PDC.
Strong Field Despite Absences
The triple header still boasts stars like Gary Anderson, Nathan Aspinall, Stephen Bunting, Dave Chisnall, Jonny Clayton, Gerwyn Price, James Wade, and Peter Wright. Northern Ireland’s Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney, fresh off their World Cup triumph, add firepower, while Dimitri van den Bergh marks his return after an April break, per BBC. The events remain a key opportunity for ranking points and prize money ahead of summer majors.
Looking Ahead
Littler and Humphries’ Leicester absence, while notable, aligns with Littler’s past hints at skipping certain events due to hostile crowds, though no German tournaments are scheduled soon, per Express. Their focus likely shifts to Blackpool’s World Matchplay, where Humphries defends his title. The Leicester
