Luke Littler, the 18-year-old PDC World Champion, has been cautioned by 2022 World Cup of Darts winner Simon Whitlock about the 2025 BetVictor World Cup of Darts, starting June 12 in Frankfurt, which he says “levels people out” due to its pairs-only format, per The Mirror. As Littler prepares for his debut alongside world No. 1 Luke Humphries for England on June 14, Whitlock highlighted the tournament’s distinct challenge, stating, “It’s pairs… You’re not just playing for yourself, you’re playing for your partner and your country, which makes it unique,” during the MODUS Super Series launch on Pluto TV, per Manchester Evening News.
The World Cup, the only PDC event solely featuring doubles, demands teamwork, potentially neutralizing Littler’s individual scoring prowess. Whitlock, who defeated England’s Michael Smith and James Wade in 2022, noted, “There’s only one tournament in the PDC calendar [that’s pairs], and it’s great… I believe they should play more pairs tournaments,” per Express. Despite praising Littler as “an absolute freak of darts” who “deserves all his wins,” Whitlock warned that the format could test the duo’s synergy, per The Mirror.
Littler, who missed the 2024 event due to a lower ranking, is eager, saying, “I cannot wait… now, with major ranking money, it’s a different story,” per Manchester Evening News. Humphries plans to let Littler throw first, noting, “He’s the best scorer in the world,” per Express. However, Ireland’s William O’Connor suggested potential “egos” could disrupt them, per SPORTbible. As top-seeded England enter the last 16, Littler must adapt to this leveling format to secure a title, per Sky Sports.
