Luke Littler and Luke Humphries branded 'rabbits in the headlights' after flop
Luke Littler and Luke Humphries represented England in darts' World Cup but failed to live up to the hype they generated as they got knocked out of the tournament by Germany
Luke Littler and Luke Humphries were 'rabbits in headlights' in their World Cup failure. The world's top two darts stars did not make it out of the last-16 as they fell to Germany in Frankfurt earlier this month.
The pair were favourties to win the competition but could not make it past the first stage, and legendary darts referee Russ Bray reckons the expectation of the occasion caught both out. England were the defending champions after Humphries and Michael Smith earned victory in 2024.
But a Northern Ireland team comprised of Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney defeated Wales' Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton in the final to earn the 2025 title. The victors entered the tournament as the fourth seed to claim an upset win.
Bray believes that England's pair felt the burden of being the competition's top seeds and top-ranked players. Ultimately the pressure told.
He said: 'With the two Lukes they looked like rabbits in headlights. They just couldn't get their game going at all.
'They were under a lot of pressure I think because of the hype, and you know world number one and two. People were saying they were going to win and nobody will touch them. I just thought that caught up with them a little bit.'
Bray believes that England's duo, who were branded not a team by outspoken star Price, are individual players. The official believes Littler and Humphries struggled to find their rhythm due to the format.
"And they are both very much individual players. I know dart players are," Bray said.
'It's very much different being an individual and going out on your own than it is playing as a team. You've got a different mindset.'
"The two Lukes are also very much rhythm players," he added. "They're out of rhythm because they are not following the next player.
'They throw their three darts, and they have to wait for another six before they get back on again. There are lots of things involved.'
Bray was never convinced England would take home the title but was surprised to see Northern Ireland emerge victorious. The referee expected Wales or Scotland's representatives to do the job.
But Rock and Gurney through an 11-dart leg to seal a 10-9 win in the deciding moment against Wales.
He said: 'If I'm being honest, I didn't expect the Irish boys to win it [Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney] — but I also didn't expect England to either.
'I thought Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton would be the ones to win it — alongside Scotland, would you believe, who got absolutely blasted out of sight.'
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