England Will Rely on the Two Lukes in Darts World Cup
The David vs. Goliath-style World Cup of Darts begins in mid-June. Can the English dream team be slain? Here are a few things fans and punters should know.
Luke Littler and Luke Humphries appear to be the World Cup of Darts’ dream team. © PDC
Key Facts:
- Forty-two-man teams will contest the 2025 World Cup of Darts.
- England will rely on the ‘dream team’ of Luke Humphries and Luke Littler.
- Chinese Taipei caused a significant shock in last year’s event.
- Sky Sports will broadcast the £450,000 competition live.
The 15th edition of the PDC World Cup of Darts will take place from June 12–15, 2025, at the Eissporthalle Arena in Frankfurt, Germany. The tournament, which features 40 two-man teams, is a real fan favourite courtesy of the prospect of David vs. Goliath-style upsets.
Raymond van Barneveld and Co Stompé, representing the Netherlands, took the first edition of this Sky Sports televised event in 2010. The Dutch have won the event three more times since. However, 2018 was the last time they raised the trophy.
England was the most successful nation in World Cup of Darts history, with five victories. Before Luke Humphries and Michael Smith took the title 12 months ago, England had endured a barren spell that stretched back to 2016 when the legendary Phil Taylor and Adrian Lewis combined to take the title.
Can Darts Two Luke Dream Team Be Beaten?
In 2025, England will be represented by an equally dynamic duo: World’s No. 1 Luke Humphries and No. 2 Luke Littler. The prospect of this pair – who contested the 2024 World Championship and 2024/25 Premier League finals – working together instead of facing off appears an irresistible force.
Online sports betting sites will make England the clear betting favourite for this £450,000 competition. England has had strong pairings before but has reached the finals only twice during the past eight years.
ENGLAND WIN WORLD CUP OF DARTS 🏴
Michael Smith wins it for England, ending an eight-year drought 🏆 pic.twitter.com/2Opgp6FhXf
— Sky Sports Darts (@SkySportsDarts) June 30, 2024
In making the final in 2021 and 2024, Austria has recently been a surprise package. The other shock results were Australia winning the event in 2022 and Ireland reaching the final in 2019.
World Cup of Darts Format Is Fit for a Surprise
The World Cup of Darts is sponsored by the BetVictor online gambling site. While being keen to promote markets on outcomes – such as individual countries winning their group or reaching the final – the odds compilers at its sportsbook will be wary of the perils of bookmaking on the competition.
The format for the event sees the top four seeded nations – based on combined Order of Merit rankings – parachuted directly into the second round. That advantage goes to England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland this year.
Under the same criteria, those teams positioned amongst the next twelve nations will be rewarded with a seeded place in the group stages. Each of the 12 groups consists of three countries that will play each other once, with the winner (who needs to win both games) progressing to round two.
Japan, Finland, Hong Kong, and Switzerland are among the little-known darting nations hoping to progress. Last year, Chinese Taipei caused a huge shock when progressing from their group ahead of Ireland and Lithuania.
Who Is Playing and What Are the Prizes?
Beyond Englishmen Luke Littler and Luke Humphries (England), the top four nations will be represented by Jonny Clayton and Gerwyn Price (Wales), Peter Wright and Gary Anderson (Scotland), Josh Rock and Daryl Gurney (Northern Ireland).
The winning nation will receive £80,000, and the runners-up will earn £50,000. There is £30,000 for semi-finalists, £20,000 for quarter-finalists, and a last 16 place is rewarded with a £9,000 pay-cheque. Next year the rewards will be even bigger courtesy of a prize money hike.
The event will be televised live on Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland. International viewers can tune into DAZN, Viaplay, and PDCTV.
