**Luke Humphries Rebuts Gerwyn Price’s Comments on England’s World Cup Darts Exit**
A lively public back-and-forth has erupted in the darts world, after Luke Humphries robustly rejected Welsh star Gerwyn Price’s claims regarding the England team’s lack of cohesion at the 2025 World Cup of Darts. Price had alleged that Humphries and team-mate Luke Littler appeared disjointed, which he felt contributed to their early exit from the tournament. However, Humphries has firmly defended himself and Littler, insisting Price’s views were unfounded.
England, led by world number one Luke Humphries and rising star Luke Littler, went into this year’s event as both strong favourites and the reigning champions. Humphries had clinched the previous title alongside Michael Smith, raising hopes amongst fans for a repeat performance. Instead, expectations were dashed as England suffered a surprise defeat to Germany, with Ricardo Pietreczko and Martin Schindler claiming an 8-4 victory during England’s first appearance in the tournament.
While English hopes sunk, the Welsh pairing of Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton enjoyed a more impressive run on the same day, dispatching the Philippines 8-2 and maintaining momentum throughout the competition. Their composed and united performances saw Wales move past both Hong Kong and the Netherlands, eventually setting up a nerve-shredding final against Northern Ireland.
That climactic showdown ended in heartbreak for the Welsh, as Daryl Gurney and Josh Rock edged a dramatic 10-9 win to secure Northern Ireland’s inaugural World Cup title. In the aftermath, Price didn’t shy away from offering frank opinions about England’s early demise. According to Price, the visible absence of camaraderie between Humphries and Littler appeared to undermine their team’s prospects.
“You need to have that connection and camaraderie off the stage,” Price commented, referencing the importance of unity. He suggested that Humphries and Littler were the only duo who didn’t arrive or sit together, and implied this lack of teamwork translated into their loss. According to Price, “It’s a team ethic and it didn’t show with England. They’re great players individually but you need to be as a team.”
In response, Humphries set the record straight during the US Masters, responding directly to Price’s assertions. Speaking with Online Darts, Humphries confirmed there was no truth to the accusations of disunity. “There was a lot of talk about me and Luke not being a team, but I can assure you we were,” the 30-year-old stated. Humphries explained that their separate arrival times were purposeful, reflecting their individual preparation routines: “He gets there about two hours before, I get there four hours before. I need more practice, he doesn’t. I told Luke: ‘Just do what you do before, don’t change yourself for me.’”
Humphries was keen to emphasise their positive relationship and team spirit, explaining, “All that stuff about us not being a team was not true. We were well up for playing together, we got along really well. It just didn’t happen and that’s it.” Despite their strong individual pedigrees, the pair simply faltered to better opponents on the day – a reminder perhaps of the unpredictable and high-stakes nature of elite darts.
This exchange has ignited debate amongst fans and commentators alike, with some siding with Price’s traditional view of team unity, while others echo Humphries’ belief in respecting individual preparation methods within a team structure. The comments underline a continuing fascination with the mental and interpersonal dynamics at play in international sports.
The World Cup of Darts, renowned for both its intense competition and drama, delivered on both fronts this year, providing fresh narratives around both victory and defeat. As darts continues its surge in popularity, disagreements such as this highlight the growing scrutiny faced by its top stars, both on and off the oche.
Whatever the final verdict on England’s early World Cup exit, it’s clear that both Humphries and Littler will be eager to return and prove their credentials. Both players remain formidable talents with years ahead of them – their story, it seems, is only just beginning.