LITTLER AND HUMPHRIES SILENCE DOUBTERS TO FIRE ENGLAND TO WORLD CUP GLORY

LUKE HUMPHRIES and Luke Littler silenced their doubters by storming to World Cup of Darts glory with a dominant victory over the Netherlands.

The star-studded pairing banished the ghosts of their shock second-round exit to Germany 12 months ago by producing a sensational display in Frankfurt.

World No.1 Littler and former world champion Humphries led England to a record-extending SIXTH title and the £100,000 winners’ cheque.

The pair wrapped up a commanding 10-5 win over Michael van Gerwen and Gian van Veen in the final, ending the tournament with a stunning 104.77 team average.

Humphries hailed the performance and revealed the criticism surrounding England’s partnership had only fuelled their determination.

He said: “Michael van Gerwen was unbelievable today. He’s back and he’s playing unbelievable darts.

“We knew we had to take those chances. If you give this Dutch team a little bit of hope, they’ll take it away from you.

“We played in that game how I think everyone expected us to play in every game.

“We were maybe a bit fortunate against Wales, but we ran with the luck that we got in that game and showed how well we could play as a team.

“We had a lot of doubters. People who didn’t think we could play well as a team, and could only do solo, so I’m proud of us together.

“We worked hard and we won together.

“We were just discussing there Adrian Lewis and Phil Taylor won four, we want to win five.

“So we will hopefully over the next few years try and win as many as they did.”

Teenage sensation Littler was equally delighted after England saved their best performance for the event showpiece.

He said: “I’m absolutely delighted. That’s the best we’ve played all tournament.

“That’s what we needed to be doing.

“We’ve had tough challenges over the past two days, and this was our best performance because we needed to put it in.

“We got the job done. Delighted.”

England led 3-2 in a blistering start to the final, with every leg completed in 15 darts or fewer.

The lethal Lukes were averaging north of 110 as they raced into a commanding 5-2 lead and immediately put the Dutch under pressure.

They stretched their advantage to 7-3, producing just four trebleless visits throughout the match compared to 12 from the Netherlands, highlighting their relentless scoring power.

Van Gerwen and Van Veen threatened briefly, but England remained firmly in control throughout.

Humphries eventually sealed the title by taking out 41 on double eight, sparking jubilant celebrations as England reclaimed the crown in emphatic fashion.

Earlier in the tournament, England had thrashed Scotland 8-3 in the semi-finals after surviving a dramatic 8-7 quarter-final against Wales.