Luke Littler unleashed a ferocious celebration and headbutted a wall when England mounted a massive comeback to beat Wales in the World Cup of Darts. The young world champion, 18, and Luke Humphries produced a stirring comeback in a thrilling final-leg decider against Wales to book their place in the semi-finals of the 2026 BetVictor World Cup of Darts.
Dramatic Quarter-Final Victory
Questions had surrounded the superstar pairing of Littler and Humphries following their early exit at the hands of Germany during last year's team event in Frankfurt. The teenage superstar was clearly emotional after sealing the victory against Jonny Clayton and Nick Kenny representing Wales. They had raced into a 4-0 lead and were 5-2 ahead at the break, however, England ran amok following the resumption, with Warrington thrower Littler checking out 170, en route to a hard-fought 8-7 success.
Match Highlights
Clayton broke in the opening leg and consolidated in the next with double 16 before Kenny checked out 72 and showed his composure to step back and finish 17 for a 4-0 lead. Humphries got England on the board in the next before Littler broke with an 84 finish on the bull, but Wales immediately hit back to reach the interval with a three-leg advantage.
England flew out of the traps in the second session, with Reading's Humphries wiping out the deficit before Littler pinned double tops as the heavyweight pairing led for the first time in the match. Wales levelled but Littler reeled in the big fish, to the delight of the Frankfurt crowd, to nudge England back ahead. Kenny forced a deciding leg, but missed 84 to snatch victory as Littler found double two to set up a titanic contest against Scotland.
Scotland Also Advance
Scotland continued their rich vein of form to see off the Republic of Ireland 8-5 in their last-eight clash. Gary Anderson and Cameron Menzies, who whitewashed Norway in the last 16, extended their flawless start to the competition to 11 legs on Sunday afternoon. Menzies, making his debut in the tournament, calmly checked out 82 before Anderson followed with a 120 finish as they raced 3-0 ahead.
William O'Connor had the honour of taking the first leg off the Scots when he pinned double 12, but his opponents moved 5-2 ahead at the interval. O'Connor returned to check out 110 and double 20 to cut the gap to one before Anderson crucially took out double five in scrappy 10th leg. Ireland halved the deficit before Menzies claimed the next two legs to seal victory.
