Michael van Gerwen was on the receiving end of a 10‑5 defeat as England's Luke Littler and Luke Humphries lifted the World Cup of Darts trophy on 14 June 2026. The Dutch duo, seeded third, fell short against the top‑seeded English pair, who posted a record‑breaking 104.7 average in the final.

What happened in the final?

The match opened with both sides trading legs, but Van Gerwen missed two tops early, allowing Littler to break and take a 3‑2 lead. England surged in the second session, averaging over 110 and converting four of five doubles to stretch the gap to 5‑2. Van Veen kept the Netherlands alive with a series of maximums, but a missed double by Van Gerwen at 13‑14 handed England the win.

How did England dominate?

England's 104.7 average set a new benchmark for a World Cup final, reflecting a level of consistency rarely seen on the sport’s biggest stage. Humphries hit a decisive double 8 to seal the title, while Littler’s precision on the treble 20s kept the pressure on the Dutch pair. Their partnership, now in its second year, showed why they are the tournament’s most feared duo.

What does the loss mean for Michael van Gerwen?

The defeat drops the Netherlands to second place and leaves Van Gerwen with a £48,000 share, half of the English winners’ £100,000 prize. It also marks the first time the top two seeds have met in a World Cup final since 2020, underscoring the high stakes of the encounter. Van Gerwen’s missed double at a crucial moment highlights the fine margins that separate victory from defeat at this level.

What’s next for the champions?

Littler and Humphries now eye the European Championships, the only major missing from their CV. Their clean‑sweep ambition remains alive, and the pair will likely carry the momentum from this historic win into the upcoming season. For Van Gerwen, the focus shifts to regrouping for the next major event, where a swift bounce‑back will be essential to maintain his world‑number‑one status.

How did the tournament unfold?

England blazed a trail to the final with an 8‑3 demolition of Scotland’s Gary Anderson and Cameron Menzies. The Dutch side, meanwhile, navigated a tougher route, overcoming Germany’s Ricardo Pietreczko and Martin Schindler in the previous year’s upset. This year’s final, however, belonged to the English pair, who delivered the most dominant performance of the tournament when it mattered most.