England’s Luke Humphries and Luke Littler are out of the World Cup of Darts after struggling a shock defeat by hosts Germany within the final 16.
The German pair of Martin Schindler and match debutant Ricardo Pietreczko took benefit of a string of missed doubles and a few sloppy play by the highest two gamers on the planet to win 8-4 in Frankfurt.
Humphries and Littler, who each turned MBEs on Saturday within the King’s Birthday Honours, have been aiming to guide England to a record-extending sixth World Cup crown – with Humphries partnering Michael Smith to victory final 12 months.
However enjoying collectively for the primary time, the match favourites seemed removed from comfy from the beginning as Germany broke throw within the opening leg, cheered on by a vocal residence crowd.
They recovered to degree the match at 2-2 nevertheless it was Germany who rose to the event with some sensible play, successful the following 5 legs to depart them on the point of a well-known victory.
England pulled a few legs again to present them hope however Pietreczko, nicknamed Pikachu, sealed a 62 checkout within the twelfth leg to safe the win.
