European Championship Round-Up: Luke Humphries Survives Menzies Scare; Luke Littler Dumped Out by Brilliant James Wade.

European Championship Round-Up: Luke Humphries Survives Menzies Scare; Luke Littler Dumped Out by Brilliant James Wade.

 

The 2025 European Championship in Dortmund witnessed dramatic moments, with world number one Luke Humphries narrowly escaping a defeat against Cameron Menzies and 18-year-old sensation Luke Littler’s bid for the top spot in darts halted by a seasoned James Wade.

Luke Humphries Edges Past Cameron Menzies in Thrilling Decider

Luke Humphries, the reigning world champion and current world number one, faced a formidable challenge from Scotland’s Cameron Menzies. The match culminated in a tense 10–9 victory for Humphries, who clinched the win with a composed 14-dart leg in the final decider.

Menzies, displaying exceptional form, surged to an 8–5 lead, showcasing finishes of 113, 70, and a remarkable 11-darter. However, Humphries demonstrated resilience, leveling the match at 8–8 and securing the crucial final leg to advance to the quarter-finals.

James Wade Stuns Luke Littler, Shattering World No.1 Aspirations

In a significant upset, veteran James Wade defeated Luke Littler 10–7 in the last 16, ending the teenager’s hopes of ascending to world number one. Littler, who needed to reach at least the semi-finals and for Humphries to exit early, was outplayed by Wade’s clinical finishing and composure under pressure

Wade capitalized on Littler’s missed doubles, particularly in the latter stages, to secure the win with a decisive 108 checkout. This victory marked Wade’s first televised win over Littler, who had previously defeated him in all four prior encounters .

Quarter-Final Line-Up

The quarter-final matchups are set, featuring a mix of seasoned champions and emerging talents:

Luke Humphries vs. James Wade

Michael van Gerwen vs. Gian van Veen

Danny Noppert vs. Ricardo Pietreczko

Ryan Joyce vs. Daryl Gurney

These encounters promise high-stakes action as players vie for a spot in the semi-finals.

The European Championship continues to deliver compelling narratives, with Humphries aiming to defend his top ranking and Wade seeking to add another major title to his illustrious career. Littler, despite the setback, remains a formidable force in the darts world, with future opportunities to challenge for the world number one position.