‘He didn't enjoy it' – Luke Humphries doesn't know if Luke Littler will return to Germany after World Cup of Darts abuse
The Nuke and Cool Hand suffered a disastrous last 16 exit from the tournament earlier this month, despite the pair - ranked as the top two in the world - being heavy favourites.
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The English duo were defeated by the German team of Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko in their first match at the World Cup hosted by Germany.
That led to them being called out for "letting their country down" by darts icon Dennis Priestley, who suggested they did not deserve their MBE honours awarded just before the tournament began.
Meanwhile, Welsh rival Gerwyn Price questioned England 's team spirit.
And speaking to Online Darts, World No1 Humphries has now lifted the lid on the fallout behind the scenes and revealed his team-mate's feelings on the tournament.
The 30-year-old said: "I knew when we lost it was going to be big news, but people forget — we never once said we were going to win it with ease. That was everyone else.
"It was gutting to see so many English fans happy to see us lose. The Germans would never do that to their players. It was incredibly tough, especially for Luke.
"I could tell by his face he didn't enjoy it. I kind of relished it, but he's still young to that. It seems to have carried on more than I expected.
"There was a lot of talk about us not being a team. But from the horse's mouth — we were a team.
"We didn't arrive at the same time because I told Luke, 'Do your own thing.' I get there four hours before, he gets there two. I need more practice, he doesn't.
"We sat right next to each other at the table — me, my manager, my girlfriend. He sat right beside me.
Gerwyn Price runs rule over Luke Littler and Luke Humphries' England's World Cup of Darts flop
"So that stuff about not being a team was not true. We get along really well. It just didn't happen for us."
Humphries was then asked whether he would be teaming up with Littler, 18, to have another go next year, but explained it was a decision only the world champion could make.
He continued: "You'd have to ask him. I think it's so prestigious that he will. Whether he goes back for Euro Tours? That's not for me to answer.
"I'm sure he'll answer that for you, but that wasn't a nice environment for him. I don't think he enjoyed it.
"He deserves some slack — he's done nothing wrong. He's a great pioneer for the sport. We should celebrate him, not whistle at him."
But after a break away from the oche, both returned for the US Darts Masters in Madison Square Garden, New York.
On his break, Humphries added: "Yeah, I feel good. It was a good time in Benidorm — great fun. I didn't even think about darts once, to be honest.
"It was great to just get away, enjoy myself, and not have to worry about the constant stress of darts."
Humphries got back to winning ways across the pond with emphatic wins over Stowe Buntz, Danny Lauby, Price and a tough match against Nathan Aspinall, who beat Littler en route to the final.
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