LUKE LITTLER is at risk of falling out of the Players Championship top 64 and missing the finals event later this year.
Despite being the PDC world No2, Littler has withdrawn from several Players Championships tournaments – which uses a separate ranking system.
Luke Littler has withdrawn from another Players Championship eventLewis Storey/Getty Images
PAIt leaves him at risk of missing out on the final cut to rival Luke Humphries[/caption]
In the Players Championship standings, ‘Nuke’, 18, is currently within £1,000 of the 64-place cut-off to qualify for the November finals.
Littler is one of several throwers to step back from the Players Championship 28 in Leicester on Tuesday with James Wade also dropping out.
There is £15,000 prize money at stake that would have strengthened Littler’s position significantly if he had played and won.
The teenager is not at risk of missing the December grand finale at Alexandra Palace and is behind only Luke Humphries in the PDC Order of Merit.
However, the midweek and untelevised Players Championship events are run differently and Littler has left himself exposed to Humphries chasing him down.
The beaten 2025 World Championship finalist is already out of the top 64 himself and is looking to close the gap.
Humphries entered the Players Championship 28 event alongside Michael van Gerwen and Gerwyn Price.
Littler was pipped to the title last year by Humphries in a precursor for their showdown at Ally Pally.
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Humphries won 11-7 on the night at Minehead and pocketed £600,000 for the win.
Littler has previously spoken of the toll that too many tournaments in the darts calendar takes.
He admitted: “It’s tough, especially when these players go over to the likes of Riesa, you’ve got to get trains, you’ve got to get direct flights, connecting flights, and then you’re back home.”
He has supported Humphries on the matter after his fellow Englishman spoke out around the schedule and agreed with the assessment that there is “too much darts.”
Littler also pulled out of the Players Championship 25 in Milton Keynes last month.
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