Luke Littler has pulled out of two Players Championship events in the Netherlands, effectively ending his hopes of qualifying for November’s finals in Minehead after a quarter-final exit at the World Series of Darts Finals. The 19-year-old world No 1 was beaten 10-4 by Jonny Clayton on Sunday, ending a run of winning the first six premier events of the season. Littler was scheduled to play at Players Championship 29 and 30 in Den Bosch on Tuesday and Wednesday, but has withdrawn from both.
The decision leaves him 125th on the Order of Merit in the Players Championship circuit, £16,750 behind the final qualification spot, and means he is now two events removed from the chance to move up the standings.
How the Defeat Changed Everything
Littler’s run of six consecutive PDC major titles was broken in Amsterdam, where Clayton defeated him in the quarter-finals by a 10-4 scoreline. The teenager’s clean sweep of the season’s premier events ended there.
His withdrawal from the two Dutch events follows a threat to boycott tournaments in the country after crowd abuse. Littler was booed and whistled throughout his first-round match against home favourite Danny Noppert at the World Series of Darts Finals.
“The Nuke” told Online Darts about his stance after the match. “With the Germans, I haven’t been for a long time,” he said. “We will have to see in Dortmund whether it changes or stays the same. If the Dutch stay like this, then I’m not going to do any Euro Tours over there.
“There’s just no point in me travelling, wasting my time while I’m getting booed. I just want to play my darts, obviously sign autographs. The past two nights, I’ve done nothing. I’ve just walked off stage without thanking anybody. There’s no point thanking everyone when they are booing me.”
The Order of Merit Situation
Littler’s position on the Order of Merit is now 125th, £16,750 behind the final qualification spot. That gap makes qualification for November’s finals in Minehead extremely unlikely.
The top 64 players on the Order of Merit qualify for the PDC Finals. Littler has dropped far enough that his own decision has reduced his chances of reaching that mark.
The withdrawal from Players Championship 29 and 30 removes two chances to earn points. Littler’s chances of reaching the top 64 have been reduced by his own decision.
Littler’s History With Dutch and German Fans
Littler’s decision to withdraw was not made in a vacuum. The teenager has already threatened to boycott tournaments in the Netherlands after crowd abuse, and he now says he will not attend Euro Tours in the country.
He has also said he will take the same stance toward Germany as he does toward the Netherlands. “We will have to see in Dortmund whether it changes or stays the same,” he told Online Darts.
The pattern is clear: when fans behave badly, Littler’s response is to stay away. He is not willing to play in a hostile environment, even when the crowd is supposed to be cheering him.
Sunday’s Match That Changed Everything
The Sunday defeat ended Littler’s dream of a clean sweep of the season’s premier events. He had won the first six in a row before Clayton ended his run.
Littler’s withdrawal from the two Dutch events in Den Bosch follows his loss. He has chosen to withdraw, and that decision has come at a cost to his qualification hopes.
The decision is a blow to his chances of qualifying for November’s finals in Minehead. It also means the teenager will miss out on the chance to play in the Netherlands, a country where he has threatened to boycott.
What Happens Next
Littler’s withdrawal from Players Championships 29 and 30 means his chances of making the top 64 are slim with Littler now 125th on the Order of Merit and £16,750 behind the final qualification spot.
The remaining schedule is tight, and every tournament counts for qualification. The PDC Finals in Minehead are set for November, and Littler’s path there has narrowed considerably.
The teenager has a long way to go to reach the top 64 places, and his own decision has made that road even longer. November’s finals in Minehead are now in doubt, and the next few months will tell whether Littler can recover from this setback.
Littler’s decision to withdraw is a statement. He is telling the PDC and the crowd that abuse will not be tolerated. He has chosen his path, and it has come at a cost.
For now, the 19-year-old world No 1 has pulled out of the Netherlands, and his clean sweep hopes are over.
| Event | Location | Status |
|---|---|---|
| World Series of Darts Finals | Amsterdam | Defeated by Jonny Clayton |
| Players Championship 29 | Den Bosch | Withdrawn |
| Players Championship 30 | Den Bosch | Withdrawn |
| PDC Finals | Minehead | To be confirmed |
| Position | Gap to qualification | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 125th | £16,750 behind final spot | Withdrawn from two events |
See the video the story is built around at Sky Sports.
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