Littler's Players Championship hopes dented in Leicester
Luke Littler's hopes of reaching the Players Championship finals took a hit after a quarter-final defeat to Jermaine Wattimena in Leicester.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Luke Littler was defeated by Jermaine Wattimena in the PC27 quarter-finals in Leicester.
- The loss affects the 19-year-old's qualification chances for November's Players Championship finals.
- Littler currently sits 141st and trails 64th place by £22,250 in the Order of Merit.
Luke Littler's ambitions of qualifying for the Players Championship finals this November faced a setback following a quarter-final defeat to Jermaine Wattimena at the PC27 event held in Leicester, England.
Competing in his first Pro Tour event of 2026, the 19-year-old darts player was pushed all the way to a deciding leg. The Dutchman secured a 115 checkout to claim his maiden victory against Littler across six encounters on the PDC tour.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Despite the disappointing result, the teenager maintained an upbeat demeanor, taking to Instagram to share a post with the caption "on the move" after earning £4,000 on Tuesday.
Securing a spot in November's finals in Minehead remains a crucial target for Littler as he pursues a clean sweep of ranking events throughout 2026. Only the top 64 players in the Players Championship standings earn qualification.
Having skipped the opening 26 events of the circuit, Littler currently finds himself down in 141st place in the standings. There are seven Players Championship events remaining for him to break into the top 64, including another fixture at the same venue.
Littler's previous commitment to exclusively compete in UK-based tournaments significantly narrows his remaining opportunities to climb the Order of Merit, leaving him with a very tight margin for error in the upcoming fixtures.
The young star currently trails 64th-placed Mario Vandenbogaerde by £22,250. With a tournament victory yielding £15,000 and a runner-up finish awarding £10,000, every upcoming match will be vital for his qualification campaign.
Source: BBC Sport
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