Littler denied tournament spot because of traffic

Due to heavy traffic, World Champion Luke Littler arrived late for Wednesday’s Players Championship 33 event in Wigan.

The 18-year-old was scheduled to compete at Robin Park Leisure Centre’s penultimate Players Championship event in 2025.

However, he had to leave because he missed the players’ registration deadline of 11 a.m.

He wrote, “Back to bed, that’s it.”

Charlie Manby, a fellow Englishman, was chosen to take Littler’s place, who is ranked 174th in the PDC’s merit order.

The Players Championship finals, which will take place in Minehead, Somerset, on November 21 through November 23, are open to the top 64 players.

At event 32 this month, Littler, who finished second in the 2024 finals, claimed his first Players Championship event victory to advance to the finals.

Due to a family holiday, three-time world champion and third-place player Michael van Gerwen will not be present at this week’s events.