Luke Littler skipping event and makes cheeky joke after finding out where it is

Scottish Sun

28-07-2025

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LUKE LITTLER plans to take a short break from darts and is not tempted to make a trip into enemy territory this week.
The Nuke won the £200,000 World Matchplay in Blackpool on Sunday night and then marked the occasion by playing his Xbox computer until '3am or 4am'.
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Luke Littler celebrated his World Matchplay victory on Sunday night with girlfriend Faith
Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
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The Nuke cut a nonchalant figure when he hit a nine-darter in the World Matchplay semi-finals against Josh Rock.
Credit: Getty
The arrows will be left in his case now as he intends to 'chill out' at home in Warrington following his fifth major TV success in 15 months.
As he pointedly said: 'I can't wait to go home and back to normal reality.'
It is a richly-deserved week off after managing to add another trophy to his superb CV.
He celebrated lifting the Phil Taylor Trophy for the first time by posing for photos on stage with his parents, girlfriend Faith and management.
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People probably underestimate the mammoth effort it takes to win a darts major these days.
Especially in hot and sweaty conditions at the historic Winter Gardens venue and given it was only his second tournament appearance.
Given the physical and mental effort required, it is why he normally takes a week off after the top TV events and prefers to forgo the ProTour circuit, which is held behind-closed-doors.
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On Tuesday and Wednesday there are two Players Championships in the German city of Hildesheim.
Yet there is ZERO chance he will play in them, even though the points would improve his ranking position ahead of the Players Championship Finals at Butlin's Minehead in late November.
As it stands, he is ranked joint 11th on the ProTour money list with £132,500 against his name.
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In his post-final press conference, Littler said he would return to the oche for World Series of Darts trips to Australia (August 8-9) and New Zealand (August 15-16).
One journalist asked the teen sensation: 'And then ProTour (on) Tuesday?'
Littler feigned mock surprise and said: 'Is there? Is there?'
Dave Allen, the PDC Head of Media, injected and said: 'It's in Germany.'
Littler, who hails from Warrington, joked 'Is it?' before adding: 'Nah, nah. Maybe if it was Wigan. Maybe.'
It was all said in a funny fashion but it showed his intention not to play any events until he flies Down Under.
Part of the reason why he would not have fancied a visit to Germany just now is the bad reaction he gets from the fans there.
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Littler hit a tournament record 64 maximums in his five games last week
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Luke Littler became the youngest world darts champion, aged 17, when he won the title in January
Credit: Reuters
When he played in the Berlin Premier League on April 3, he was booed by the German punters.
It also happened during the German Darts Grand Prix over Easter in Munich when he was beaten in the semi-finals by Gian van Veen.
After that event, emotion got the better of him and he posted on Instagram: 'Shouldn't of been in Munich but had to play anyway, next one in Germany for me is Dortmund and I am glad to say that.'
Littler and Luke Humphries teamed up together to play for England at last month's World Cup of Darts and were strong favourites to lift the team title.
But they were dumped out of the quarter-finals 8-4 by the German pairing of Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko in Frankfurt.
The reception they got was ear-splittingly noisy and winning in Germany is something Littler will have to overcome in the next few years, especially as the country is a powerhouse of the sport.