Luke Littler denied 'golden ticket' after 17-year-old suffers shock European Championships defeat

He's backed that up with some sensational victories on his debut year on the PDC Tour, including the prestigious Premier League title.

But that victory meant nothing to his ranking spot on the PDC Order of Merit as the event doesn't contribute to his overall points.

That has cost Littler slightly in his first year as he's had to rely on his performances on the Pro Tour to qualify for some big events as he's been unable to crack the world's top 16.

Former darts star Matthew Edgar explained three years ago on his YouTube channel that being in the top 16 on the PDC Order of Merit is the ultimate prize for many players.

"There's a lot of implications that come from not being in the top 16," he said.

"It's a golden ticket being in that top 16."

Being inside the top 16 of the PDC Order of Merit guarantees players qualification to both the World Matchplay and World Grand Prix.

Littler was able to qualify for both tournaments this year due to his Pro Tour ranking, but he suffered first-round defeats at both events after being handed tricky draws.

As someone who qualified through his ranking on the Pro Tour, Littler was at risk of being drawn against one of the top-eight ranked players on the PDC Order of Merit.

At the World Matchplay earlier this summer, Littler was drawn against Michael van Gerwen and lost 10-6 in the opening round.

And Littler failed to get past the first round at the World Grand Prix when he narrowly lost to Rob Cross.

By breaking into the world's top 16, Littler will be able to prevent such a draw next year.

But he will have to wait a bit longer to break into the world's top 16 after his shock loss to Gilding at the European Championships.

Littler only needed to get to the second round of the tournament to clinch the £10,000 he needed to climb inside the top 16.

A defeat still saw Littler take home £7,5000 and he's just £2,500 behind Ryan Searle, who currently occupies 16th in the Order of Merit.

Littler will still have a chance to move up the rankings prior to the World Darts Championships at the end of the year.

The teenager will also be absent from the final two Players Championship series events next week.

LATEST SPORT NEWS:

• Mike Tyson has risked it all with U-turn ahead of Jake Paul boxing fight
• Darts star astonished and makes sad admission as Luke Littler suffers major blow - 'I didn't expect this'
• Gareth Southgate 'rewarded for failure' as England boss set for knighthood on New Year Honour List

Littler has already secured his place at the 2024 Players Championship Finals, which take next month.

The Players Championship has a prize fund of £600,000 with the winner taking £120,000.

He will also be in action at the Grand Slam of Darts, where the winner will be given £150,000.

But Littler is already guaranteed at least £8,000 even if he loses in the opening round of the Players Championship Finals and finishes last in his group at the Grand Slam of Darts.