Luke Littler given another nightmare draw again as 17-year-old bids to win unprecedented 10th title

He won his ninth title of the year at Players Championship 20 back in September, just days after his triumph at the World Series of Darts Final.

It's been a bit more of a struggle for Littler in the major ranking tournaments though having lost in the first round of the World Matchplay back, World Grand Prix and European Championship.

And Littler will have to go up against the same man that knocked him out of the World Grand Prix last month when he makes his first Players Championship Final appearance.

Cross came out on top 2-1 in their previous encounter, but Littler does hold a winning record over the 2018 world champion.

Luke Humphries will defend his title from last year against Gabriel Clemens with the top 64 players on the Players Championship Order of Merit taking part.

Nathan Aspinall just crept into the top 64 and he's been drawn to face top seed Chris Dobey.

Stephen Bunting, who only just missed out on the top ranking after failing to win any of his six final appearances, will go up against Mario Vandenbogaerde in the first round.

Michael van Gerwen, seeded 17th, will face Ian White while former Players Championship Finals winners Peter Wright and Daryl Gurney will go face-to-face in one of the biggest first-round ties.

Littler will first turn his attention to the Grand Slam of Darts, which gets underway next week.

The 17-year-old could come up against the highly-talented Beau Greaves in the event, who qualified by winning the Women's World Matchplay.

But Greaves, who has opted against entering the World Darts Championship to defend her WDF title next month, has repeatedly stated that she doesn't enjoy playing against male darts players.

She said: "People know I'm not keen on playing the lads on telly but it's a good opportunity for me.

"I had a decent year there last year so hopefully I can get comfortable on the stage.

LATEST SPORT NEWS:

• Jack Draper season ends in Paris Masters defeat as aggressive outburst earns him umpire warning
• Lewis Hamilton takes fresh dig at rival Max Verstappen after Lando Norris controversy
• Ronnie O'Sullivan cites 'tax advantages' for ditching UK and taking Hong Kong residency

"It's difficult for me to play but I look forward to it. I'll practise well for it and see how it goes.

"I just don't feel as if I can win it. People say I'm stubborn, people say whatever they want, but I know how good I can be and what I'm like most of the time.

"It's about that consistency and most of the ladies don't have the consistency to compete with the men.

"I'm there, I've qualified for it so I'll play it. It's not something I look forward to and it's not something I necessarily want to play in but the opportunity is there. I'll give it my best crack."