Luke Littler opts out of two darts tournaments after hitting back at opponent following Belgian Open clash

Luke Littler opts out of two darts tournaments after hitting back at opponent following Belgian Open clash

WATCH NOW: Luke Littler clashes with Ricardo Pietrecko at the Belgian Darts Open

Lewis Winter

By Lewis Winter


Published: 12/03/2024

- 12:57

Updated: 12/03/2024

- 13:34

The young darts sensation is set to take a breather between the next two Premier League nights

Luke Littler has opted out of playing at two Players Championship events in Germany next week.

The 17-year-old has joined fellow Premier League stars Luke Humphries and Nathan Aspinall in not entering the competitions.


Littler has had an extremely busy schedule ever since he burst onto the scene with his record-breaking run at the World Darts Championship.

He has won three tournaments and is six weeks deep into the Premier League after being picked as a wildcard.

Luke Littler

Luke Littler has opted out of two Players Championship tournaments next week

Getty

Littler won the Bahrain Masters in January, an event that didn't earn him any ranking points.

He made his debut on the ProTour in February, winning his first Players Championship event in Wigan.

The teenager competed at the next three Players Championships as he juggled his commitments alongside the Premier League and Euro Tour Card Holder Qualifiers.

Littler qualified for the Belgian Darts Open last weekend and won the event, beating Rob Cross in the final.

He is now preparing for night seven in the Premier League, which takes place in Nottingham on Thursday.

Littler was then likely to be in line to head to Hildesheim in Germany for two Players Championships on Monday and Tuesday next week.

However, the PDC have confirmed that he is one of five Tour Card Holders who will be absent.

World No 1 and world champion Humphries won't be in attendance, while Aspinall will also sit it out.

Christian Perez and Adrian Lewis are both also not set to make the event. The other five Premier League players will be present, including current leader Michael van Gerwen.

The reason for Littler's absence has not been confirmed but he may well have chosen to take a well-earned rest.

He spoke publicly for the first time on Monday after he was confronted by Ricardo Pietreczko at the Belgian Darts Open.

Pietreczko seemed to be annoyed at Littler and made his feelings clear as he shook his hand on the stage at the end of the semi-final.

LATEST SPORTS NEWS:

Luke Littler

Luke Littler has had an extremely busy few months after bursting onto the scene

Getty

Littler was later labelled 'arrogant' by Pietreczko on social media.

The 17-year-old was baffled at the time and was unsure why his opponent had got the hump.

He has since called out Pietreczko for letting an incident 'get to him'.

Littler told Sky Sports News: "That game, I just, I didn't know what I did wrong but a lot of people were saying it was when I was on the 147 finish and I went for T19 and I tried going tops, bull, because I love tops and if I hit the tops I would have fancied myself for bull.

Luke Littler

Luke Littler won his third tournament at the Bahrain Masters

PDC

"But I missed it but then he let that get to him throughout the game and I had a job to do."

Littler hit a nine-darter in Sunday's final, his third maximum leg of the year.

He knows that he is a target for his rivals, adding: "I think, ever since I have burst onto the scene, I know every player wants to beat me.

"Even my family and my manager have said you have always got to be on your A game because anyone who plays me now, it is a cup final to them."

You may like