Luke Littler to Miss International Darts Open After Berlin Setback
Rising darts star Luke Littler has decided to withdraw from this weekend’s International Darts Open in Riesa, Germany, choosing to take a short break following a rare off-night in the Premier League.
The 18-year-old, who has dazzled fans since his historic PDC World Championship win in January, suffered a surprising 6-2 defeat to Chris Dobey in Berlin on Thursday. Littler struggled at the oche, missing 11 doubles and recording his first four-leg loss in the league this season.
In light of his demanding schedule, Littler has opted to rest rather than compete, with the aim of maintaining peak performance through a busy 2025 calendar. While fans at the SACHSENarena won’t see the young sensation in action, the tournament will still feature top names like Luke Humphries, Rob Cross, Nathan Aspinall, and Gerwyn Price.
Humphries, who sits second in the Premier League standings, enters the Riesa event as the clear favorite in Littler’s absence. The tournament winner will claim £30,000 from the £175,000 prize pool.
Since clinching his world title, Littler has gone from strength to strength — winning four Premier League nights and capturing the UK Open crown, all while amassing significant prize money and a growing fanbase.
His increasing presence on the pro circuit has also been noted by peers. “He’s coming out of his shell,” said Nathan Aspinall in an interview with talkSPORT. “He used to head straight back to his room and game, but now he’s joining us at the bar, playing cards — he’s matured a lot in the last year.”
Despite the Berlin loss, Littler remains at the top of the Premier League standings after nine rounds and is expected to bounce back quickly as the season progresses.
