Reigning PDC World Champion Luke Littler has withdrawn from Players Championship 28 ahead of its start on September 30, 2025, at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester, raising concerns over his qualification for the season-ending Players Championship Finals in Minehead from November 21-23. The 18-year-old sensation, nicknamed “The Nuke,” cited a minor elbow niggle as the reason for his absence, marking his third straight Pro Tour withdrawal this month amid a packed schedule that includes the upcoming World Grand Prix (October 6-12). With the top 64 on the Players Championship Order of Merit (PCOM) earning spots in Minehead, Littler’s current 51st-place standing—bolstered by a Last 16 run in PC 27 on September 29—leaves little margin for error if he skips further events.
The Withdrawal: Elbow Issue and Scheduling Squeeze
Littler, who returned to the Pro Tour last week after focusing on majors like the World Series Finals, posted on Instagram Stories late on September 29: “Gutted to pull out of PC28 tomorrow—elbow’s acting up after yesterday’s run. Prioritizing recovery for World Grand Prix. See you soon!” The decision echoes his earlier skips of PC 25 (August 26) and the Hungarian Darts Trophy (September 18), where he faced backlash over rumors of prioritizing video games like EA Sports FC 2026, though he denied it as “fake news.” PDC officials confirmed the withdrawal, replacing him with a Tour Card qualifier, and emphasized it’s precautionary: “Luke’s health comes first; he’s still well-positioned for Minehead.”
This elbow concern stems from overuse during his dominant 2025, where he’s logged over 120 matches, including nine-darters in the Premier League and a World Matchplay title. Analysts like Wayne Mardle noted on Sky Sports: “The kid’s a machine, but at 18, rest is key—missing one won’t sink him, but two more could.”
PCOM Stakes: A Tight Race for Minehead
The Players Championship series awards £125,000 per event (£15,000 to winners), with earnings feeding directly into the PCOM for Minehead qualification. Littler’s PC 27 performance (defeating Dylan Slevin 6-3 before a 6-4 loss to Josh Rock) added £2,500, lifting him to 51st with £12,750 in series points—enough for a projected spot if he maintains form. However, with seven events left post-PC 30, heavyweights like Michael van Gerwen (75th, £8,200) and Luke Humphries (61st, £10,500) are lurking, often cherry-picking appearances.
A table of top contenders post-PC 27:
| Rank | Player | PCOM Points | Recent Form | Minehead Risk |
|——|——–|————-|————-|—————|
| 1 | Rob Cross | £45,200 | PC 27 Winner | Locked In |
| 2 | Josh Rock | £38,750 | PC 27 Finalist | Locked In |
| … | … | … | … | … |
| 51 | **Luke Littler** | £12,750 | Last 16 in PC 27 | Medium (needs 1-2 deep runs) |
| 61 | Luke Humphries | £10,500 | Skipped PC 27 | High (picking events) |
| 75 | Michael van Gerwen | £8,200 | Early exits | Very High (form dip) |
Missing PC 28 costs Littler a potential £1,000-£15,000 boost, but his major earnings (e.g., £500,000 from Worlds) keep him Tour Card secure. PDC Chairman Barry Hearn downplayed the drama: “Littler’s a lock for Minehead barring disaster—he’s earned it on the big stage.”
Littler’s 2025: Dominance Amid Downtime
Littler’s year has been historic: youngest World Champion (beating van Gerwen 7-3 in January), Premier League and World Matchplay wins, plus four World Series titles. His Pro Tour record stands at 42-18, but selective participation (only 12 of 27 events) reflects a strategy prioritizing majors. Recent highlights:
– **PC 27 (Sep 29)**: Last 16; averaged 96.45 vs. Slevin.
– **World Series Finals (Sep)**: Semifinal loss to van Gerwen (8-5).
– **Premier League (May)**: Champion with nine-darter.
| Event | Result | Key Moment |
|——-|——–|————|
| PDC World Championship | Champion | 7-3 final win over MvG; youngest ever. |
| Premier League | Champion | Nine-darter vs. Humphries. |
| World Matchplay | Champion | 18-10 over Humphries; 99.23 avg. final. |
| PC 27 | Last 16 | Gritty win over Slevin; elbow flared post-match. |
| World Grand Prix (Upcoming) | Seeded 2nd | vs. Gian van Veen in R1; double-in format test. |
Fan Reactions: Concern and Support
Social media lit up with #LittlerWithdrawal, fans mixing worry with memes: “Nuke’s elbow > Minehead drama—rest up, kid!” (@DartsFanUK, 5k likes). Others speculated: “Is this the EA FC curse again? 😂” tying back to 2024 rumors. DartsNews tweeted the story, sparking 200+ replies urging recovery ahead of his World Grand Prix opener against van Veen.
With the World Grand Prix looming, Littler aims to defend his PCOM spot while healing. At 18, his trajectory screams longevity—M Minehead miss would sting, but “The Nuke” has a habit of exploding back. Focus on fitness, Luke; the oche awaits.
