The 19-year-old’s meteoric rise began when he reached the final of the PDC World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace in December 2023. That breakthrough run propelled him into the world’s top 32 — a ranking milestone that has since reshaped his career path.
Since then, Littler’s achievements have stacked up rapidly. He has claimed major titles including the Premier League Darts and the Grand Slam of Darts, along with multiple world championship triumphs. With career earnings now exceeding £3 million and his status as world No. 1 firmly established, he has already reached the very summit of the sport.
Ironically, that dominance is precisely why he cannot compete against his peers on the Development Tour. The youth circuit — open to players aged 16 to 24 — begins its 2026 schedule in Leicester on February 20, featuring 24 events across five weekends. Each tournament offers a £20,000 prize fund, with £3,000 awarded to every winner.
However, Professional Darts Corporation regulations prevent any player ranked inside the top 32 of the Order of Merit from taking part. Littler’s elite standing therefore rules him out for a third consecutive year. It’s a stark contrast to 2023, when he won four Development Tour events while still emerging on the professional scene.
His rapid climb began in earnest after finishing runner-up to Luke Humphries at the 2024 World Championship — a result that pushed him into the world’s top tier and made him ineligible for the youth tour from that point onward. With his ranking unlikely to drop significantly anytime soon, a return to the circuit appears improbable.
Despite that restriction, Littler remains eligible for the PDC World Youth Championship. He competed in last year’s edition but narrowly missed out on the final after a 6–5 semi-final defeat to Beau Greaves.
The Order of Merit — calculated from prize money won in ranking events over a rolling two-year period — currently sees Littler leading the standings with earnings approaching £3 million.
His focus now shifts to other major competitions. He is set to feature on the European circuit, including the Poland Darts Open later this month, while also continuing his campaign in the Premier League — with Night 3 scheduled to take place in Glasgow.
For Littler, exclusion from the Development Tour is not a setback — it’s simply another sign that he has outgrown it.
Comments are closed.