Luke Littler’s path to European Championship glory revealed including kick-boxing Irishman and reformed match fixer

Luke Littler will begin his quest for European Championship glory against Irish darts star William O’Connor, a kick-boxing enthusiast who recently made headlines for stamping on an insect during a tournament.

The teenage sensation could face a series of dangerous opponents if he hopes to reach Sunday’s final in Dortmund, including a former stablemate, three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen and a Dutch player who previously served a ban for match-fixing.

At just 19, Littler has already established himself as one of the biggest names in darts. However, the European Championship remains one of two major televised titles missing from his collection.

The Nuke has won every other premier televised tournament at least once, leaving him determined to add the European crown to his growing list of achievements. He will also have the inaugural European Open, scheduled for next summer, in his sights.

Littler endured a disappointing debut at the European Championship last year, losing 10-7 to James Wade in the second round. Having experienced that early exit, the world No. 1 will be eager to make a stronger impression this time around.

Although his hopes of completing a clean sweep of major titles this calendar year have ended, Littler remains one of the leading favourites heading into the competition in Germany.

However, he could face a hostile atmosphere from sections of the local crowd, having been booed and jeered during previous appearances in the country.

O’Connor awaits Littler in the opening round

Littler’s first obstacle will be William O’Connor, who attracted attention during the Swiss Darts Trophy earlier this month after an insect landed near the dartboard.

The Irishman, nicknamed the Magpie, made sure the unwanted visitor would not interrupt the action by stamping on it after it fell to the floor. His unexpected intervention earned an ironic cheer from spectators in Basel.

Should Littler progress to the second round, he could meet Nathan Aspinall, a player he previously shared management representation with before both men parted ways with manager Martin Foulds.

Aspinall would present a significant challenge as Littler attempts to build momentum in the tournament.

Van Gerwen could provide a major quarter-final test

Three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen is another potential opponent, with the Dutchman possibly standing between Littler and a place in the semi-finals.

The 37-year-old has experienced a difficult period as he attempts to maintain his position among the sport’s elite. His world ranking has slipped, while uncertainty surrounds his prospects of securing a place in the 2027 Premier League Darts line-up if he fails to deliver a major title-winning campaign.

Despite those struggles, Van Gerwen remains a dangerous opponent whose experience and ability could make him a serious threat to Littler’s ambitions.

The potential semi-final opponent is equally intriguing. Second seed Wessel Nijman, 26, has been enjoying an impressive run of form and could provide a stern test if he reaches the last four.

However, Nijman also has a controversial past. The Dutchman served a two-and-a-half-year suspension for match-fixing, which ended in February 2023, before returning to competitive darts.

Littler’s seeding reflects limited European Tour appearances

Despite his status as world No. 1, Littler enters the tournament as the 11th seed after making relatively few appearances on the European Tour this season.

His limited participation has not stopped him from producing impressive results, having won two of the three continental events he entered.

Meanwhile, defending champion Gian van Veen will begin his campaign against former UK Open winner Andrew Gilding on Thursday in Dortmund.

The world No. 3 arrives in Germany in excellent form after reaching the semi-finals of the Dutch Darts Championship in Maastricht.

During that run, Van Veen produced a remarkable European Tour record average of 120.24 in a commanding 6-0 second-round victory over Poland’s Sebastian Bialecki.

World No. 2 Luke Humphries, last year’s runner-up, will also be among the leading contenders. The former world champion begins his campaign against close friend Ryan Searle.

The four-day European Championship gets underway on Thursday at the Westfalenhallen in Dortmund, with £150,000 awaiting the eventual winner.

With Littler determined to add another major trophy to his collection, the tournament promises a challenging route to the final, with several of the sport’s biggest names potentially standing in his way.