Luke “The Nuke” Littler is **fuming** — and he’s not holding back.
The 18-year-old darts superstar was **barred from Players Championship 33 in Wigan** on October 29, 2025, after arriving **just two minutes past the 11am registration cutoff** due to a **fatal car crash** on the M6. But what really set him off? Learning from other players that **some pros have been let in up to 30 minutes late** — with no consequences.
In a now-deleted Instagram Story that went viral before vanishing, Littler blasted the PDC with raw frustration:
> **“Not the best day today but played some decent stuff. But really glad to hear from a few of the other players that people have been let in almost half an hour late for a pro tour but I can’t be two minutes late. Says a lot, one rule for one and one for another.”**
—
#### The Incident: Tragedy, Traffic, and a Hard Line
– Littler was en route from Warrington when he hit gridlock caused by a **multi-vehicle crash that claimed a man’s life**.
– He posted a sympathetic update:
> **“Missed registration today for the pro tour, but someone sadly lost their life.”**
– Arrived at **11:02am** — **two minutes late**.
– **PDC rule: No sign-in, no entry.** Reserve Charlie Manby (No. 174) took his spot.
Littler took it in stride at first, joking:
> **“Back to bed it is, wonder who they gonna call up 😂”**
But the real anger came **the next day**.
—
PC34: Grit, Loss, and the Breaking Point
On October 30, Littler returned for **PC34**, grinding out wins over:
– Jaimi van der Wijk (6–3)
– Cameron Crabtree (6–4)
Only to fall **6–5 in a decider** to Canada’s Matt Campbell in the last 16.
That’s when he heard the whispers in the venue:
> **“Mate, I’ve seen lads stroll in 25–30 minutes late and still play.”**
That was it. The **Instagram rant dropped** — and the darts world erupted.
—
#### The Double Standard: Fact or Feeling?
| Player | Delay | Allowed to Play? |
|——–|——-|——————|
| **Littler** | **2 minutes** | **NO** |
| **Unnamed pros** | **25–30 minutes** | **YES** |
– PDC insists rules are **universal** — but enforcement varies by **event, official, or player status**.
– No official response yet, but insiders say: *“It’s strict, but not always consistent.”*
—
#### Fan & Player Reactions
– **Support**: “Nuke’s right — if it’s a rule, apply it to everyone.”
– **Criticism**: “Rules are rules. Two minutes is two minutes.”
– **Neutral**: “Tragic crash aside, maybe PDC needs clearer guidelines.”
—
#### What’s Next for The Nuke?
– **No penalty** — he’s still qualified for the **£600k Players Championship Finals** (Nov 17–22).
– Next up: **World Series Finals**, then **Ally Pally defense** in December.
– But this fire? It’s **fuel**.
Littler’s used to breaking records — now he’s breaking silence on the system.
**PDC, your move.**
Equal rules — or equal excuses? 🎯🔥
