“Hopefully I can pick up the trophy and come back in 2027”: Luke Littler plans to skip World Series visit to Australia in 2026
Luke Littler, the 18-year-old darts prodigy and 2025 PDC World Champion, revealed his intention to skip the Australian Darts Masters in 2026, aiming to return in 2027 if he can claim the title in 2025. Speaking to Online Darts after a narrow 6-5 first-round win over Haupai Puha in Wollongong on August 8, 2025, Littler said, “Hopefully I can pick up the trophy and come back in 2027… I’ll do two years, miss a year, two years, miss a year.” His plan to rotate World Series appearances, inspired by Michael van Gerwen’s absence from the event in recent years, reflects a strategic approach to managing the grueling darts calendar and jet lag, per dartsnews.com.
Littler’s decision follows a controversial match where he deliberately threw a single one to set up a 170 “Big Fish” checkout, drawing accusations of disrespect from Rob Cross and fans on X, like @Wim_NL180, who called it “disrespectful towards your opponent.” Despite the backlash, Littler defended his choice, stating, “I don’t even know—I think it’s just for myself,” and admitted he hadn’t practiced since his World Matchplay triumph, where he averaged 107.24 against James Wade, per Sky Sports. His 2025 season, with six major titles including the World Championship and Premier League, underscores his dominance, but his World Series record remains elusive, with a 2024 Australian final loss to Gerwyn Price.
The Australian Darts Masters, a non-ranking event with a £60,000 first prize, is followed by the New Zealand Darts Masters (August 15-16), where Littler faces Jonny Clayton. He described the jet lag as “awful,” telling Online Darts, “Stay up as long as you can until it’s a suitable time to go to bed. That’s what I’ve been trying to do.” To cope, Littler explored Sydney, visiting the Opera House and Wollongong Zoo, feeding kangaroos and goats, which he said helps players escape the “85-90%” hotel-bound routine.
Littler’s plan to skip 2026, echoed on X by @DartsNews02 and @OfficialOLDarts, aligns with his focus on longevity, as he aims to chase Phil Taylor’s 16 world titles. Adrian Lewis’s advice to be “greedy for winning” resonates, but Littler’s selective scheduling prioritizes rest to sustain his £1.5 million career earnings trajectory. Facing Damon Heta next, who averaged 110 against Cross, Littler’s title hopes hinge on sharper focus to avoid another early exit.
