Luke Littler prioritises Netflix over PDC in decision that could jeopardise chances of defending major title

Luke Littler is putting his Netflix commitments ahead of the PDC this week, a decision that could put his defence of a major title in serious danger.

The Nuke is back practising at home following his disappointing quarter-final exit at the European Darts Championship in Dortmund on Sunday. However, the 19-year-old is now preparing for Friday’s major entertainment event in Manchester.

The Netflix programme, Beat Luke Littler, will feature 20 amateur players attempting to defeat the reigning world champion in a one-leg shootout for a staggering £501,000 prize.

But his involvement in the show means Littler will miss the PDC Players Championship 31 and 32 tournaments in Den Bosch on Wednesday and Thursday.

His absence is also linked to his self-imposed travel restrictions on visiting the Netherlands unless absolutely necessary. The decision follows the hostile reception he received from Dutch supporters during last month’s World Series of Darts Finals in Amsterdam.

However, skipping the two tournaments could have serious consequences for the world No. 1, who is now at risk of missing out on the Players Championship Finals at Butlin’s Minehead resort.

The tournament is the final major of the 2026 season, and Littler will be desperate to defend the title he won last year after defeating Nathan Aspinall 11-8 in the final.

Unfortunately for the teenage sensation, his position in the rankings leaves him with plenty of work to do.

Littler currently has £10,500 to his name in the Players Championship Rankings, which are calculated over a calendar year. He sits 126th in the standings, with only the top 64 players qualifying for the Minehead showpiece.

That means the world champion faces a race against time to secure his place in the tournament.

The final two Players Championship events of the season will take place at Leicester’s Mattioli Arena on November 4 and 5, giving Littler two remaining opportunities to improve his ranking.

He cannot afford to suffer early exits if he wants to avoid missing the prestigious event.

Winning both tournaments would guarantee his qualification, with each event offering £15,000 to the champion. The projected qualifying cut-off for Minehead is expected to be around £33,000.

Alternatively, earning at least £23,000 across the two remaining events would put Littler firmly in contention for a place in the top 64.

Missing the Players Championship Finals, scheduled for November 27-29, would leave the 19-year-old facing a lengthy break between the Grand Slam of Darts and his next major assignment.

That next challenge will be the defence of his world title at Alexandra Palace, where Littler will begin his campaign on the opening night of the expanded PDC World Darts Championship on Friday, December 11.

The reigning champion will be determined to retain his crown after producing a dominant performance against Gian van Veen in the 2026 final, winning 7-1 on January 3.

However, before turning his attention to Alexandra Palace, Littler must first navigate the final Players Championship events of the season if he wants to avoid an unexpected absence from Minehead.

His decision to prioritise Netflix could prove costly if he fails to collect enough ranking money in Leicester next month.