Teenage darts prodigy Luke Littler has demonstrated a firm commitment to his principles by deliberately avoiding participation in the next two Pro Tour events scheduled in Wigan. This decision aligns perfectly with his previously expressed and well-documented aversion to the lower-tier Players Championship competitions, which he has publicly stated he "hates."
Littler's Selective Tournament Schedule
Despite being only 19 years old, Luke Littler has already achieved nearly every major honour available within the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC). His impressive resume includes securing his second World Championship title as recently as January 2026. However, with a demanding calendar featuring the Premier League and other high-profile televised tournaments, the Warrington-born star has significantly reduced his appearances at floor events this season.
Littler previously skipped the Pro Tour's opening two tournaments held in Germany last week. He is now joined by other elite players, including Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson, in sitting out this week's fixtures at the Robin Park Tennis Centre in Wigan. This strategic absence is not a sudden change but a deliberate implementation of plans he hinted at last year.
Fulfilling a Forecasted Shift in Approach
In November 2025, shortly before his triumphant victory at the Players Championship Finals in Minehead, Littler openly discussed his future intentions. He revealed, "The Players Championship Finals is one that I've not got yet. I definitely do want to get it. But if I was to win it this weekend then who knows what happens next year on the ProTour? Do I go to a few or do I not?"
He further elaborated, "I've been having discussions behind the scenes. Do I just do the ones in Wigan and don't go to the rest? We'll have to make that decision behind the scenes." True to his word, following his success in Minehead where he defeated Nathan Aspinall, Littler is now scaling back his commitments to these specific events.
The Root of His Dislike for Pro Tour Events
Earlier in November 2025, Littler provided a candid explanation for his strong distaste for the Pro Tour format. He stated, "Everyone knows I hate the Pro Tours. All you hear is squeaky chairs and people chatting. I love the stage, I love producing it, especially when I'm playing like that." This preference for the atmosphere and pressure of televised stage events over the often chaotic and noisy environment of floor tournaments is a key driver behind his current scheduling choices.
Discussing his intensely busy lifestyle, Littler added, "It's non-stop. I want to go back to my normal self, but I've been used to the fame for so long now. I think it would be weird if I isolated myself, like, for a week or something. But it's all learning curves and I'm getting used to it. It's definitely changed since that first Worlds but performance-wise I'm not stopping anytime soon."
The Role and Importance of Pro Tour Competitions
Pro Tour events serve a critical function within the PDC ecosystem. They act as primary qualifiers for the prestigious Players Championship Finals held in Minehead. Success at these tournaments allows PDC Tour Card holders to accumulate ranking points on the Pro Tour Order of Merit, which in turn determines seeding for the lucrative £600,000 end-of-year showpiece. Littler himself captured this title last November at just 18 years old, making history.
By choosing to skip certain Pro Tour events, Littler is making a calculated trade-off. He is prioritizing his energy and focus for the major televised tournaments he excels in, while accepting the potential impact on his Pro Tour ranking and qualification ease for future Players Championship Finals. His actions confirm a mature, strategic approach to career management at a very young age, staying true to his publicly stated preferences and previous forecasts.
