Luke Littler Excluded from PDC Development Tour for Third Consecutive Year
Teenage darts sensation Luke Littler has been barred from competing in the PDC Development Tour for the third year running, a direct consequence of his meteoric rise to the pinnacle of the sport. The 19-year-old Englishman, currently the world number one, is prohibited from entering the youth tournament due to PDC regulations that exclude players ranked within the top 32 of the Order of Merit.
A Career Skyrocketing Since World Championship Final
Littler's career trajectory has been nothing short of spectacular since his breakthrough performance at the World Darts Championship in December 2023, where he reached the final as a relative unknown. That run propelled him to 31st in the global rankings, and he has since cemented his status as a dominant force in darts.
His impressive list of achievements includes:
- Winning the Premier League Darts title
- Securing the Grand Slam of Darts championship
- Claiming two World Darts Championship titles
- Accumulating career earnings exceeding £3 million
This very success, however, has now rendered him ineligible for the Development Tour, a circuit he once dominated.
Development Tour Rules and Littler's Past Dominance
The PDC Winmau Development Tour, open to players aged 16 to 24, is set to commence on February 20 in Leicester. The tour features 24 events across five weekends, with each offering a £20,000 prize fund and £3,000 to the winner.
In 2023, before his global fame, Littler showcased his prodigious talent by winning four events on this very tour. He was unable to defend those titles in 2024 and 2025 due to his elevated ranking, a situation that will persist in 2026 and likely beyond, barring an unforeseen and dramatic decline in form.
Alternative Competitions and Current Engagements
Despite this exclusion, Littler remains eligible for the World Youth Championship, where he competed last year, narrowly losing 6-5 in legs to Beau Greaves in the semi-final. The PDC Order of Merit, which dictates eligibility, is based on prize money won in ranking tournaments over a rolling two-year period. Littler currently leads this with a staggering £2.85 million.
His competitive schedule remains packed with elite events. Littler is set to participate in:
- Night 3 of Premier League Darts in Glasgow on Thursday, February 19
- The PDC European Tour events, starting with the Poland Darts Open from February 20 to 22, where he will aim to further boost his substantial earnings
While his absence from the Development Tour highlights the unique challenges faced by young athletes who achieve rapid success, Littler's focus is firmly on maintaining his position at the summit of world darts through these premier competitions.
