Luke Littler named in field with huge cash prize available after change to 'unsustainable' schedule

Luke Littler named in field with huge cash prize available after change to 'unsustainable' schedule

Watch now: Luke Littler confronted on stage

Stuart Ballard

By Stuart Ballard


Published: 27/03/2024

- 21:32

Luke Littler has already enjoyed success in the World Series of Darts already this season.

Luke Littler has been confirmed to play at the Poland Darts Masters in the middle of June with the winner taking home £60,000 in prize money.

The teenager enjoyed an incredible debut in the World Series of Darts after winning the year's first event in Bahrain after hitting a nine-darter.


That was swiftly followed by the Dutch Darts Masters, where Littler made it through to the final where he lost to Michael van Gerwen.

There is a long break now until the next Masters event, which takes place in New York on May 31-June 1.

Luke Littler is managing his schedule for 2024

Luke Littler is managing his schedule for 2024

PA

Littler has already been confirmed for his first appearance across the Atlantic, but the PDC announced the 17-year-old would not be present at the Nordic Darts Masters a week later due to 'family commitments'.

However, Littler will return to the World Series of Darts later in June at the Poland event in PreZero Arena Gliwice.

He will be joined by world champion Luke Humphries and reigning Poland Darts Masters champion Van Gerwen in the 16-player field.

The return of the World Series events comes after the Premier League season comes to an end in two months with Littler aiming to make it through to the play-offs on May 23.

It's been a relentless start to life on the professional tour for Littler and he's had to make compromises due to a lack of free time.

Martin Foulds of ZXF Sports Management stated this week that it was inevitable Littler was going to pull out of some events due to the hectic schedule.

He told the BBC: “He’s pretty much in every TV event for the rest of the year without throwing another dart.

“There’s no off-season in darts. You’ve got to travel to these events – you don’t just time-warp and you’re in Belfast, Graz, Munich, Rotterdam.

“It’s unsustainable for any player to travel and play all of those events.

Luke Littler has been a man in demand to start the year

Luke Littler has been a man in demand to start the year

PA

“When you’re playing in the Premier League especially, travelling can take its toll on anybody.

“He’s still a teenager, still 17 – if he wasn’t playing darts, he’d be doing an apprenticeship or still be in school.

“So there are duties of care we have to follow to look after Luke as best as we can.

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Luke Littler will be in Poland for the World Series event

Luke Littler will be in Poland for the World Series event

GETTY

“The other day he had to come in, do some paperwork, some shirt signings.

“He’s sat in my meeting room and he’s got two phones on with two different streams of the Players Championship.

“He’s not at the darts but he’s still watching it – he just loves the game.”

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