Teen darts star Luke Littler was forced to withdraw from the penultimate Players Championship event of the season after being caught in traffic — leaving the rising sensation joking that it was “back to bed” instead of back to the oche.
The 18-year-old, known to fans as The Nuke, had been scheduled to compete in ProTour 33 at the Robin Park Tennis Centre in Wigan on Monday morning.
However, after missing the strict 11am registration deadline, Littler was disqualified from the day’s play.
At 11.06am, the teenager posted a light-hearted message on Instagram, writing: “Back to bed it is, wonder who they will call up.”
Tournament rules require all players to sign in before the official start time, and organisers confirmed that missing the deadline meant automatic exclusion from the competition.
Despite the disappointment, Littler will face no consequences for the absence, having already qualified for next month’s £600,000 Players Championship Finals in Minehead.
The setback comes just weeks after the Warrington-born prodigy stormed to victory at the previous Wigan event, defeating Dutch thrower Dennie Olde Kalter 8–2 in the final to secure the £15,000 winner’s cheque and confirm his place among the top 64 players on the PDC circuit.
Teen darts star Luke Littler was forced to withdraw from the penultimate Players Championship event of the season after being caught in traffic — leaving the rising sensation joking that it was “back to bed” instead of back to the oche
|GETTY
That triumph was also a statement to his critics.
After the win, Littler addressed those who had doubted his ability to maintain form.
“I am on social media,” he said. “Lots of people were saying that I wasn’t going to make it. There you go, I’ve won today.”
Five things to know about Luke Littler
|GETTY
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Luke Littler took to social media to update supporters
|The teenager has taken the darts world by storm since his sensational breakthrough run to the World Championship final at the end of 2023, where he announced himself as one of the sport’s most exciting new talents.
He proceeded to win the World Championship this time around, with Michael van Gerwen defeated in the final.
Although Monday’s absence was purely down to misfortune, it adds another twist to a remarkable year that has seen Littler handle both triumph and scrutiny with maturity beyond his years.
Attention will now turn to the Players Championship final, with that tournament also due to take place in Wigan.
Littler could meet world No 1 Luke Humphries, who continues to cling to his place at the top of the sport amid their ongoing rivalry.
Luke Littler has been in outstanding form in 2025 | GETTY
Five things to know about the sport of darts
|PA/GBNEWS
The reigning world champion still needs a couple of victories to confirm qualification for the Minehead showpiece, setting up the possibility of another blockbuster encounter between two of the sport’s biggest names.
For Littler, the brief detour back home will likely serve as nothing more than an unscheduled rest day before returning to the oche.
Having already silenced doubters with his performances on the tour, the teenager remains firmly on course to challenge for the £120,000 top prize when the finals begin on November 21.
Whether he can secure victory, and add another title to his growing collection, remains to be seen.