Luke Littler faced a setback at the recent Players Championship event in 2025 as he missed the competition due to being stuck in traffic, causing him to miss the registration deadline. The 18-year-old, who had previously won a Players Championship title in PC32, was scheduled to participate in PC33 at the Robin Park Tennis Centre in Wigan. Despite expressing disappointment on Instagram for not being able to compete, Littler humorously mentioned that he was heading back to bed, leaving a spot open for another player.
His absence from PC33 was part of a larger group of 12 players who did not participate, including notable names like Gary Anderson and James Wade. However, Littler assured his fans that he would still be present at the upcoming Players Championship finals in Minehead. There were initial concerns about his qualification for the finals, but Littler’s impressive performance in the previous tournament secured his spot and silenced critics who doubted his abilities.
Following his victory at PC32 and becoming the World Grand Prix champion, Littler’s journey to success hit a small roadblock when he narrowly lost to Wade at the European Championship. Despite this setback, another rising star, Gian van Veen, emerged victorious by claiming his first Premier PDC title after a thrilling match against Luke Humphries.
In other news, Sky has announced a discounted Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the upcoming season, offering over 1,400 live matches across various leagues, including an increase in live Premier League games. This move aims to provide fans with more access to their favorite sports content.