Luke Littler Sets Record Straight After Being Refused Entry To PDC Event
Luke Littler has set the record straight after he was refused entry to a Players Championship event - and revealed what his replacement told him afterwards.
The reigning world champion travelled to Wigan on October 29 to take part in the penultimate Players Championship tournament of the season.
However, despite his name being on the entry list, Littler played no part in the competition.
It subsequently emerged that Littler arrived at the Robin Park Leisure Centre after the registration deadline.
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The 18-year-old was caught up in traffic congestion on the M6, caused by what was later confirmed to have been a fatal incident.
Littler wrote on Instagram: "Missed registration today for the ProTour, but someone sadly lost their life. Thinking of everyone."
He was replaced by Development Tour star Charlie Manby, who was on the reserve list and was making his ProTour debut.
Manby, 20, defeated 2018 world champion Rob Cross 6-5 in the opening round, before losing 6-5 to Adam Paxton at the last 64 stage.
World number two Littler did return to Wigan on the following day to compete at Players Championship 34, the final PC event of the season, and reached the last 16 stage.
"The headlines, it's just silly, because I'm not barred, I'm not banned. I've just missed registration," he told Online Darts.
"I was speaking to Michael Smith, and I think he was on the motorway when it happened at quarter to 10. Then I think we were on the motorway at 20 to. So we should really only be eight, nine minutes from the venue, and it took us 22 minutes."
Littler reveals Manby remarks after PC33
Littler then praised Manby, who threw a record 130.7 average in a Development Tour match earlier this year, for his performance in Wigan.
The 20-year-old, who played against Littler on numerous occasions in the junior ranks, has qualified for this year's World Championship by finishing in fourth position in the Development Tour rankings.
Littler says he spoke to Manby - who was a reserve - after the event, and was told he also had difficulties in making it to the arena on time.
"Charlie Manby, obviously he beat Rob Cross," Littler began. "I know Charlie very well. He played very well.
"He said, 'Yeah, I had to drive an hour and a half from Yorkshire'. So they would let Charlie play, but not your world champion!
"I get that it's a rule, like. It was good for Charlie, he won a game and got a few quid from it, but yeah, you didn't let your world champion play."
Littler and Manby could meet on the first night of the World Championship if they are in the same section of the draw.
Littler's position in the top 32 of the rankings means he qualifies automatically for round two of the tournament, but his status as defending champion means his match will close out the first night of action at Alexandra Palace.
His opponent will therefore have to play twice in the same evening on day one of the competition.
Topics: Luke Littler, Darts, World Darts Championship
Ryan Smart