Luke Littler's response to World Youth Championship loss speaks volumes as he misses out on rare double

Luke Littler has issued a statement after he lost 6-5 to Cam Crabtree in the semi-finals of the World Youth Championship in Wigan.

Crabtree won a 16-dart deciding leg to knock out 'The Nuke' at the last four stage for the second year running. Littler lost to Beau Greaves, also in a last-leg decider, in 2025.

Littler has been quick to respond to his defeat against Crabtree, who goes on to face Germany's Jan Schmidt in the final on November 22.

READ NEXT: Luke Littler's shock World Youth Championship defeat opens up dream scenario for two players

Luke Littler responds to World Youth Championship defeat

Taking to his Instagram account, Littler posted a statement in which he congratulated Crabtree on his victory and spoke positively about his day in Wigan.

The format of the World Youth Championship means that all the preliminary matches are played on the same day, meaning Littler took part in five matches from the last 64 stage onwards.

"Nice day out today, seen loads of faces who I grew up playing darts with (JDC, England, Development Tour and many more)," he wrote.

"Fell short at the last hurdle, fair play to Cam he's playing well atm. Overall a good day and some good practice put in."

Image: Instagram/@lukethenukelittler

Littler's decision to play in the World Youth Championship, which is open to any player under the age of 23 regardless of ranking position, was met with a mixed reaction from some darts fans.

READ NEXT: Wayne Mardle left surprised at Luke Littler's decision to play in World Youth Championship

'The Nuke' questioned the negative side of that reaction when it was brought up this time last year, telling the PDC: "The likes of Gian van Veen, tour card holder, Keane Barry, tour card holder [were playing]... but I'm the one who gets it in the neck. I didn't win, so obviously a lot of people were happy."

Van Veen, who won the tournament last year, and fellow finalist Beau Greaves opted not to play this year, though there were several other current PDC tour card holders competing including Tavis Dudeney, Sebastian Bialecki and Charlie Manby.

All the tournaments Luke Littler can still win in 2026

While Littler looks set to miss out on the Players Championship Finals - he would need to enter the final two PC events, win one of them and finish as runner-up in the other to qualify - there are still a number of tournaments left that he can lift to add to his growing trophy cabinet.

He can still lift the European Championship and Grand Slam of Darts trophies, while there are also still two European Tour events left on the 2026 calendar.

The European Championship is the only major televised PDC title that Littler is yet to win - by the age of 19.

He turns 20 in January, by which point he will hope to have won his third consecutive World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace. Only Phil Taylor has ever won three or more PDC world titles in a row, while Adrian Lewis and Gary Anderson have previously won two consecutive world crowns.