Wayne Mardle cannot believe Luke Littler's controversial PDC decision after World Grand Prix

Luke Littler's decision to enter the World Youth Championship, despite being the world's best player, has caused huge controversy.

Littler has cemented his spot as world No.1 by winning all but two of the PDC's televised majors in 2026, most recently suffering a shock first-round exit to Luke Woodhouse at the World Grand Prix, weeks after falling to Jonny Clayton in the World Series of Darts.

Instead of travelling to Basel for the Swiss Darts Trophy this week, Littler has opted to compete in the World Youth Championship in Wigan.

READ NEXT: Luke Littler's early darts retirement predicted by former world champion

Wayne Mardle slams Luke Littler for entering World Youth Championship

The World Youth Championship sees players aged 16 to 23 compete, meaning that 'The Nuke' - who is still only 19 - qualifies for the event.

He won the tournament in 2023 after beating Gian van Veen 6-4 in the final. A year later, he opted against competing before suffering a shock defeat to Beau Greaves in an epic semi-final clash in 2025 after averaging a whopping 107.

Littler is hoping to win this event for the second time and made a brilliant start by securing his passage through the group stage on Monday with three wins.

But even though he is eligible to compete in the youth tournament until he is 24, Wayne Mardle cannot understand why he's adding another event to his schedule after previously missing tournaments in a bid to stay fresh and doesn't think it is fair on others.

"I don’t get it. No, I don’t. I was going to say I don’t think it’s fair on the others, but he got beat last year," Mardle said on Sky Sports.

“But I don’t know what he wants to gain from it. He can only lose. Unless he wants competitive practice before the Worlds.

“There will be plenty of time with the Grand Slam and stuff. No, I don’t understand it. I don’t know what his advisors have planned.

“But bearing in mind this is someone who has missed a load of events because he wants to keep fresh.

“It doesn’t make any sense to me. I think he’ll perform well. There is a recency bias going on; oh, he is not winning. He still wins a lot; he has just not won the last two."

READ NEXT: Why darts fans are booing Luke Littler as Gary Anderson warns crowd after boycott saga

Why Beau Greaves and Gian van Veen aren't competing in World Youth Championship

Littler received backlash for entering the tournament in 2025 after dominating in the PDC, and that has only heightened following an even better 2026 so far.

The Warrington-born superstar is expected to walk away with his second World Youth Championship, and his chances improved tenfold after Van Veen and Greaves - his strongest competition - decided against turning up to the event.

Van Veen has won the World Youth Championship in the previous two years, but will head to Basel for the Swiss Darts Trophy, which begins on October 9.

This was the final year the Dutchman would have been eligible for the youth draw. Greaves, meanwhile, has seemingly decided to sit this one out to have a break.

The 22-year-old most recently lost 6-1 to Joe Hunt at Players Championship 30 but has had a strong first season on the PDC main tour. She currently sits eighth in the Players Championship Order of Merit.