Luke Littler has failed to make England’s team for the World Cup of Darts despite his incredible year. The 17-year-old has missed out to Luke Humphries and Michael Smith due to his ranking in the PDC Order of Merit.
The two best-ranked players from each nation are chosen to play in the World Cup of Darts. The leaderboard is based on prize money won by players over a two-year period.
Littler has only been playing on the professional tour for six months, so misses out despite his remarkable start to 2024. The darts sensation finished as the runner-up at the World Darts Championship, losing against Humphries, before winning titles in Bahrain, Austria, Poland and Belgium.
His biggest triumph came when he got revenge over Humphries for his World Championship defeat by beating him in the Premier League Darts final in May. but he has missed out to the world champion and Smith, who are ranked first and second in the Order of Merit, respectively.
Some fans had wondered if World Cup of Darts broadcaster Sky Sports and the PDC might change the rules for qualifying for the tournament. That would then allow them to select Littler.
However, darts legend Dennis Priestley warned there would be a ‘boycott’ if the selection process was manipulated.
“Sky Sports and the PDC could change the World Cup of Darts selection process to get Luke Littler in this summer and they wouldn’t get much stick for it,” Priestley told BestAnonymousCasinos.
“It would be the union who get the blame for letting them change the rules and I think it would cause a lot of upset for the players.”
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He added: “They could even boycott if there is a late change of the regulations. It reminds me of them trying to fast-track Raymond van Barneveld into the Premier League when he moved over [from the BDO].”
Littler has enjoyed a meteoric rise over the past six months. But he will get a break while Humphries and Smith attempt to win the World Cup of Darts for England.
He recently spoke about feeling little pressure to pull out of events if he needs a break. Asked if he feels he has to show up to events, Littler added: “Not really.
“I can pick and choose what I want to play because my rankings are good and I’ve qualified for almost every event so I just pick and choose. If I’m not up to it and the travelling is killing me off I’ll just have a week off.”
