Luke Littler missing from this year's PDC World Youth Championship again

Luke Littler has confirmed that he will once again not compete in this year's PDC World Youth Championship. This tournament is the World Championship for top talents within the PDC aged 16 to 24.

Littler became the youngest ever World Youth Champion at the PDC in 2023 at the age of 16 after he defeated Gian van Veen in the final. Last year Littler also decided not to participate, after which Van Veen crowned himself champion after an exciting final against Jurjen van der Velde.

'The Nuke' would theoretically be allowed to compete in the PDC World Youth Championship through 2031, but revealed at a press conference last week that he is missing this year for the second consecutive year. After all, for the reigning world champion, apart from some prize money, there is quite little to gain and especially a lot to lose when he suffers a surprise defeat.

The World Youth Championship consists of a total of 128 players. All Tour Card holders up to the age of 24 are invited, as well as the best players of the Development Tour and the winners of some qualifying tournaments. The preliminaries of the upcoming edition are on October 13 in Wigan. Then they will be played until two players remain. They will compete for the title on Sunday, Nov. 23.